Statement from ANS President Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar on Barakah Nuclear Energy PlantPress ReleasesDecember 8, 2020, 6:44PM|ANS StaffANS congratulates the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. on bringing the first Barakah reactor to full operational capacity.Barakah Unit 1 reaching 100% power is an important milestone for the United Arab Emirates as the country’s first nuclear power plant moves one step closer to commercial operations. Once fully operational, the four-unit plant will provide around 25% of the country’s electricity and prevent the release of up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.Our congratulations also go out to the ANS UAE Section, Section Chair Gale Hauck, and the dedicated team of engineers on the ground for bringing Barakah online. Hauck, who helped establish the ANS UAE Section, served as Westinghouse Electric Co.’s Deputy Site Manager and is currently overseeing high priority testing of Barakah.Established in 1954, ANS is an international professional organization of engineers and scientists devoted to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. Its more than 9,500 members represent government, academia, research laboratories, medical facilities, and private industry. ANS’s mission is to advance, foster, and spur the development and application of nuclear science, engineering, and technology to benefit society. Tags:ans leadershipbarakahnuclear poweruaeShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Biden taps Janet McCabe to serve as deputy at EPAMcCabeThe incoming Biden administration plans to appoint Janet McCabe to serve as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, The Hill reported early Friday.McCabe previously served as the acting assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at the EPA for much of the Obama administration.Go to Article
The new normal?Mary Lou Dunzik-GougarHappy New Year! I sincerely hope that each of you found time to refresh and rejuvenate over the holidays, or at least have fun. Many indicators suggest that 2021 will be a better year than 2020, including a growing understanding of COVID-19 and its impacts and the availability of a vaccine. So many have suffered from job loss or even loss of businesses in 2020. Even for those of us fortunate enough to be healthy, gainfully employed, and able to work from anywhere thanks to Zoom and its competitors, uncertainty is still a challenging aspect of the pandemic.Go to Article
EU Taxonomy to Include Nuclear Energy as Sustainable Energy Source ANS PositionA PDF version of the letter can be downloaded here. I write on behalf of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) to recommend the EU’s inclusion of nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source securing Europe’s prosperous future. ANS and the 10,000 nuclear technology professionals it represents are committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit humanity.Go to Article
Statement from UAE Section of ANS Chair Gale Hauck on BarakahAt Barakah Site, we feel so lucky to be a part of such a historic achievement and to have contributed in some small way. I came to the UAE almost three years ago with the hope that I could see a first core initial startup at least once in my career. Now that it’s happened, it’s a little surreal. While we celebrate our accomplishments at the site, we remain focused on our everyday work. There’s still much to do to ensure Units 2, 3, and 4 can safely start up on schedule.Note: Hauck is also the Deputy Site Manager at Barakah for Westinghouse Electric Co.Go to Article
ANS signs agreement with Spanish Nuclear SocietyThe American Nuclear Society and Sociedad Nuclear Española (SNE) on December 10 signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) that creates a partnership between the two societies to cooperate in promoting the development of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.Go to Article
ANS leaders’ op-ed urges New York Gov. Cuomo to keep Indian Point-3 operatingDunzik-GougarPiercyThe scheduled premature shutdown of Indian Point-3 will all but guarantee a massive increase in fossil fuel use, according to an op-ed written by American Nuclear Society President Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar and Executive Director/CEO Craig Piercy that was published in the New York Daily News on November 30.Indian Point-3 is slated to be shut down in April 2021, four years before its operating license expires.Go to Article
ANS Board of Directors votes to retire outdated position statementsThe American Nuclear Society’s Board of Directors on November 19 voted to retire several outdated position statements, as requested by the Public Policy Committee. Among them are Position Statements #37 and #63, dating from 2010, which have been retired for lacking policy recommendations and for being redundant, as other position statements exist with language that better articulates the Society’s stance on those topics.Go to Article
Report highlights socioeconomic impact of power plant closuresCommunities that host nuclear power plants face “swift and severe” economic and social impacts following a plant’s closure, according to a report by the Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative that was released on October 12. The free, 61-page report, Socioeconomic Impacts from Nuclear Power Plant Closure and Decommissioning, examines the effects of nuclear power plant closures on surrounding host communities, along with the barriers to planning and mitigation, and offers recommendations to nuclear closure communities across the nation.According to the report, a typical nuclear power plant may operate in a relatively rural area and contribute upward of $400 million annually to the local and regional economics. That loss of revenue can have a severe impact on local public services such as schools and emergency responders. In addition to the economic benefits of operating nuclear power plants, the report points out that plant employees and their families strengthen host communities through their participation in local cultural, civic, and volunteer opportunities.Go to Article
Candidates nominated for 2021 ANS national electionCandidates have been named to fill seven ANS leadership positions with terms beginning in June 2021.ArndtMcDanielThe candidates for a one-year term as vice president/president-elect are Steven A. Arndt and Corey McDaniel. Arndt, ANS Fellow and member since 1981, is a senior technical advisor with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and McDaniel, ANS member since 2008, is chief commercial officer and director of industry engagement at Idaho National Laboratory.The elected candidate will succeed current ANS Vice President/President-Elect Steven Nesbit in June 2021, when Nesbit becomes president.Go to Article
Safety: It comes down to perceptionMary Lou Dunzik-GougarLast month I asked if you’ve ever wondered why nuclear isn’t commonly considered the choice for clean power production. I also provided what I hope will be useful information as you make the case for nuclear in discussions about clean energy. In addition to being the cleanest form of energy today, nuclear is also safe, reliable, and scalable. This month, let’s talk safety.Like the term “clean,” “safety” can mean something different to everyone. As measured by the number of deaths per unit of electricity produced, nuclear is on the same order of magnitude as “renewables” and other low-carbon sources of energy. Go to Article