ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2026
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Getting back to yes: A local perspective on decommissioning, restart, and responsibility
For 45 years, Duane Arnold Energy Center operated in Linn County, Ia., near the town of Palo and just northwest of Cedar Rapids. The facility, owned by NextEra Energy, was the only nuclear power plant in the state.
In August 2020, a historic derecho swept across eastern Iowa with winds approaching 140 miles per hour. Damage to the plant’s cooling towers accelerated a shutdown that had already been planned, and the facility entered decommissioning soon after, with its fuel removed in October of that year. Iowa’s only nuclear plant had gone off line.
Today the national energy landscape looks very different than it did just six short years ago. Electricity demand is rising rapidly as data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and electrification expand across the country. Reliable, carbon-free baseload power has become increasingly valuable. In that context, Linn County has approved the rezoning necessary to support the recommissioning and restart of Duane Arnold and is actively supporting NextEra’s efforts to secure the remaining state and federal approvals.
Join us for the first inaugural U.S. Nuclear Industry Council’s (USNIC) Space Nuclear Industry Symposium (SNIS)!
The event brings together industry, government and other business leaders to discuss ongoing activities and plans that are specifically aimed to design, demonstrate and deploy nuclear power and propulsion technologies to support a rapidly growing and exciting space economy.
This first inaugural USNIC SNIS is held in conjunction with the 2024 NETS conference and planned in close coordination with the NETS organizers. It provides attendees a unique first-of-a-kind opportunity to hear from, and exchange opinions with, industry leaders and other experts in space nuclear power and propulsion on the future and potential contributions of these technologies to the space economy as a whole.
Panel 1: The space nuclear industry: opportunities and challenges1:00–2:40PM MDT | Sweeney F
Panel 2: Enabling technology innovations for an emerging space nuclear economy: Role of partnerships3:15–4:55PM MDT | Sweeney F
USNIC Space Nuclear Industry Symposium Networking Reception6:00-7:30PM MDT | The Lumpkins Ballroom at the La Fonda Hotel
SNIS Chair:
Dr. Ron S. FaibishChair, US NIC Space and Emerging Technologies Working Group;Vice Chair, USNIC Board Of Directors;Sr. Director, Strategic Development, Nuclear Technologies and Materials, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS)
SNIS VICE CHAIR:
Joe MillerPresident, Advanced Technologies, BWXT
SNIS Sponsorship Prospectus
Last modified May 6, 2024, 10:16am MDT
