Swiss parliament reopens door to nuclear power

Switzerland’s parliament has backed a government proposal that allows for the construction of new nuclear power stations. Following a positive decision by the Senate, the House of Representatives has also voted in favour of a government counter-proposal to the “Stop the Blackout” popular initiative. Voters will now decide on both the initiative and the counter-proposal …

Saskatchewan and Poland Sign Nuclear Energy Agreement

Today, Premier Scott Moe signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Poland to advance collaboration in nuclear energy development, including nuclear workforce development, research and innovation and supply chain opportunities. “Saskatchewan is proud to partner with the government of Poland as we work together to strengthen energy security, support innovation and build the skilled workforce …

NRC Finalizes Fee Rule to Increase Cost Certainty and Lower Barriers for Nuclear Energy Projects

NRC Head Ho K. Nieh Companies pursuing nuclear energy projects will soon have greater certainty about what it will cost to work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under a new final rule issued today by the agency. The rule establishes fixed caps on many NRC licensing and service fees, reduces costs for prospective applicants, and …

Armenia expands Western involvement at Metsamor NPP, cuts Rosatom out

Armenian authorities have acknowledged working with Western contractors on the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, bypassing specialists from Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which is involved in extending the plant’s operational life, according to TASS, citing the plant’s press service. The report states that the EU supports Armenia’s nuclear safety efforts by introducing additional measures, including stress …

Georgia’s Plant Hatch receives 20-year license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Georgia Power announced today that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the subsequent license renewal for the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley. The approval authorizes continued operation of the facility for an additional 20 years by extending the operating license for Plant Hatch Unit 1 through 2054 and Unit 2 through …

Will French companies now enter India’s nuclear market? Key takeaways from Modi-Macron talks

The two leaders agreed to deepen defence cooperation, with greater emphasis on jointly designing, developing and producing platforms and advanced technologies. Civil nuclear energy, defence and emerging technologies dominated talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice on Sunday. The two leaders sought to expand the scope of the India-France partnership. Alongside discussions on …

Regulator streamline approvals process for Hinkley Point C Unit 2 reactor installation

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has approved the installation of the Unit 2 Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) at Hinkley Point C (HPC) in a much quicker time through its flexible permissioning approach. The RPV is one of the most critical components in a nuclear power station, serving as the high-strength steel container that houses …

Minnesota lawmakers consider lifting ban on new nuclear power plants

Nuclear power could help the state fully transition to zero-carbon electricity, but the plants can be slow and expensive to build. In 1994, Minnesota banned new nuclear power plant construction in the state. Now lawmakers are considering whether to end that ban. Minnesota aims to fully transition to zero-carbon electricity by 2040. To meet that …

NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Impact from Proposed Crane Clean Energy Center Restart

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has determined that restarting Crane Clean Energy Center in Middletown, Pennsylvania would have no significant environmental impacts. The action marks a key milestone in the federal review of the plant’s proposed return to service. The draft environmental assessment, now open for public comment, clears an important hurdle for Constellation Energy Generation’s …

NRC Modernizes Reactor Licensing Hearings, Moves Public Input Earlier in Process

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is changing when and how it conducts mandatory hearings in reactor licensing reviews, moving them to the beginning of the licensing process and refocusing them on public engagement and information exchange. The revised policy implements requirements of Executive Order 14300 and the ADVANCE Act and represents a significant modernization of a …