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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
DOE fast tracks test reactor projects: What to know
The Department of Energy today unveiled 10 companies racing to bring test reactors online by next year to meet Trump's deadline of next Independance Day, leveraging a new DOE pathway that allows reactor authorization outside national labs. As first outlined in one of the four executive orders on nuclear energy released by President Trump on May 23 and in the request for applications for the Reactor Pilot Program released June 18, the companies must use their own money and sites—and DOE authorization—to get reactors operating. What they won’t need is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission license.
T. H. Smith, J. Greenborg, W. E. Matheson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 26 | Number 1 | May 1975 | Pages 54-64
Technical Paper | Radioisotope | doi.org/10.13182/NT75-A24404
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Cardiac pacemakers powered by Betacel 147Pm nuclear batteries are undergoing clinical evaluation in Europe and the United States. This benefit/risk study analyzes the potential effects from unrestricted use of 20 000 pacemakers powered by these betavoltaic batteries. The beneficial effects of this device (lives saved and reduced medical expenses) result from improved reliability and operating lifetime (∼9 yr) compared with widely available chemical batteries of substantially shorter life ( yr). Calculated benefits are $16 800 000/yr savings to society and 76 lives (∼800 life-years) saved per year. Risks to the patient and the general population are generally less than those from natural accidents such as landslides and lightning strikes. The calculated benefit/risk ratios of 180 in terms of lives and 440 in monetary terms are in the range commonly accepted by the public.
