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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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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.
Did you know that as an ANS Student Member you can attend the ANS Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, and receive reimbursement of your registration fee plus a portion of your travel costs?
Participating in the Student Program is a great way to meet other students as well as professionals in your chosen field of study. It’s also an opportunity to begin making your name and carving your path within your professional society!
All you have to do is work and participate in various activities at the conference and earn a minimum of 10 points.
Student Program Instructions
Participation in the 2021 Winter Meeting Student Program is open to the first 72 students to register. So make sure to register early!
Simply register for the conference and select ‘ANS Student Member (STUDENT PROGRAM)' as your Registration Item.
Last modified October 20, 2021, 12:52pm EDT
