An "Eureka Moment", additive manufacturing, cyber security, accelerating technology, "Smart Fuel" and supply chain networks were omnibus topics at an inaugural Summit & Showcase of one hundred key nuclear energy executives and thought leaders held in Idaho Falls this week from October 2 - 4...
A 29-member company industry delegation, including the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council, capped a three-day program in Vienna, Austria for the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference from September 18 - 22. The U.S. Industry Delegation was organized under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration...
The October 3-4 Advanced Manufacturing & Supply Chain Innovation in Nuclear Energy Leadership Summit sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) in conjunction with the Idaho National Laboratory has been expanded to include a special Idaho Showcase for Idaho-based nuclear energy suppliers on a space-available basis.
A 30-member U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC)-led nuclear energy industry mission to Canada met with senior government, political and industry officials as it kicked off its week-long, multi-site tour in Ottawa.
The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) will lead a nuclear energy industry mission to Canada in conjunction with the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industry (OCNI). The mission is slated for the week of August 28.
The need to curb carbon in the air, to service a growing world population and the surging cities are impelling nuclear forward. At the annual summit meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (NIC) in Washington, this future was laid out with passion: Nuclear power is experiencing a growth spurt but not in the United States and Western Europe, except for Britain. Nuclear demand is high where air pollution is at its worst and where economic activity is fast and furious — in Asia generally, and in China and India in particular.
USNIC Advanced Reactors Task Force Chairman, Jeff Merrifield, addressed the NRC-DOE Workshop of Advanced Reactors today (4/25/17) on "The Way Forward for Advanced Reactors: Industry Progress, Challenges & The Road Ahead.” The presentation included the survey results for the Council’s Ad Hoc Technology Owner’s Group on the DOE program.
Washington DC – In a letter to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works leadership today, the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council applauded bipartisan support for advanced nuclear energy progress and development advanced by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (S. 512).
Citing growing costs to U.S. taxpayers in the billions of dollars and mounting collateral impacts on American nuclear energy, the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) called for decisive, swift and tangible action by the Congress, the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Energy Secretary Perry to enact a comprehensive program for used nuclear fuel and high-level waste storage including immediate steps to re-establish the DOE's "vacated" Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; re-engagement by the DOE in the ongoing NRC Yucca Mountain review; and enactment of supporting legislative provisions...
Washington DC - The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) has once again been named the American Pavilion sponsor and a co-organizer for the 5th annual Asia Nuclear Business Platform (ANBP) to be held May 16th to 18th, 2017 at the Novotel Shanghai in China. The conference provides a comprehensive rundown and outlook on the nuclear energy industry globally and in Asia where well over 50 percent of new civil nuclear construction is projected to occur. The U.S. Department of Commerce has granted Trade Fair Certification to the 2017 meeting...
The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) reiterated its strong support for maintaining the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Title XVII funding for advanced nuclear loan guarantees in a letter to key U.S. Senate and House appropriators as legislators begin final discussions on reconciling their respective bills...
The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council has outlined 65 federal government positions over 15 departments, agencies and commissions as "critical positions" for the nuclear energy industry in the Trump Administration. The list includes the Departments of Energy, Commerce, State and Interior as well as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Nuclear Security Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Office of the President. The Nuclear Energy "Critical Positions" roster includes three new proposed positions -- a Special Envoy for Nuclear Energy in the Office of the President along with restoration of a stand-alone Director of Nuclear Energy Policy at the National Security Council and a Special Envoy for Nonproliferation at the Department of State. The Director of Nuclear Energy Policy position was terminated by the National Security Council in July. The "Critical Positions" list was developed in consultation with the USNIC Special Transition Task Force. While the list represents the consensus views of the Council, it does not necessarily reflect the individual views of special member companies.
The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCI). The MOU was signed by Mr. Robert Wilson, Chairman of USNIC, and Dr. Ron Oberth, President and CEO of OCI, at the close of the two-day Special Summit on Global Nuclear Energy Markets in Washington, DC on July 12 and 13 organized by USNIC... This USNIC-OCI MOU outlines several ways that USNIC and OCI can work together including identifying nuclear project opportunities in the USA, Canada, and other countries on which OCI and USNIC members can bring their complementary capabilities in achieving good project outcomes. The USNIC-OCI MOU will also facilitate collaboration and innovation among U.S. nuclear and Canadian nuclear suppliers and research organizations in furthering the development and deployment of advanced reactors and small modular reactors.
Two leading global nuclear business consortiums -- the Nuclear Industry Association of Turkey (NIATR) and the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) -- have executed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding to develop cooperative activities between the nuclear industries of the two countries.
High Bridge Associates, Inc. performed an assessment of technical parameters and estimated costs for the US DOE surplus plutonium disposition program for the WIPP and MOX alternatives. This included an analysis of the adequacy of the WIPP to accept significant quantities of surplus weapons plutonium in addition to those legacy transuranic (TRU) wastes already committed for storage in the repository… A series of safety and regulatory concerns were identified for the DOE/NNSA plan to store tons of plutonium not originally planned for emplacement in the WIPP repository. The most serious concern is that the plutonium packaging endorsed by the DOE will be crushed over time as the salt chambers in WIPP close up, creating a high likelihood of an uncontrolled criticality.
Washington DC -- Former U.S. NRC Commissioner Jeffrey S. Merrifield called for a comprehensive new framework for Advanced Reactor licensing reform in an issue brief outlined at the National Press Club today (2/23/16). Merrifield, who served two terms with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, chairs the Advanced Reactors Task Force of the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council...
As the Congress moves to develop consensus on FY2016 appropriations beyond the present Continuing Resolution, it remains crystal clear that urgent action is needed to re-establish a comprehensive program to manage the Nation’s growing inventories of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste – as well as to provide a path forward for the backend of the fuel cycle for the present fleet and pave the way for new nuclear energy plants required for U.S. energy independence...
High Bridge Associates, Inc. (High Bridge) performed an Independent Review of the Department of Energy’s Aerospace April 13, 2015 LCCE Report TOR-2015-01848 Plutonium Disposition Study Options Independent Assessment. The purpose of this review was to provide an objective analysis of the approach/process used by Aerospace, and of the results contained in its Assessment of the April 2014 Plutonium Working Group (PWG) Report of Disposition Options for the MOX Option and Dilute and Dispose Option Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCE). High Bridge performed an additional independent Review of the August 13, 2015 DOE Red Team Final Report of Plutonium Disposition Options. This September 21, 2015 document is the independent review of the Red Team report. Links to the final report, executive summary (note that is does not address the Red Team response which was written beforehand) and response to the MOX Red Team are below.
