Within the next few weeks, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expects to issue the Construction Permit for TVA's first BWRX-300 at the Clinch River site. The Clinch River site has an Early Site Permit that allows multiple units; this decision will cover just one unit.

Bermuda is a prosperous island with an average electricity consumption of about 60 MW with a peak generating capacity of about 130 MW. Virtually all of that capacity is supplied by large diesel generators burning fuel with a regulated cost of $142/MWh It is an intriguing target market for SMR vendors. Bermuda's Royal Gazette newspaper published an opinion piece titled "A nuclear option for Bermuda’s energy future" providing Duncan Card's thoughts on the matter.

A newly signed nuclear cooperation agreement enables numerous mutual benefits for the United States and Saudi Arabia. 1. Lets Saudi Arabia move more rapidly towards a clean energy economy and away from one that is almost entirely dependent on oil and gas. 2. Strengthens long lasting ties between two traditional allies 3. Unlocks many billions of dollars worth of projects for both American and Saudi companies 4. Increases potential for abundant electricity and heat for a growing population and diversifying economy. A significant opportunity is increased fresh water production. 5. Diversifies global supply of commercial nuclear fuel with potential for both raw material and finished products. Note: Saudi Arabia's actinide resources are often described as "unproven." Given Saudi Arabia's reticence about sharing details about its mineral wealth, a better term would be "undisclosed." The peninsula's landscape looks like one that would host areas with useful concentrations of #uranium. Decades worth of widely distributed well logs are surely available internally.

Who knew that Japan had a sizable inventory of HALEU available? Obviously, there were people who knew about the material in the Department of Energy (DOE) complex and in Japan. Yesterday, the DOE announced that the material had been transferred to the US. "U.S. Secures Largest-Ever HALEU Shipment to Power American Nuclear Industry" This is what problem solvers do.

NRC is "sunsetting" the Aircraft Impact Assessment rule - 10 CFR 50.150. That rule has always been unnecessary and 100% more costly than its absence would have been. Even the NRC said so in the Federal Register at the time that the rule was initially promulgated. A word search on Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 112 / Friday, June 12, 2009 / Rules and Regulations "Consideration of Aircraft Impacts for New Nuclear Power Reactors" shows the phrase "not necessary for adequate protection" appearing at least 4 times.

Now that DOE Environmental Management has announced the the FMEF at Hanford will be returning to service, perhaps a similar decision can be made about the nearby FFTF? FMEF – Fuels and Materials Examination Facility FFTF – Fast Flux Test Facility Both of these large, capable and underused facilities were built as part of the breeder reactor program. Both were put out to pasture by the Clinton Administration's ill-advised decision to halt all advanced reactor research. Neither was destroyed. Instead they were put into long term, low cost surveillance and maintenance. Both can provide a way to accelerate nuclear energy industry progress. Restoration is a far better option than dismantling. @ENERGY @GovNuclear @EMcleanup

Triso fuel costs have vast room for improvement. Those tiny coat particles will be manufactured by the billions, allowing economies of truly mass manufacturing to come to nuclear fuel production. @standardnuclear is making the fuel now, with plans to add additional lines to its licensed and proven initial, modular production line. #HALEU #Uranium