Check out this interview with Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA North America, on Canada’s Business News Network television. A leading player in Canada’s nuclear energy industry, AREVA has more than 400 employees at 26 sites across the country. Besnainou discussed AREVA’s business in Canada and the prospects for new nuclear generation in North America. He is speaking today at the annual Canadian Nuclear Association conference in Ottawa.
Last week in Canada, the ATMEA joint venture between AREVA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has submitted the ATMEA1™ reactor for pre-project design review with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The ATMEA reactor is a 1,100 Megawatt Generation III+ pressurized water reactor (PWR) using reliable and proven technology, developed by the partnership.
When I find a Washington Post commentary like this recent piece by Brandi Colander, I feel compelled to applaud and spread the word. As an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Colander clearly lays out the reasoning for offshore wind in her support for the significant job creation, environmental benefits, and stabilized energy prices in Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act.
AREVA has announced that 14-year company veteran Bill Gallo will become Chief Executive Officer of AREVA Solar, the group’s global solar business unit headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., effective March 1.
Bill Gallo
Gallo currently serves as President and CEO of AREVA Federal Services, where he has overseen the establishment and growth of this 500-employee company focused on public sector contracts.
AREVA Solar designs, manufactures and installs solar steam generators for its global power generation and industrial customers in a dependable, competitive and environmentally responsible manner.
AREVA’s CLFR solar thermal technology is water-conservative and the most land-efficient renewable energy technology available. This technology can improve a utility’s energy mix by either building new CO2-free plants or by boosting the capacity of existing plants with solar generated steam. AREVA concentrated solar power installations can also provide solar steam for a variety of industrial processes.
To learn more, check out this video on AREVA’s concentrated solar thermal energy plant Kimberlina in Bakersfield, Calif.—the first such plant linked to the Californian network for 20 years.
As we have been covering issues surrounding the proposed 2011 Federal budget, there is great information in this latest poll:
The survey found that 79 percent of respondents agree that, “to jump-start investment and maintain U.S. competitiveness, the federal government should provide guarantees backing loans for buildings solar, wind, advanced-design nuclear power plants or other energy technology that reduces greenhouse gases.” Nineteen percent of those surveyed do not agree, and two percent don’t know.
Those who “strongly agree” outnumber those who “strongly disagree” by a similarly lopsided margin, 46 percent to 10 percent.
This was a telephone survey of 1,000 U.S. adults was conducted Feb. 10-13 by Bisconti Research Inc./GfK Roper for the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Although the new proposed Federal budget is clearly only at it’s earliest stages of formation, we were pleased to see that in the President’s proposal funding for nuclear development is seen as a key priority. As noted at GigaOM:
“The government wants to promote nuclear power in a big way, and the DOE wants to be able to offer $36 billion in loan guarantees which, combined with its existing ability to provide $18.5 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear, would be able to fund six to eight nuclear power projects.”
We hope that this is one area that can see bipartisan support as the different sides in the budget process work their way towards a final plan.
AREVA announced today that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found no environmental impacts that would preclude issuing a license to build its Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility near Idaho Falls, Idaho.
The NRC issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement today saying in a statement that “environmental impacts from the facility would be generally small, and recommended issuing the license.”
“With the NRC Final Environmental Impact Statement, AREVA’s Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility continues its steady march forward toward regulatory approval. Based on current progress, we remain confident we can receive license approval for this facility this year,” said Sam Shakir, President and CEO of AREVA Enrichment Services.
AREVA has signed an alliance agreement with Dominion Resources to provide standard and specialized services to all four Dominion nuclear stations. This alliance covers steam generator services, specialty non-destructive examination (NDE) services, refuel services and pump and motor field services to Dominion’s nuclear plants for the next five years.
The alliance includes standard and specialized maintenance services performed during routine nuclear plant outages. The four Dominion nuclear stations include Kewaunee in Wisconsin, Millstone in Connecticut, and North Anna and Surry, both located in Virginia.
“We are thrilled and proud of our entire team,” said AREVA Inc. Chief Operating Officer Mike Rencheck. “This agreement is a testament to AREVA’s responsiveness, high performance and commitment to safety and quality. We anticipate even higher achievements in the future, and we look forward to this enhanced relationship with Dominion to provide clean energy in Virginia and in the various other communities it serves.”
This is actually the third such alliance agreement AREVA has signed with a U.S. utility, already providing excellent service and delivery in our partnerships with Tennessee Valley Authority and Progress Energy.
While the energy conversation has been centering on new nuclear projects and potential opportunities, we want to talk about the existing fleet. The fleet of 104 existing U.S. reactors, providing more than 20 percent of our energy, and the more than 440 nuclear power plants, providing 14% of the world’s electricity, are important success stories that we don’t hear enough about.
For the whole story about how AREVA helps to keep these reactors operating smoothly and keeping your lights on, check out profiles of our innovation and successful outage projects here.
