Latest news with #INL
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklo vs. NuScale: Which Nuclear Startup Stock is the Better Player Now?
As the global clean energy sector continues to evolve, nuclear energy stocks like Oklo Inc. OKLO and NuScale Power Corporation SMR have started gaining attention. With rising government support and increased investment in small modular and advanced nuclear technologies, both companies are well-positioned to contribute to the future energy Oklo is focused on developing next-generation fission powerhouses and compact fast reactors that can recycle used nuclear fuel, NuScale is working on small modular reactors that use light water nuclear reactor technology to deliver carbon-free power. With industries across the board shifting toward clean and reliable energy and the U.S. nuclear capacity boasting the potential to triple by 2050, both OKLO and SMR have strong potential for long-term leads to a key question for investors: which of these two stocks to buy right now? Let's take a closer look. Recent Achievements: Oklo recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power ('KHNP'), which should support the development and global deployment of its Aurora powerhouse by advancing design verification, manufacturing and supply-chain planning. In addition, the company successfully completed borehole drilling at the onset of May 2025 for site characterization at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), marking another key milestone in the development of its first Aurora in March, the company signed an Interface Agreement with INL, to ensure its strict adherence to environmental regulations throughout the site investigation process, and also finalized a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, as part of its progress toward deploying its first commercial powerhouse in in February, Oklo acquired Atomic Alchemy to combine its reactor and fuel recycling expertise with Atomic Alchemy's radioisotope production. The merger aims to meet the growing demand for radioisotopes across multiple industries and thereby enhance the company's market Stability: The company ended first-quarter 2025 with cash and cash equivalents (including marketable debt securities) worth $201 million, lower than its 2024-end figure of $228 million. However, as of March 2025, it did not report any notable debt. So, its financial stability seems to be solid at the moment, which, in turn, should enable Oklo to reliably fund its Aurora powerhouses, operations and growth plans in the coming to Note: One key concern for investors is that Oklo has not yet started generating revenues, as its first Aurora powerhouse is expected to go live in 2027. This means limited income in the near future. At the same time, the company continues to face high operating costs as it works to develop its reactors, which might put pressure on its bottom-line performance in the near term. Recent Achievements: NuScale Power ended the first quarter of 2025 on a solid note, with its loss per share being narrower than the prior-year quarter by 10 cents. The company also reported massive year-over-year revenue growth of 857.1%. Moreover, currently SMR is the only small modular reactor company with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) design approval and is on track to receive final clearance by July 2025 to upgrade its module output from 50 MW to 77 with NuScale in advanced discussions with around 10 potential customers, along with multiple customer site visits for its manufacturing facilities, its future revenue generation prospect remains Stability: The company ended first-quarter 2025 with cash and cash equivalents (including short-term investment) worth $527 million, higher than its 2024-end figure of $447 million. However, as of March 2025, the company did not report any notable debt. So, its financial stability seems to be solid at the moment, which, in turn, should enable SMR to reliably fund its operations and growth plans in the coming to Note: While NuScale's technology is advanced and customers are showing interest, it is yet to secure a firm commercial order (with its expectation of the first firm order this year) . NuScale continues to incur operating losses as it invests in supply-chain development and long-lead components that may hurt its bottom-line. Like others in the nuclear space, it also faces industry-wide challenges such as tight supply chains and complex project coordination, which an investor should consider before investing in SMR. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Oklo's 2025 earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at a loss of 42 cents, which implies an improvement from the year-ago reported loss of 74 cents per share. The company's EPS estimates have also been trending upward over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SMR's 2025 EPS is pegged at a loss of 41 cents, which implies a deterioration from the year-ago reported earnings of 42 cents per share. The company's EPS estimates have been constant over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research SMR (up 128.9%) has outperformed OKLO (up 88%) over the past three months. Yet, in the past year, OKLO rallied 437.4% compared with SMR's 306.1% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research OKLO shares are expensive on a relative basis, with its trailing 12-month Price/Book (P/B TTM) being 28.55X compared with SMR's P/B TTM of 18.97X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research While both companies operate in promising corners of the nuclear energy space, NuScale currently appears to be the more attractive investment Oklo, which is still in the pre-revenue stage, NuScale has already started generating revenues through its RoPower project in Romania. The company also has a much stronger cash position, giving it more financial flexibility to manage operations and support future growth. Additionally, NuScale's valuation is more favorable, suggesting the stock may be more reasonably has shown notable development, but the lack of revenues and continued operating losses might encourage investors to keep a cautious stance on this stock for the time being. For investors looking for a nuclear stock with solid liquidity and near-term growth potential, NuScale stands out as the better choice for Oklo and NuScale Power carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Oklo Inc. (OKLO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislators tour Idaho National Laboratory nuclear research facilities as lab plans new reactors
Idaho state Rep. Steven Miller, R-Fairfield, looks through protective glass into a hot room while touring facilities at Idaho National Laboratory in southern Idaho. (Photo courtesy of the Idaho National Laboratory) IDAHO FALLS – Members of the Idaho Legislature's budget committee toured Idaho National Laboratory research facilities Wednesday as the lab is in the process of building its first new nuclear reactors in 50 years. Some of INL's top officials told the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee they expected the next four years to usher in a new nuclear renaissance that INL will be at the center of. 'It's really intended to get INL back into the role of building and operating new reactors on site and supply chains that need to be exercised, getting us back into design and then ultimately building them and operating them,' INL Deputy Director Todd Combs said. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC for short, is a powerful legislative committee that sets all of the budgets for every state agency and department. JFAC's tour included stops at Idaho National Laboratory's Research and Education Campus located in Idaho Falls as well as the Hot Fuel Examination Facility and the Sample Preparation Laboratory located at the Materials and Fuels Complex. The Materials and Fuels Complex is part of a vast 890 square-mile research complex located in the desert west of Idaho Falls that is often referred to simply as 'the site.' INL currently operates four nuclear reactors and is considered the country's leading nuclear energy research and development national laboratory. But Combs told JFAC members INL does a lot more than nuclear energy and fuels research. INL researchers and staff also focus on cyber security, electric vehicle infrastructure, artificial intelligence, or AI, homeland security and defense. INL has built armor for the Abrams tanks and conducted research into vulnerabilities in the electric grid and how to combat those vulnerabilities. INL teams have conducted research on electric vehicle infrastructure like charging stations and built the system that powered the Mars Perseverance rover. 'One might ask, how does this align currently with what the Trump administration is trying to accomplish?' Combs said. 'And if you look at executive orders like Unleashing American Energy, and if you look at Secretary of Energy (Chris Wright), his initial memo, and everything he's been talking about since he took over as secretary of energy, we fall right in line with what they're trying to accomplish.' INL celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, and Combs told legislators the lab is growing and ramping up research and operations. Since 2017, INL has grown from about 3,750 employees to 6,500 employees today. Since what is now known as INL was founded in 1949, 52 reactors have been built and demonstrated on the site, Combs said. INL currently operates four nuclear reactors, but the lab is in the process of building its first new reactors in 50 years. 'We've got a number of projects right now over the next decade that are coming online as well that are going to be reactors, 53 and 54 and beyond,' Combs said. INL made headlines last month when state officials and Department of Energy officials announced a waiver to a 1995 nuclear waste settlement agreement that allows for the shipment of spent nuclear fuel into Idaho for research at INL. A waiver was necessary because the 1995 settlement agreement called for limiting new shipments of spent nuclear fuel into Idaho and removing certain types of spent nuclear fuel in order to prevent the state from becoming a dumping ground for the nation's spent nuclear fuel. Although the Idaho Legislature adjourned the 2025 legislative session on April 4 and is not in session now, JFAC regularly conducts interim meetings to keep an eye on the state budget and learn about how different agencies and organizations spend the money that JFAC approves in the budget every year. 'I've never been out there (to INL's site),' Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, said. 'Born and raised in Idaho. You would think I would have (visited before), but no. I loved it, and it was fascinating. The thing that really grabbed me was they did so much more than just the nuclear energy. I had no idea about the tanks and all that kind of stuff they're doing, and the AI. It's just cutting-edge scientific stuff going on out there.' CONTACT US 'It's good, I think, for the whole JFAC bench to get a chance to see that and to see we've been involved in buying buildings (that INL uses),' Grow added. 'The state is involved in this, even though we tend to think that it's a federal (facility).' A clear highlight for several JFAC members was entering a hot room at the Sample Preparation Laboratory that is under construction at the site. There isn't yet any nuclear material in the hot room because it is under construction. But once nuclear materials enter the facility, the public won't be able to enter the hot room that JFAC members entered Wednesday. Legislators did not vote on any bills or budgets during the three-day interim meeting tour. The tour kicked off Monday at College of Eastern Idaho, where two health care officials told legislators that Idaho's near total abortion ban has caused OB-GYNs and other medical professionals to leave the state. JFAC members may conduct a fall interim tour this year as well, although a legislative staffer told the Idaho Capital Sun on Wednesday that plans are not finalized. The next regular session of the Idaho Legislature is scheduled to begin in January. Rep. Wendy Horman, an Idaho Falls Republican who serves as a JFAC co-chair with Grow, said the entire three-day spring tour was valuable. Horman said the tour gave legislators who normally work out of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise a rare opportunity to get a closer look at important facilities and programs located in eastern Idaho that they might not have otherwise seen. 'I was so proud to see the way our community here welcomes legislators from across the state, and wanted to share with us the great things they're doing to help the citizens of Idaho,' Horman said. An Idaho Capita Sun reporter participated in the entirety of Wednesday's tour of INL facilities, and the reporter agreed not to take any photos, in accordance with INL's photo policy. Instead, an INL photographer documented the JFAC tour. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers ignite hope for future energy with high-tech 'blanket' breakthrough: 'Pivotal to delivering limitless ... energy'
Scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory are using existing fission capabilities to test the viability of a nuclear fusion blanket's technology in a nuclear setup, Interesting Engineering reported. Fusion blankets are a critical component of fusion reactors; if the blanket technology is successful, the fusion blanket could bring the United States one step closer to commercializing fusion energy. The INL is leading one of six research centers selected to receive funding from the Department of Energy for the Fusion Innovative Research Engine collaboratives. The goal of the FIRE collaboratives is to "creat[e] a fusion energy S&T (science and technology) innovation ecosystem," per the DOE, to "develop an operational fuel cycle within a decade," according to a news release by INL. A fusion blanket, which sits between the reactor's magnets and the reactor's vacuum chamber (which holds the plasma core), could be the cornerstone to sustainably producing continuous fusion energy in a fusion reactor. The blanket serves three main goals: creating new fuel for the reactor, converting fusion power to heat for electricity, and protecting the reactor's magnets, according to INL's news release. Scientists have discovered that blankets containing lithium, which react with existing neutrons in a fusion reactor, can produce tritium, a reactor fuel with a limited global supply. The blanket helps achieve tritium self-sufficiency, which keeps the reactor in operation. The kinetic energy of the neutrons inside the reactor is transformed into heat energy, which can be converted into power for electricity. The fusion blanket absorbs this heat energy to produce power. To mimic the energy-generation fusion process of the sun, fusion reactions on Earth must happen at very high temperatures — at least 100 million degrees, according to Nuclear Power. Fusion blankets are a barrier for the reactor's magnets, preventing component damage. Testing the fusion blanket technology at INL, the nation's nuclear energy lab, which is primarily focused on nuclear fission, allows scientists to experiment and hone the blanket technology in a nuclear environment, without needing to build expensive separate facilities for fusion testing, just yet. "Fusion blankets are pivotal to delivering limitless fusion energy to the grid," said Aaron Washington, a representative from Tokamak Energy, the company tasked with designing and developing the blanket technology, per INL's news release. Should we be pouring money into nuclear fusion technology? Yes — it'll pay off It's worth exploring Not from our tax dollars No — it's a waste Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion doesn't produce radioactive waste, which is dangerous to human health and requires proper management and disposal. Nuclear fusion, if successfully commercialized, can offer the world an abundant, alternative energy source from dirty fuels, which contribute to the pollution of planet-heating gases. The latest developments in nuclear fusion include building laser fusion technology that can get as hot as the sun and building a strong enough wall to withstand fusion reactions' extreme temperatures. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
You've heard the US scrapped its drug-fighting programs. Here's the truth
In the international fight against illicit drugs, the perpetuation of programs has for decades been the U.S. government's own kind of addiction. That's why Secretary of State Marco Rubio chose to inspect the inventory. Now that his sweeping review is complete, projects, just like cargo containers at a port, are moving forward when they benefit America. Few, however, have been willing to acknowledge the merit to taking programs off autopilot. Instead, a mainstream media driven by clicks ran articles suggesting the Trump administration "stopped anti-fentanyl work in Mexico" and "brought crucial anti-narcotics programs to a screeching halt." Here's the truth. As soon as the foreign assistance pause and review began, the State Department moved rapidly to evaluate and greenlight critical programs. In the weeks since, almost 700 separate projects administered by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) have been reviewed, refined, and ultimately unlocked. Many of these are joint programs with the Department of Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Customs and Border Protection, which obtain funding for their joint programs from the State Department. Most of these relate to narcotrafficking, but some funding equips foreign law enforcement officials to confront other threats no less important. In Latin America, projects proven to be effective that are now back online include targeting systems in Mexico and Peru that provide intelligence on foreign passengers and cargo, canine units in Costa Rica that sniff out drugs en route to the U.S., interceptor boats that interdict narcotics off the coast of Panama, biometric screening at Salvadoran airports to identify fliers with criminal backgrounds, and lab testing in the Dominican Republic to detect fentanyl. These come on top of the Trump administration's designation of significant drug cartels and criminal gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, and the deportation of criminal Tren de Aragua members It's ironic that the same outlets feigning concern are ones that, in the past, have lampooned America's War on Drugs as it is waged overseas. The Washington Post, for example, has claimed Republican policies have "deepened an impulse toward foreign intervention that has produced questionable results" and pointed out that "policymakers' attention on foreign bad guys and foreign drug flows did little to protect the country from opioids" and fentanyl. They can't have it both ways – attack Secretary Rubio's comprehensive assessment but also decry past efforts that, in a rush to "do something" and/or "do more" have not prevented tens of thousands of Americans from dying from drug overdoses year after year. Critics, therefore, would do well to ask the same basic questions Secretary Rubio is posing: Is it the United States' responsibility, from a moral perspective, to eliminate or at least erode the overseas actors fueling our domestic drug crisis? What roles do foreign governments play, what resources do they bring to bear, and what objectives can they not achieve absent U.S. aid? As our country's checkered history of foreign "capacity building" suggests, are training programs really ever capable – on their own – of "stopping" narcotraffickers who themselves possess tremendous financial resources, weaponry, and social caché? What type of equipment – or mentoring – actually facilitates cross-border investigations, prosecutions, and extraditions? It turns out that certain programs are virtually worthless when it comes to catching bad guys. That is why INL has terminated over half a billion dollars in grants and contracts since January 20. It is hard to justify Americans paying for "alternatives to incarceration" in the Indo-Pacific, courthouse furniture in rural South America, and law enforcement gender studies in Central Asia – especially when resources are finite, and evidence of a real impact, for the Trump administration, is paramount. In Secretary Rubio's view, we have to be honest with ourselves. In the past, certain programs functioned as their own kind of drug – as we patted ourselves on the back and felt better about "making a difference" globally. Now the decades-long high is finally wearing off – and reality is setting in. When it comes to counternarcotics, there are better and worse law enforcement programs. We will keep the good ones and cut the bad ones. Saving American money and saving American lives need not be in conflict.
Associated Press
26-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
US Critical Materials Confirms Nation's Highest-Grade Rare Earth and Gallium Deposit
Reducing America's Foreign Dependence: Looking beyond Greenland and Ukraine SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- US Critical Materials Corp., a rare earth exploration and process technology company, is pleased to announce groundbreaking results from its Sheep Creek rare earth deposit in Montana. Independent findings confirm that Sheep Creek holds the highest reported grades of any known deposit in the United States, along with the highest concentrations of gallium—a material essential to national security. With grades approaching 9% (89,932 ppm) and combined neodymium and praseodymium concentrations of 2.4% (23,810 ppm), as measured by Activation Labs ( an independent geochemical and geo-metallurgical analysis lab, Sheep Creek surpasses any other known domestic resource. US Critical Materials mineral claims cover approximately 10 square miles. The initial 2.5 square mile site contains over 60 carbonatite formations, underscoring its vast potential. 'US Critical Materials has higher rare earth grades than those found in Greenland and Ukraine,' said Jim Hedrick, President of US Critical Materials, and the former Rare Earth Commodity Specialist at the US Geological Survey (USGS). Mr. Hedrick's career spans over 30 years evaluating geological formations and properties for the U.S. government. 'Recent discussions have highlighted US interest in Ukraine's and Greenland's rare earth deposits. However, according to data from each territory's official Geological Surveys, Sheep Creek's rare earth grades exceed known deposits in these two areas. Furthermore, the scientific verification of Sheep Creek's mineral content is more comprehensive and precise than in Greenland or Ukraine,' stated Hedrick. Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) The company's Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, positions us to be a leader of sustainable, environmentally responsible processing solutions. US Critical Materials is committed to environmentally responsible extraction methods. The Company has extended its CRADA with INL through February 2027. This partnership focuses on refining sustainable separation and processing technologies for carbonatite ore, ensuring minimal environmental impact while maximizing resource efficiency. Strategic Importance of Sheep Creek The critical minerals at Sheep Creek are vital for defense and space capabilities, advanced manufacturing, and environmentally-friendly technologies. These findings reinforce the site's strategic significance, particularly as global competition for rare earth resources intensifies. U.S. Critical Materials looks forward to supporting the administration's focus on developing critical mineral sovereignty for national defense. Gallium: A National Security Imperative Sheep Creek's high gallium concentrations come at a crucial time, following China's ban on gallium exports to the United States. The measured gallium grades at Sheep Creek range from 180 to 385 ppm— far exceeding the 50ppm that the U.S. had been importing, predominantly from China. Gallium is a key component in: Semiconductors and microchips for defense and consumer electronics Advanced radar, communication systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Satellite and space technology 'Over my 30+ year career evaluating properties for the U.S. government, I have never encountered a deposit with the high rare earth and gallium grades being generated at Sheep Creek,' stated Jim Hedrick. About US Critical Materials US Critical Materials Corp. is a privately held rare earth exploration and process development company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. With substantial mineral holdings in Montana and Idaho, the company is dedicated to securing a domestically sustainable, high-grade supply of rare earth elements and gallium, reducing US reliance on imports, and ensuring a stable, independent supply chain for national security. We are currently utilizing and developing multiple environmentally friendly technologies for exploration and processing of rare earths and critical minerals. Media Contact Brigit Hennaman 212-805-3005 Rachel Winn Director of Operations US Critical Materials Corp. 801-322-3401
