Tag: United States

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How Shifting U.S. Energy Policy Is Reshaping the Talent Landscape

One year into the latest U.S. administration, the energy sector has experienced tectonic policy shifts that blend industrial urgency with geopolitical ambition.

At the centre of these changes is a refocusing of national energy strategy toward speed, security, and domestic competitiveness, changes already influencing the workforce demands across clean, reliable baseload technologies such as nuclear.

Digital Infrastructure Drives a New Era of Energy Demand

A surge in U.S. data‑centre expansion, treated as a strategic national asset, has been one of the clearest signals of this new policy direction.

With digital infrastructure now dictating energy priorities, the emphasis on grid reliability and uninterrupted power supply has intensified.

For the nuclear sector, long valued for its stability and low‑carbon generation, this creates a renewed platform to position reactor technologies and nuclear‑skilled professionals as essential to the digital economy’s energy backbone.

Tariffs and Supply Chain Disruption Shift Skills Requirements

A sweeping escalation in tariffs has strained supply chains for core energy‑sector materials, from metals to power‑system components, raising project costs and injecting uncertainty across the industry.

The ripple effect has already driven a dramatic rise in tariff‑related job postings, signalling the need for specialists who can navigate complex procurement, regulatory, and engineering challenges.

For nuclear employers, this environment increases demand for professionals skilled in supply‑chain resilience, component qualification, and strategic sourcing.

Persistent Demand Growth Strengthens the Case for Nuclear Talent

Despite volatility, U.S. power demand continues to surge at record levels. Utilities and developers are being pushed to innovate, diversify, and accelerate project pipelines.

Because nuclear offers round‑the‑clock reliability, predictable generation, and enhanced energy security, these conditions heighten the sector’s strategic relevance and intensify the need for a workforce capable of delivering new build, life‑extension, SMR deployment, and advanced reactor innovation.

What This Means for the Nuclear Workforce

The evolving U.S. landscape underscores a global truth; energy security, digital growth, and clean power commitments are converging, and nuclear expertise sits at that intersection.

For organisations and professionals in the nuclear industry, this moment calls for:

  • Adaptive skills in regulatory policy, geopolitically aware supply‑chain planning, and safety‑critical engineering.
  • Strategic leadership capable of guiding complex capital projects through shifting market and policy conditions.
  • Innovation‑ready talent prepared to support SMRs, microreactors, advanced fuels, and hybrid energy systems.
  • Cross‑sector fluency, especially with digital infrastructure, storage, AI‑driven grid optimisation, and industrial decarbonisation.

As the energy landscape transforms, nuclear careers are not just participating, they’re becoming central to enabling resilient, future‑proof power systems.

Picture: businessinsider.com

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NRC Extends Clinton and Dresden Licenses to 2050

Constellation Energy has secured a major regulatory victory, with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granting 20-year license renewals for Clinton Unit 1 and Dresden Units 2 and 3, marking crucial milestones in the ongoing push to sustain and extend nuclear power’s contribution to the energy mix.

Beginning with the Nuclear Engineering International article on “Life ex for Clinton and Dresden,” we learn these Illinois reactors, once slated for shutdown, are now cleared to operate well into mid-century; Clinton until 2047, Dresden 2 until 2049, and Dresden 3 until 2051. This regulatory win caps a comprehensive assessment of safety, equipment integrity, and environmental impacts, essential benchmarks underpinning the renewals.

Behind the scenes, Constellation has invested more than $370 million across both sites, upgrading transformers, chillers, feedwater systems, and polisher units to enhance reliability, efficiency, and safety standards. These upgrades are not just technical necessities; they signal a strategic bet on nuclear’s enduring role in clean energy portfolios, and bolster grid stability.

The nuclear project also embodies broader economic and social benefits. These extended licenses help safeguard over 2,200 family-sustaining jobs and preserve nearly $8.1 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues. Furthermore, a landmark 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta provides Clinton with essential revenue certainty following the sunset of Illinois’ Zero Emission Credit (ZEC) scheme in 2027. These contracts are emblematic of how corporate partnerships are reshaping the economic viability of nuclear operations.

The NucNet report emphasises how this trio of license renewals adds to a growing cohort, thirteen reactors secured multi-decade extensions in 2025 alone, offering over 12 GW of sustained, carbon-free energy capacity for roughly 10 million homes. This reflects a concerted effort by the NRC to streamline approvals and underscore long-term energy resilience.

Finally, the Constellation press release reiterates the NRC’s commitment not only to stringent safety standards but also to process efficiency. With these decisions, Clinton and Dresden are poised to supply clean, dependable power while underpinning local economies and preserving critical industry talent.

By extending these plants into the 2040s and 2050s, Constellation is demonstrating that nuclear can successfully compete in today’s energy markets, especially when backed by regulatory foresight, strategic capital investment, and future-facing offtake agreements.

This story offers rich insight for nuclear careers professionals; maintaining existing fleet infrastructure represents a pivotal career pathway, as nuclear operators, regulators, and suppliers drive the twin missions of extension and modernisation.

Sources: constellation energy, energyonline.com, nucnet.org, power-eng.com, neimagazine.com, nrc.gov

Picture: Constellation

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DOE Gives $1 billion loan to Three Mile Island

Constellation Energy is financing Crane Clean Energy Center, formerly known as Three Mile Island (TMI-1), via the Department of Energy (DOE).

It’s a big commitment from the DOE towards restarting the site as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement to power Microsoft’s data centres.

There is still a wait for state permitting, recommissioning work, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval.

DOGE downsizing has threatened staff jobs at the Loan Programme Office (LPO) and despite these challenges, the Trump administration is leveraging the LPO to move along his May executive orders.

Due to other positive plant restarts such as Palisades led by Holtec and Duane Arnold led by NextEra Energy, we are remaining optimistic that Crane will also be able to push forward with work.

Source:https://www.ans.org/news/2025-11-20/article-7570/crane-restart-boosted-by-1b-lpo-loan/

Picture: Constellation

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U.S. Control Over Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain

As it stands, U.S. nuclear generators import almost all of their uranium from other countries. Locations include Canada, Australia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

With uranium usage above 32 million pounds, there is a significant opportunity for the U.S. to take a look at their domestic supply chain.

States such as Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico already have uranium mined areas. Parts of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana have large areas that are not currently being mined, hence the opportunity at hand.

By July 4th, 2026, President Trump wanted to have 3 research & development sites for advanced nuclear reactors identified outside of national laboratories. The president is focused on his ambitions to reform nuclear reactor testing and to deploy nuclear reactor technologies for national security.

The Department of Energy (DOE) also has the high-assay low-enriched uranium allocation program where there have been 5 companies selected for the first-round criteria. The second round supports the testing of advanced reactor designs and the establishment of domestic fuel lines.

More info at the following links; https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-first-pilot-project-advanced-nuclear-fuel-lines; https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64444; https://www.neimagazine.com/analysis/fuelling-the-future/

Picture: Georgia Power

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The Nuclear Space Race

The race to space is on!

The show case of power is for all to see as the U.S., Russia and China all flaunt their intentions to be the first to build a nuclear power plant on the moon.

NASA, Roscosmos and the CNSA are the names involved. The latter two are working in partnership to deploy a reactor to power their planned Lunar Research Station, and NASA’s plans would provide ~100kw of electrical power while heating a base camp for the crews of the lunar-landing Artemis missions.

There have been setbacks including NASA’s budget or lack thereof, which is of course a huge issue with a project of this size and complexity. Russia has old, but reliable technology, while China has new yet untested technology, so this pairing could be powerful.

As this race continues, there is also the large task of how we design and build new nuclear power plants on our home planet. There is also the focus on defence technology including the use of autonomous systems, quantum computing, and laser systems all while ensuring we are utilising sustainable practices.

Will this happen by the current 2030 timeline? We won’t hold our breath, but we look forward to seeing what’s next for human and nuclear space exploration.

“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind” – Neil Armstrong

Sources: The American Nuclear Society, Space.com, Power Technology

Picture: Lockheed Martin

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U.S. Disappointed with Rolls-Royce Build in Wales

As news of the first British site for Rolls-Royce SMR was announced, plenty of people celebrated while the U.S. was left disappointed by the decision.

We posted yesterday about this news, and although we want a strong bond between the UK and the U.S., British nuclear needs to plant its foot on home ground. We see no reason why other sites cannot be found elsewhere for future new builds; however, the site at Anglesey was something Westinghouse had their sights on.

The U.S. are interested in larger-scale nuclear projects, and utilising Westinghouse is seen as a faster, cheaper and already approved way to get cleaner, more affordable energy to the UK.

The AP300 leverages proven AP1000 tech for regulatory ease, offers simplified design for lower cost and faster construction with proven passive safety systems (gravity-fed cooling, natural circulation).

While everyone has their wants and needs over energy management and the nuclear future in Britian, we would do well to keep U.S.-UK relations strong, but really, only time will tell what’s next.

One thing’s for sure; a focus on skills and talent is going to be crucial. Britain has many nuclear and energy related infrastructure projects on-going and, in the future plans, the competition for top talent is rife and it’s only going to increase.

For those wanting to truly get ahead, we must address the skills gap at mid-career and look to succession plan up to the executive level. The sharing of expert knowledge and experience is crucial while transitioning talent into civil nuclear and energy. If we are to meet demand, we have to take our recruitment strategies seriously.

Picture: Getty Images

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Iowa’s Nuclear Power Plant Facility

There is a planned restart of Iowa’s only nuclear plant, the Duane Arnold Energy Center (Duane Arnold), with operations resuming sometime in 2029.

Google have signed a new agreement with NextEra Energy to meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure.

This is an exciting move for U.S. nuclear leadership and security while achieving clean, reliable energy via nuclear.

The restarting of the plant will encourage improved growth in the American economy (more than $9 billion) by increasing job opportunities (over 2000 direct/indirect/highly skilled), allowing scientific advancements, improving health & education prospects, and enhancing security.

NextEra Energy will take a 100% ownership in the plant as they are acquiring Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) and Corn Belt Power Cooperative’s 30% commitment, in an agreement that matches Google’s.

Due to this agreement Google and NextEra Energy are also exploring developing new generation nuclear across the U.S.

NextEra Energy is one of the leading electricity providers to homes and businesses and is one of the largest electric power and energy infrastructure companies in North America.

Read the full story; https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/NextEra-Energy-and-Google-Announce-New-Collaboration-to-Accelerate-Nuclear-Energy-Deployment-in-the-U-S?l=12

Picture: NextEra Energy (Duane Arnold)

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Westinghouse, Brookfield & Cameco Partnership

Westinghouse, Brookfield & Cameco Announce $80 Billion Strategic Partnership with U.S. Government

Westinghouse Electric Company, Brookfield Asset Management, and Cameco have entered a landmark strategic partnership with the U.S. Government to deploy $80 billion worth of new nuclear reactors across the United States. This initiative, aligned with the May 2025 Executive Orders, positions nuclear energy as a cornerstone of America’s energy sovereignty, AI infrastructure, and national security.

At the heart of this deployment is Westinghouse’s AP1000® reactor technology, known for its passive safety systems, modular construction, and minimal land footprint per MWe. Each two-unit AP1000 project is expected to create or sustain 45,000 engineering and manufacturing jobs across 43 states, with national deployment projected to generate over 100,000 construction jobs.

Technical & Strategic Highlights

  • AI Integration: The reactors will power data centers and compute infrastructure, supporting America’s leadership in artificial intelligence.
  • Supply Chain Revitalization: The partnership aims to reinvigorate the U.S. nuclear industrial base and expand global exports of Westinghouse technology.
  • Global Reach: AP1000 reactors are already operational or under construction in Poland, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, reinforcing Westinghouse’s global footprint.

Recruitment & Thought Leadership Implications

This partnership signals a nuclear renaissance, creating unprecedented opportunities for engineers, project managers, AI specialists, and supply chain professionals. It also reaffirms the importance of cross-sector collaboration—between energy, technology, and government—to meet future energy demands.

For professionals and graduates considering careers in nuclear, this is a pivotal moment. The scale and ambition of this initiative will require next-generation talent across disciplines—from reactor design and AI integration to regulatory affairs and infrastructure development.

For original release visit; https://westinghousenuclear.com/strategic-partnership/

Picture: Westinghouse

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Solidifying Hanford waste in glass

The Hanford site, based in Benton County, Washington, has started up its low-level waste facility where a crucial element of the plant is solidifying the Hanford tank waste in glass.

The Hanford waste treatment plant is designed to safely process 56 million gallons of radioactive waste that is stored in its tanks.

This site was initially used for plutonium production during WWII and the Cold War, and it is now critical that the site addresses its environmental legacy through the plants primary mission to safely treat and stabalise radioactive & chemical waste through a process called vitrification. The waste gets mixed with glass-forming materials and heated to ~2,100 degrees Fahrenheit to create a stable glass form.

“The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant represents a monumental effort in environmental remediation, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with decades of nuclear waste storage. With ongoing advancements and successful operational milestones, the plays a crucial role in the long-term cleanup and safety of the Hanford Site and surrounding communities”

https://www.hanfordvitplant.com/newsroom/the-hanford-site-begins-solidifying-tank-waste-in-glass

Picture from: Hanford Vit Plant

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