Latest news with #energydominance
Sustainability Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'Pentagon Goes Nuclear Again': U.S. Deploys Microreactor Test Beds to Secretly Power Remote Military Bases Without the Grid
IN A NUTSHELL 🔋 The U.S. Department of Energy is advancing the development of microreactor test beds at Idaho National Laboratory to innovate nuclear energy. at Idaho National Laboratory to innovate nuclear energy. 🚀 The test beds, named DOME and LOTUS , are designed to accelerate testing and deployment of small, factory-built reactors. and , are designed to accelerate testing and deployment of small, factory-built reactors. 🛡️ These microreactors can provide between 1 to 50 megawatts of reliable power to remote locations and military bases. and military bases. 📈 The initiative aligns with the U.S. strategy to enhance energy infrastructure and foster innovation in nuclear technology. The U.S. is embarking on a groundbreaking journey to revolutionize energy production through the deployment of microreactor test beds. This ambitious project, spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), aims to establish the world's first two microreactor test beds, named DOME and LOTUS. By leveraging existing infrastructure, the initiative seeks to expedite the development and testing of new microreactor technologies. This move is set to transform energy production, with the potential to supply reliable power to remote locations and military bases, while also boosting U.S. energy dominance and innovation. Microreactors: Powering the Future Microreactors are small-scale nuclear reactors, designed to provide between 1 to 50 megawatts of reliable power. As articulated by Rian Bahran, DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors, the deployment of these reactors is a strategic move to unleash American energy abundance and dominance. With a priority rating under the Defense Production Act, these test beds at INL are critical in starting what is being termed the American nuclear renaissance. INL has taken proactive measures by submitting a special priorities request to the DOE, securing a priority rating authorization. This authorization is vital for contracts and orders related to constructing the DOME and LOTUS microreactor test beds. The microreactors, being factory-built, are not only efficient but also versatile, capable of providing power to a variety of locations, from remote areas to military installations and commercial operations. Living Skin for Buildings: Smart Facade in Germany Moves Like an Organism to Slash Cooling Needs and Energy Use World's First Fast-Spectrum, Salt-Fueled Reactor The DOME and LOTUS test beds are being developed under the DOE's National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), with the goal of accelerating the demonstration and deployment of advanced reactor systems. The DOME test bed is repurposing the lab's Experimental Breeder Reactor-II containment structure, aimed at reducing the risk associated with developing microreactor designs. These designs are capable of producing up to 20 megawatts of thermal energy. LOTUS, on the other hand, will be part of the world's first fast-spectrum, salt-fueled reactor test, a collaboration between Southern Company and TerraPower. Brad Tomer, Director of NRIC, emphasizes the importance of the priority rating in reducing time frames for securing necessary components and services, helping reactor developers stick to their timelines. This effort is a stepping stone toward a comprehensive reactor testing ecosystem, supporting developers from design through testing and decommissioning. 'China Risks $117 Billion Collapse': This Scientist's Rare-Earth-Free Super Magnet Could Wreck an Entire National Industry Testing and Application Process The DOME test bed is expected to host experimental reactors up to 20 megawatts thermal. It will use high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) in an environment that supports nuclear systems going critical for the first time. Developers interested in scheduling their microreactor experiments can submit applications to the NRIC DOME test bed facility. The DOE has released an application guide to assist developers through the submission process. The criteria for sequencing reactor experiments include technology readiness, fuel type and availability, regulatory approval plans, and the developer's capabilities. This structured approach ensures that the most viable technologies are prioritized, fostering innovation and strategic growth in the nuclear energy sector. Japan Stuns the World with 310,000-Ton Oil Behemoth That Shatters Records and Reinvents the Future of Energy Transport Implications for U.S. Energy Strategy By prioritizing the development of microreactors, the U.S. is taking a bold step toward energy independence and security. These reactors promise to provide a consistent and reliable power source, which is crucial for remote military bases and other isolated locations. Furthermore, this initiative aligns with broader governmental goals to enhance energy infrastructure and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The potential success of the DOME and LOTUS test beds could pave the way for widespread adoption of microreactor technology, potentially transforming the energy landscape. As the U.S. continues to innovate and lead in nuclear technology, the rest of the world will be watching closely. How will these advancements shape the future of global energy production and security? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (20)
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Smith says she sees a ‘breakthrough' in talks with Americans on energy
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith poses for a photo at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Geraldine Malone WASHINGTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Wednesday there's been a 'breakthrough' in conversations with Americans on Canada's role in the United States' quest for energy dominance as President Donald Trump's tariffs continue to cause uncertainty for the bilateral relationship. 'We've managed to make a breakthrough on the discussion about energy dominance and how Canada can lend itself to that, whether its our oil, our gas, critical minerals, uranium from Saskatchewan, electricity from many of our provinces,' Smith said in an interview with The Canadian Press at the embassy in Washington, D.C. 'I feel like there's a real understanding of that.' Trump returned to the White House set on boosting America's energy production. Smith said that while the energy argument has seen success, conversations around other industries are ongoing. The Alberta premier was in the United States capital for meetings and a forum on energy this week as Trump doubled his tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Canada is a major supplier to the U.S. and Canadian industry says 50 per cent levies will be devastating. Smith said she had conversations with American counterparts and explained that, particularly for aluminum tariffs, they are 'the very definition of a tariff being its own punishment.' The United States imports about 60 per cent of its aluminum from Canada. The Canadian industry largely uses hydroelectricity to make the high energy costs connected to smelting more affordable. Smith said the U.S. doesn't have the ability to develop a homegrown industry to fill the gaps. 'We just have to make sure we are able to make that same (energy) argument on everything else, on the integrated food market, the integrated manufacturing market,' Smith said, also pointing to timber. '(We) haven't had a full breakthrough on all of that but I think the conversations I have are always very positive.' Despite conversations at home about Western alienation and Alberta separatism, Smith said that issue has not come up in Washington. The premier, however, said it's important to take the issue seriously. Trump set his sights on Canada early in his return to the White House and his tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles have upended Canadian industries. The president has repeatedly said he doesn't need anything from Canada but his actions have shown signs that he still values trade with America's northern neighbour. Trump slapped Canada with economywide duties in March, only to walk back the tariffs on imports complaint with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, called CUSMA, a few days later. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was asked during a U.S. Senate hearing Wednesday about tariffs on Canada. Lutnick pointed to the trilateral agreement and said imports that are compliant with CUSMA remain tariff-free. CUSMA was negotiated during the first Trump administration and was up for a mandatory review next year. Smith said it remains unclear when CUSMA negotiations might start but there is 'encouragement or expectation that we might get some kind of detente or interim agreement by the time we have the G7.' It's unclear whether that will be commitments on CUSMA or a separate agreement on the current tariffs. Carney has said Canada will negotiate a new economic and security agreement with the United States. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who met with Lutnick in Washington Tuesday, said he's 'hopeful that we can get to the best outcome for Canadians.' Carney and Trump will join leaders from France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union from June 15 to 17 for the G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also been invited to attend. Smith said it 'just makes so much sense for Canada and the U.S. to get to an agreement fast.' She said Americans have 'bigger fish to fry' on other major policy priorities. Smith was optimistic about Carney's relationship with Trump. While the president recently brought back comments on making Canada a U.S. state, Trump has also spoken about a good relationship with Carney and calls him prime minister and not the 'governor' title he used to taunt former prime minister Justin Trudeau. It also marks a change in tone for the Alberta premier, who had an icy relationship with Ottawa under Trudeau. Smith has long been critical of the governing Liberal's policies around energy which she says micromanaged Alberta's priorities and hindered industry. She said federal policies stopped Alberta from developing foreign markets that would be critical for many Canadian industries as Trump tries to realign global trade through tariffs. Following the First Ministers' meeting in Saskatoon earlier this week, Smith said she is 'hoping that we are having a breakthrough with the Liberals way of seeing things.' Smith had proposed a bitumen pipeline to B.C.'s northern coast coupled with support for a project on decarbonization. She said 'if we can work together on developing new markets then I think it will be good for everyone.' B.C. deputy premier Niki Sharma has pushed back on Smith's proposal, saying the province is focusing on 'shovel-ready projects, not theoretical projects with no proponents.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025. Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump signs executive orders to spur US ‘nuclear energy renaissance'
Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on Friday intended to spur a 'nuclear energy renaissance' through the construction of new reactors he said would satisfy the electricity demands of data centers for artificial intelligence and other emerging industries. The orders represented the president's latest foray into the policy underling America's electricity supply. Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office over and moved to undo a ban implemented by Joe Biden on new natural gas export terminals and expand oil and gas drilling in Alaska. Nuclear does not carry oil and gas's carbon emissions, but produces radioactive waste that the United States lacks a facility to permanently store. Some environmental groups have safety concerns over the reactors and their supply chain. Trump signed four orders intended to speed up the approval of nuclear reactors for defense and AI purposes, reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with the goal of quadrupling production of the electricity over the next 25 years, revamp the regulatory process to have three experimental reactors operating by 4 July of next year and boost investment in the technology's industrial base. 'Mark this day on your calendar. This is going to turn the clock back on over 50 years of overregulation of an industry,' interior secretary Doug Burgum said at an Oval Office event where Trump signed the orders. 'President Trump here today has committed to energy dominance, and part of that energy dominance is that we've got enough electricity to win the AI arms race with China.' High-profile accidents at nuclear plants in the United States and abroad stirred public opposition to nuclear energy in decades past, but Trump described the technology as 'very safe'. However, the department of government efficiency's effort to downsize the federal workforce has created snafus like the temporary firings of some employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the US nuclear arsenal. It is also feared to hamper a long-running nuclear waste clean up operation in Washington state. In Congress, Trump's Republican allies have moved to implement his energy policies and repeal Biden's. A sprawling tax-and-spending bill the House of Representatives passed this week changes the rules for tax incentives created under Biden for renewable energy power plants to make them available only for projects that begin construction within 60 days of the bill's enactment, and are completed by 2028. But nuclear plants only have to be under construction by 2028, a less strict guideline.
CNN
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Trump signs executive orders that White House says will boost nuclear energy
President Donald Trump signed four nuclear energy-related executive orders on Friday that will speed up reactor testing, allow the Departments of Energy and Defense to build nuclear reactors on federally owned land, overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and boost the United States' mining and enrichment of uranium, a senior White House official said. The president also signed an order to restore what the White House called 'gold-standard science,' which comes as the administration has cut billions in federal grants that fund scientific research and slashed staffing at several science-focused agencies. 'We're signing tremendous executive orders today that really will make us the real power in this industry, which is a big industry,' Trump said during an Oval Office signing ceremony. The actions come as Trump's proposed budget calls for cutting over $400 million from the Energy Department's Office of Nuclear Energy. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum — who, along with nuclear energy company executives, joined Trump in the Oval Office — lamented what he said has been 'over regulation' and heralded venture capital investment in the industry. He went on to praise Trump for committing to 'energy dominance' that he said would allow the US to 'win the AI arms race with China.' 'What we do in the next five years related to electricity is going to determine the next 50,' he added. One nuclear-related executive order speeds up reactor testing at Department of Energy national laboratories, expediting applications and review processes and enabling a pilot program for construction over the next two years, the official told reporters ahead of the Oval Office signing. A second order aims to reduce regulations for the Departments of Energy and Defense to build nuclear reactors on federal land, which the official said would allow 'for safe and reliable nuclear energy to power and operate critical defense facilities and AI data centers.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pointed to what he said is a national security imperative. 'By having small modular nuclear capabilities, which are rapidly being fielded, that we can use on our bases here and around the world, we're creating an environment where, if things happen elsewhere, the military can be reliable,' he said. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Science and Technology said the new reactors would be 'small and advanced.' Trump will also require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission – the federal body that licenses nuclear reactors – to make decisions on nuclear reactor licenses within 18 months through a third executive order. A fourth order 'is focused on reinvigorating the US nuclear industrial base,' which the official said will allow the US to 'start mining and enriching uranium and expanding domestic uranium conversion and enrichment capacities.' However, the US is years away from getting its enrichment capabilities up and running at full capacity. As CNN has reported, until 2023, the US got the vast majority of its enriched uranium from Russia. A bipartisan law passed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine put a stop to that, and scientists and companies are racing to produce it at home. The executive orders do not include removing or replacing NRC commission members, the official said. But pressed on if the actions would result in any reduction in staff, the official said, 'Reduction in staff is undetermined at this point, but the executive orders do call for a substantial reorganization of the organization.' Asked about the timeline of getting new reactors online, the official said that the administration is looking to test and deploy nuclear reactors within the remainder of Trump's term. CNN's Ella Nilsen contributed to this report.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Trump signs executive orders to "usher in the American nuclear renaissance"
President Trump on Friday signed several executive orders to help clear the way for more nuclear power development and, in the words of one of his top officials, "usher in the American nuclear renaissance." "It's a hot industry, it's a brilliant industry," Mr. Trump said of nuclear power before signing the executive orders. The White House says the orders the president approved Friday will help ensure American energy dominance and provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to the country. The four nuclear energy executive actions the president signed Friday will speed up nuclear reactor testing at Department of Energy laboratories and expedite applications, officials said. The orders will also clear a path for the Department of Energy and the Pentagon to build nuclear reactors on federally owned land, overhaul the Nuclear Reactor Commission and encourage uranium mining and enrichment. "The first tranche of EOs relates to nuclear energy where President Trump is taking truly historic action to usher in the American nuclear renaissance," said Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, in a call with reporters Friday morning. Nuclear energy accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nation's power. On Friday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the U.S. has "choked" the nuclear industry "through overregulation." And nuclear energy is key to winning the AI race with China, Burgum said. "Energy security is national security," said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding that troops need reliable energy. Kratsios said the U.S. has been the world leader in nuclear innovation in the past, but that in the last three decades, has only started and built two reactors. As of August 2023, the U.S. had 93 operating commercial nuclear reactors at 54 nuclear power plants across 28 states, with the average age of those reactors about 42 years old, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A senior White House official also said the administration is hoping to test and deploy nuclear reactors before the president's term concludes. It's not yet clear what the "substantial reorganization" of the National Reactor Commission would look like. "Just like any substantial reorganization, there will be turnover and changes in roles," one senior White House official said. "Total reduction in staff is undetermined at this point, but the executive orders do call for a substantial reorganization of the organization." The president was asked to address any concerns that speeding up the permitting process could affect safety. "We're going to get it very fast and we're going to get it very safe," Mr. Trump said.
