A feature article in the Lynchburg (Va.) News & Advance focuses on the important role the nuclear industry plays in the region’s economy. Lynchburg hosts some 4,600 jobs related to the nuclear energy industry, including 2,000 at AREVA operations there. While much remains to be seen with regard to the situation in Japan, it does not signify an immediate impact on employment related to nuclear energy. For example, a significant portion of the work done in Lynchburg and other AREVA locations is focused on servicing existing reactors,

Click here to read the full article.

AREVA announced today it will partner with Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future for a Supplier Day event on March 31 in Jefferson City, Mo., that will explain the manufacturing, jobs, educational and other economic benefits of a new nuclear power facility in the state. The Supplier Day will enable AREVA to begin the process of identifying and certifying new partner companies that could supply, service and build clean energy facilities in Missouri, the United States and internationally.

AREVA Inc. Chief Operation Officer Mike Rencheck added that “A new nuclear plant project in Missouri would create thousands of jobs, spur billions of dollars of regional investment and stabilize the state’s electric rates for decades once built,”

This will be AREVA’s fourth U.S. Supplier Day; the first three were held in Baltimore, Md., Columbus, Ohio and Idaho Falls, Idaho, respectively. Manufacturers that become AREVA Certified Suppliers will join the 165 other U.S. companies already certified with opportunities to participate in AREVA projects around the world.

Stay tuned for updates about this event and other details as AREVA works to bring clean energy facilities, like nuclear power plants and renewable energy generation to the United States.

by Jarret Adams

Today AREVA launched a major campaign to support its global recruitment efforts. We’re focusing this effort in six major countries or regions, including North America, China, France, Germany, India and the Middle East. Our worldwide goal is to recruit 12,000 people, mostly engineers and technicians, this year.

In North America, AREVA plans to hire some 700 new employees this year, which would represent a 10 percent increase to its current work force on the continent. “We are aggressively recruiting top-notch employees in North America to support an ambitious expansion of our nuclear energy, renewables and electricity transmission and distribution businesses, which is now under way despite a difficult economic environment,” said Jacques Besnainou, President of AREVA Inc.

It’s interesting to note that during a time when many companies are cutting payroll, AREVA is looking to expand. This expansion speaks volumes of the value in the marketplace for our clean energy solutions, such as nuclear power, renewables and smart grid applications.

The recruitment of new employees in North America will support some of our major projects in development, including the AREVA Newport News manufacturing facility in southern Virginia, the Eagle Rock enrichment facility in Idaho, the detailed design of the U.S. EPR™ reactor under way in Lynchburg, Va., and Charlotte, N.C., and new smart grid applications at our facility in Redmond, Washington.

Click here to apply.

AREVA Recruiting Ad - Click to Enlarge

From Marvin Fertel, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (emphasis ours):

The nuclear energy industry already is playing an important role in stimulating the creation of new jobs and economic expansion, providing both near-term and lasting employment and economic benefits. Nuclear power plants provide more jobs than any other source of electricity. Based on jobs per 1,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, nuclear plants create 500 new jobs, compared to 220 for coal plants, 90 for wind plants and 60 for natural gas-fueled plants, according to Ventyx and the Energy Department.

Nuclear energy is one of the few bright spots in the U.S. economy – expanding rather than contracting. This reflects a consensus that any credible program to address climate change must include carbon-free technologies and the fact that our nation needs new baseload generating capacity as well as renewable energy sources.