New Energy News
December 2020 — Federal awards put Tri-Cities on map for next generation nuclear power by Wendy Culverhill, Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Tri-City economic development officials are over the moon after the U.S. Department of Energy announced it would invest millions into the advanced nuclear reactor ambitions of two Energy Northwest partners.
December 1, 2020 — Another new Tri-Cities solar project could power 11,000+ homes, by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald
About 300 acres of former Hanford nuclear reservation land is expected to see new life as a solar farm near Richland.
October 21, 2020 - America Steps Forward To Expand Nuclear Power, by James Conca, Forbes Magazine
After hemming and hawing for decades, the United States finally is taking some big steps in developing advanced nuclear reactor technologies.
October 18, 2020 -- ‘Game changer.’ Could Tri-Cities be the future home of an advanced nuclear reactor?, by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald
Energy Northwest is the partner in two projects picked for a new Department of Energy program to demonstrate new advanced nuclear power reactor designs. It raises the possibility that one might eventually be built near Richland.
October 13, 2020 -- U.S. Department of Energy Announces $160 Million in First Awards under Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, Press Release, U.S. Department of Energy
DOE ANNOUNCES ADVANCED NUCLEAR RECIPIENTS: The Energy Department selected Bellevue, Wash.-based TerraPower LLC and X-energy of Rockville, Md., to receive $80 million each in initial funding under the new cost-sharing Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program that was created in May to help deliver first-of-its-kind advanced reactors into commercial U.S. operations.
"These partnerships will help maximize DOE's investment in advanced reactors, which play a vital role in our clean energy strategy," Secretary Dan Brouillette said in a statement.
The money goes toward the building of two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years. TerraPower will demonstrate the Natrium reactor, a sodium‐cooled fast reactor, and X-energy will deliver a commercial four-unit nuclear power plant based on its Xe-100 reactor design.
Also see this topic in the following publications:
October 13, 2020 -- Trump administration gives $160M to two companies seeking nuclear breakthrough, by Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner
October 13, 2020 -- US DOE awards TerraPower, X-energy $80 million each for advanced nuclear reactors, S&P Global, Platts
October 9, 2020 - Terrapower Selects Bechtel as Natrium Reactor Partner, World Nuclear News
TerraPower has selected Bechtel as its design, licensing, procurement, and construction partner in a federal grant application to build a demonstration plant for the Natrium reactor and energy system architecture. TerraPower and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) launched the Natrium concept in August. It features a 345 MWe sodium fast reactor combined with a molten salt energy storage.
September 25, 2020 – Press Release: Versatile Test Reactor Project Reaches Critical Decision Milestone, by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy
Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes approved Critical Decision-1 for the Versatile Test Reactor project. This milestone brings the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) one step closer to building a new user facility that would support the development of advanced nuclear technologies. The project now moves to the engineering and design phase before constructing the nation’s first fast test reactor in more than two decades.
September 28, 2020 — Cities Snub Plan to Save Nuclear Power With Mini Reactors, by Ari Natter and Will Wade, Bloomberg News
A project to revive nuclear power by demonstrating the viability of small, factory-built reactors has a problem: At least two cities that agreed to participate have pulled out and others may join them before a Sept. 30 deadline.