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Cardinal News

Serving Southwest and Southside Virginia

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Small Modular Nuclear Reactor

Governor Youngkin is proposing a small modular nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia

Types of nuclear reactors. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants Virginia to build a small modular reactor in Southwest Virginia. Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.
Posted inEconomy

25 questions about small nuclear reactors

by Cardinal Staff January 19, 2023January 19, 2023

Readers have been asking questions about the small modular reactor Gov. Youngkin wants to bring to Southwest Virginia since Cardinal News began reporting on it. We’ve been listening. Here is everything we can tell you about some of the most frequently asked questions about the project.

North Anna Power Station in Louisa County. Courtesy of Dominion Energy.
Posted inOpinion

Youngkin’s nuclear initiative would make Virginia an energy innovator

by Jerry Bischof January 4, 2023January 3, 2023

Given its nuclear experience, Virginia is well-positioned to deploy small modular reactors. Leaders from both parties recognize nuclear technology must play a central role in securing America’s clean energy goals and maintaining grid security and reliability.

Types of nuclear reactors. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants Virginia to build a small modular reactor in Southwest Virginia. Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.
Posted inOpinion

Small modular reactors are not going to save the day

by Arjun Makhijani January 4, 2023January 3, 2023

Both Dominion and Gov. Youngkin’s office included SMRs in their 2022 plans, but expanding nuclear is not as timely and efficient as proponents claim. Solar, wind and new energy storage technologies can address the entire decarbonization problem.

Posted inEconomy

Youngkin wants a small nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia. Here’s what we know about nuclear waste disposal in Virginia.

by Susan Cameron January 3, 2023January 3, 2023

Questions surround the plan for a small modular reactor in Southwest Virginia and many center on waste. Although there aren’t many answers yet, the only approved SMR design’s waste would have a lot in common with spent fuel from today’s nuclear reactors, about which we know a lot.

Types of nuclear reactors. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants Virginia to build a small modular reactor in Southwest Virginia. Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.
Posted inEconomy

Panelists debate small modular nuclear reactors: Unsafe and unnecessary or another path to a carbon-free economy

by Susan Cameron December 16, 2022December 16, 2022

Panelists debated the SMR that Gov. Youngkin has proposed for Southwest Virginia Thursday. Some residents and environmental agencies say they’ve been left out of the discussion and SMRs are unproven technology, others argue it’s the best way to go carbon-free.

Types of nuclear reactors. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants Virginia to build a small modular reactor in Southwest Virginia. Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.
Posted inEconomy

Dominion Energy plans to deploy small modular nuclear reactors statewide by 2032

by Markus Schmidt December 15, 2022December 17, 2022

The Richmond based utility is evaluating several sites in Southwest Virginia, including retired fossil fuel plants and former coal mines. Appalachian Power Company says it’s also looking at the new nuclear technology.

The Russian small modular reactor aboard the barge Akademik Lomonosov. Courtesy of Elena Dider.
Posted inOpinion

The complicated politics of nuclear power

by Dwayne Yancey December 5, 2022December 5, 2022

Feelings about nuclear energy generally split along left-right lines. But while Gov. Glenn Youngkin is pushing nuclear energy in Virginia, it’s left-of-center governments that are now pushing small nuclear reactors internationally and a conservative state legislator in Southwest Virginia who opposes them.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin presents his energy plan in Lynchburg in October. Photo by Dwayne Yancey.
Posted inEconomy

Why Youngkin and nuclear proponents say now is the time to bring a small modular nuclear reactor to Southwest Virginia

by Susan Cameron November 29, 2022December 1, 2022

Youngkin and other nuclear proponents say Southwest Virginia’s abundant abandoned coal mine land and the need for jobs and economic development make the region an ideal spot for a small modular nuclear reactor. Critics say they’ve been left out of the discussion.

Types of nuclear reactors. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants Virginia to build a small modular reactor in Southwest Virginia. Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.
Posted inEconomy

Experts say Virginia is capable of building a small modular nuclear reactor today if approvals were in place. Here’s how.

by Susan Cameron November 28, 2022December 1, 2022

Small modular nuclear reactors are about a third of the size of typical reactors. There are no SMRs operating in the U.S., but experts say Virginia is equipped to build one if approvals go through.

Posted inPolitics

Gilbert and West Virginia counterpart announce push for small nuclear reactors in rural areas

by Susan Cameron October 13, 2022December 1, 2022

The announcement comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared support for such a reactor in Southwest Virginia.

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