Nuclear
NRC permits maintenance check flexibility
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is in accordance with the industry’s position of nuclear plant licensees determining maintenance check frequency without Commission oversight. Officials said the NRC reversed an earlier decision in which it had given a violation to Exelon’s Byron Gener... Read More »Nuclear energy plant digital upgrades targeted
Under guidance issued via the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), officials said the nuclear energy industry is preparing for digital upgrades to the safety-related instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. Officials said the effort, which will involve utilities hosting 11 workshops on how to p... Read More »U.S., Japan discuss nuclear power initiatives
U.S. and Japan officials recently met for the fifth time as means of bolstering civil nuclear power cooperation efforts. Officials said the most recent Japan Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation session was held in Tokyo, with discussions spearheaded by Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan... Read More »Bill Lawrence
Lawrence named to NERC executive post
Bill Lawrence has been named the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) vice president and chief security officer. NERC Board of Trustees officials said Lawrence, who will begin his new role Aug.16, will lead all of NERC’s security programs executed through the Electricity I... Read More »Southern Nuclear adjusts its capital and construction cost forecast for Vogtle 3 and 4
Georgia Power recently announced that Southern Nuclear increased the capital and construction cost forecast for its share of the project and said that the company had made “significant progress” since assuming project management. Based on a revised cost-to-complete estimate, Southern Nuclear ... Read More »Senators express concern over draft nuclear decommissioning rule
A group of senators recently sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expressing concern over a draft proposed rule on nuclear power plant decommissioning that has been presented to the commissioners for review. The rule includes proposed changes to emergency preparedness, physica... Read More »National Defense Authorization Act orders DOE to study deploying micro-reactors
The National Defense Authorization Act, recently passed by Congress, includes language directing the Secretary of Energy to develop a pilot program and report on the possibility of deploying micro-reactors at national security facilities. The report would identify the best locations for micro-rea... Read More »San Onofre Nuclear Plant