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Iowa Research Promotes Nuclear Energy Industry Development

The Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force released a report stating that, leveraging experience in deploying new energy technologies, a strong manufacturing base, workforce conditions, and the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant restart plan, Iowa is well-positioned to play a greater role in the growing nuclear energy industry. NextEra Energy has agreed to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, primarily to supply power to Google. Image courtesy of NextEra Energy. The task force was established by Iowa's governor in January of this year with the mission of assessing opportunities for advancing nuclear energy technology and infrastructure in the state. The report recommends that Iowa conduct a statewide nuclear energy feasibility study, identify areas suitable for new nuclear project development, and establish a one-stop coordination window to facilitate nuclear project advancement.

2026-09-08

Restart Plan for Unit 3 of Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant May Face Uncertainty Due to Supplementary Review and Accident

Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Unit 3 of the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant was originally scheduled to restart in 2027, but the plan may face uncertainty due to additional review items and a fatal accident at the construction site. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced on August 20 that it will hold a supplementary review meeting on September 3 to deliberate on the approval of construction plans related to the restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. This review requires new confirmation of fire safety measures. Hokkaido Electric Power stated that it will explain the construction plans at the September meeting and continue to work toward the 2027 restart target. Additionally, during the seawall construction at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, a...

2026-08-23

Survey of Japanese 18-year-olds: Nearly 60% support restarting or replacing nuclear reactors that meet safety standards

A survey of young people around age 18 in Japan shows that nearly 60% of respondents support restarting nuclear power plants that meet safety standards or replacing existing reactors with new units; meanwhile, over 70% of respondents have expectations or some expectations for advanced innovative reactors. The 18-year-old awareness survey conducted by the Nippon Foundation asked respondents to choose which of two statements was closer to their own view: one being that nuclear power plants meeting safety standards should be restarted or replaced with new units; the other being that nuclear power should not be relied upon due to accident risks and radioactive waste issues. The results showed that 28.5% of respondents said their view was "close" to the first statement, and 29.8...

2026-08-16

Taiwan's Nuclear Plant No. 3 safety inspection schedule extended to 2029, nuclear restart progress faces uncertainty

The latest report from the Audit Department shows that the actual progress of Taiwan's nuclear restart may be lower than expected by the public. Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs has determined that Nuclear Plant No. 2 and Nuclear Plant No. 3 are feasible for restart, and Taipower's restart plan for Nuclear Plant No. 3 has been submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission for review, a gap has emerged in the progress of the critical self-conducted safety inspections. Although the five self-conducted safety inspection contracts for Nuclear Plant No. 3 have been awarded, the contract performance period may be extended to July 2029, casting uncertainty over the original goal of completing document review by the end of 2028. Nuclear Plant No. 3 is currently regarded as the plant with the best chance of advancing toward restart, but its restart process still must clear multiple hurdles including safety review, aging assessment, aging management, and related document review...

2026-08-10

NRC Preliminary Assessment Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts from Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant Restart

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a draft environmental assessment for the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, preliminarily concluding that the project would not result in significant environmental impacts. NextEra Energy plans to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Palo, Iowa, as early as 2029, and has made significant progress. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Advantage Financing participated as a cooperating agency in drafting the environmental assessment, as the department is considering providing financial support for the restart project. According to a notice in the Federal Register, NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of restarting the 615-megawatt Duane Arnold nuclear power plant on land use, meteorology, air quality and...

2026-08-05

Italy Moves to Approve Advanced Nuclear Legal Framework, Paving Way for Small Modular Reactors

Italy's parliament is expected to approve a bill next week establishing a legal framework for advanced nuclear technologies, covering next-generation nuclear solutions such as small modular reactors (SMRs). If passed, the bill would authorize the government to formulate specific rules within one year on reactor licensing, safety regulation, radioactive waste management, and site selection. Italy's Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, stated that the government's current responsibility is to create the necessary conditions so that entities responsible for future construction decisions can proceed in accordance with the law. In June this year, the Italian Chamber of Deputies...

2026-08-02

Restart of Tomari Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Delayed to After End of 2027

Hokkaido Electric Power Co. announced on July 30 that the restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant will be significantly delayed compared to earlier expectations, with the earliest possible date being the end of 2027 or later. Previously, the company had set a target of restarting as early as possible within 2027, but due to delays in the seawall construction project and the fact that the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has not yet completed its review of the relevant design and construction plans, the timeline for the unit's return to operation remains uncertain. Hokkaido Electric Power President Susumu Saito stated at a press conference that the seawall at the Tomari plant was originally scheduled for completion in the spring of 2027, but is now expected to be finished by mid-August 2027 due to additional work such as seismic reinforcement of the wharf and liquefaction countermeasures...

2026-07-31

Public Meeting Held on Restart Plan for Three Mile Island Unit 1

As electricity demand from AI-related data centers rises, multiple locations across the United States are reassessing the value of nuclear reactors originally slated for decommissioning. Recently, the restart plan for Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in eastern Pennsylvania has entered the public engagement phase. The Three Mile Island plant has long been under scrutiny due to the 1979 accident at Unit 2, which involved a nuclear fuel meltdown and the release of radioactive materials. The proposed restart involves the adjacent Unit 1, which has been in the decommissioning process since 2019. Upon restart, it will operate under the name "Crane Clean Energy Center." On July 28, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission...

2026-07-30