Nuclear

The hottest trend in nuclear power: Reopening shuttered plants

The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan just closed a $1.5B federal loan to reopen, the latest in a push to restart retired nuclear plants amid rising power demand.

By Eric Wesoff . 30 September 2024

Nuclear

Avalanche raises $40M to pursue vision of tiny nuclear fusion reactor

The startup is spurning room-sized reactors in favor of a small, modular design. But it’s unclear when or if fusion technology — large or small — will pan out.

By Eric Wesoff . 27 April 2023
Nuclear

Georgia's big new nuclear reactors could be the last built in the US

Billions over budget and years behind schedule, the expansion of the Vogtle nuclear power plant signals that conventional nuclear projects are a dying breed.

By Eric Wesoff . 13 March 2023
Nuclear

Will the feds approve any of the new small modular nuclear reactors?

Startups like Nano Nuclear and others are developing promising new designs. But the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has a 48-year streak of saying no.

By Eric Wesoff . 3 March 2023
Podcast

Strong opinions on small modular reactors

New nuclear construction in the U.S. is facing challenges. Shayle talks to one nuclear tech CEO about what we can do about it.

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By Shayle Kann . 47 min . 16 February 2023
Nuclear

Small modular nuclear reactors: The race is on to actually build them

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy just signed a landmark contract to construct a small reactor. NuScale and Holtec also aim to deploy small light-water reactors by 2030.

By Eric Wesoff . 3 February 2023
Nuclear

A small modular nuclear reactor just got US approval — a big milestone

Modular reactor pioneer NuScale finally got one of its designs certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, but the company is still years away from a deployment.

By Eric Wesoff . 23 January 2023
Nuclear

How did the US nuclear industry fare in 2022?

Nuclear plants big and small are getting support from the feds. Still, problems persist — TerraPower can't source fuel, Oklo and NuScale are tangled in red tape, and more.

By Eric Wesoff . 28 December 2022
Nuclear

Fusion breakthrough thrills physicists, but won’t power your home soon

A nuclear fusion milestone (with frickin’ laser beams!) is a big deal. Alas, it could be decades before fusion might actually help clean up our energy system.

By Eric Wesoff . 13 December 2022
Nuclear

A small nuclear reactor with off-the-shelf parts: Can it work?

The unusually nimble nuclear startup Last Energy relies on proven technology to steer clear of the pitfalls that have stymied its competitors, incumbents and newcomers alike.

By Julian Spector . 1 December 2022
Nuclear

California faces big power challenges — even if Diablo Canyon stays open

Lawmakers voted to keep the state’s last nuclear plant operating, but California still needs to massively ramp up renewable energy, grid storage, efficiency and distributed energy.

By Jeff St. John . 2 September 2022