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.
Technical Session|Panel
Saturday, April 10, 2021|1:00–2:00PM EDT
Session Chair:
Amanda M. Bachmann (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Alternate Chair:
Kathryn A. Mummah
Session Organizer:
Edward Chen (NC State Univ.)
Track Organizer:
Session Producers:
Declan Miller (NC State Univ.)
Nuclear non-proliferation and international safeguards are important national security topics that require significant nuclear engineering expertise. Yet, most nuclear engineering programs do not require students to take a non-proliferation course, and some nuclear degree-granting universities don't even offer such a course. Luckily, there are a variety of opportunities for students to develop their expertise in non-proliferation, from internships and short courses, to graduate fellowships and post-degree programs. Students and recent graduates who have participated in these extra-curricular programs will share their experience and recommend ways for students to develop their expertise and prepare for a career in nuclear non-proliferation and international safeguards. Slides + more program info: http://bit.ly/ans-nonpro-2021
Kathryn Mummah
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Amanda Bachmann
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Terri Poxon-Pearson
PNNL
Marc Wonders
Rayna Rogers
Middlebury Institute
To access the session recording, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
To access session resources, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
