“While other jurisdictions may be scaling back their nuclear energy commitment because of Fukushima, we are not,” said Tom Mitchell, president and CEO of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), according to an article in the Ottawa Citizen. Mitchell pointed out the events of last year have presented the industry with “a great opportunity.”

“It’s once again made people aware of nuclear energy. It may have put some aspects of the industry on the spot. But it’s also put us in the spotlight,” Mitchell said.

Patrick Lamarre, executive vice president at SNC-Lavalin group, told a packed conference that “our nuclear business is something we believe in.” Lamarre added that this business could contribute to a significant portion of our bottom line,” according to a Reuters report.

Lamarre urged the Ontario government to move forward with plans to build new reactors in the province, projects he said that would be important for the Province’s economy.

AREVA remains very committed in building new nuclear plants in Canada and has proposed its technology in Ontario as well as in New Brunswick.

“As the leading supplier to the nuclear sector worldwide, AREVA has very broad experience building new reactors and providing services to the existing fleet. In addition, AREVA is one of Canada’s top uranium producers. We remain very bullish regarding opportunities in Canada across all of our business lines,” said Jean-Francois Beland, executive vice president of AREVA Canada.

The participants felt a moral calling to advance nuclear science and technology through their work, and through their communications via social media. Most participants recounted an obligation that they felt to their community or their family, including the futures of their grandchildren….

I originally decided to work in nuclear energy because it was “cool” to me. When I first learned that the energy density of a single fuel pellet equaled almost a ton of coal, I had to learn more. When I was a young boy camping with a Boy Scout troop, they advocated leaving the campground in better condition than we found had it, so the energy density and cleanliness of nuclear energy compared with other energy sources was compelling to me as a young adult. I followed the “cool” path, in my eyes, not realizing at the time that I was making a moral or ethical choice.

That changed in an unexpected way when I graduated college, and I took an oath called The Obligation of the Engineer…

Electrical power production provides life-saving opportunities. Refrigeration keeps food safe. Air conditioning saves many from heat stroke during the summer, and heating systems preserve life in the winter. The medical industry is dependent on electricity for many life-saving technologies. As you’re reading this paragraph, you’re probably listing out other things that electricity does to preserve and enhance life in ways that many people take for granted. Nuclear energy provides this life-saving electricity with the smallest footprint per unit of energy, and in my strong opinion, makes “the best use of Earth’s precious wealth.”

I have an obligation to give my knowledge, without reservation, for the public good….

America’s long nuclear energy drought is officially over. For the first time in 33 years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a construction and operating license for a new nuclear reactor in the United States – actually two of them to expand Southern Company’s Plant Vogtle generating facility in Georgia.This is good news for U.S. electricity consumers, companies, and workers….

The NRC’s decision comes on the heels of another important development which bodes well for America’s “nuclear renaissance.” Last month, President Obama’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC) issued its final report. It offers a new strategy for breaking the impasse on nuclear waste disposal, which has tied politicians in knots over the proposed Yucca Mountain facility for decades…

if the NRC can follow today’s action with a commitment to speeding up the approval process, some of those costs could be mitigated. In any case, it’s critical for the United States to recapture its technological leadership in energy, which includes the civilian nuclear power industry that was first invented here.

And Christine Todd Whitman and Patrick Moore write that “New Reactors Signal US Nuclear Energy Resurgence” and cover similar ground:

These next-generation reactors will power scores of businesses and homes -1.6 million in Georgia alone – and it will do so affordably and reliably. At about two cents per kilowatt-hour, the production cost for electricity at nuclear energy facilities is lower than all other major sources of power. By comparison, energy from natural gas-fueled plants doubles that cost at roughly four cents per kilowatt-hour.

Because of the stable, low price of uranium used to fuel the production of electricity at nuclear energy facilities, the price of electricity from nuclear energy varies little. Georgia residents whose power comes from the new reactors could realize up to $20 in savings on each utility bill by 2034. These two new reactors, Vogtle units 3 and 4, are expected to save Georgia customers up to $6 billion in lower electricity rates over the life of the units as compared to a coal or natural gas plant….

Plans for new reactors at Plant Vogtle mark a critical step forward to make America’s energy supply more secure, jumpstart the economy, and protect the environment, all while enhancing safety….The simple truth is that more abundant American-made nuclear energy is a vital part of our brighter energy future, but for many decades and many reasons, our nation failed to expand our energy security by building more nuclear facilities. States like Georgia have established the way forward for nuclear energy expansion. With the right policy support, more states should follow their lead to ensure a sustainable clean energy future for all.

In both quotes, the authors recognize that as a country we have just passed a marker, a milestone of sorts. That the new reactors destined for Plant Vogtle in Burke County, GA, represent more than just good economic and energy news for the residents of South Georgia. That in some important way, they mark good news and hope for the U.S. economy and clean energy supply overall.

Environmental blog SmartPlanet posted a great story, “The US Nuclear Renaissance Has Begun ,” the impact of the NRC’s recent approval of twin AP1000 reactors at Vogtle Nuclear power plant in Georgia. SmartPlanet’s views on the current and next generations of nuclear technology, and what it means for the U.S. energy landscape provided a good perspective of the resurging nuclear industry.

The article begins with:

“There are cooling towers on the horizon in the United States. The nuclear renaissance is slated to begin in rural Georgia with new reactors being built over the next five years, and work is already underway to leap another generation ahead …”

In the interest of technology accuracy, they make a mis-classification a little further in the article: “The AP 1000 is classified as an EPR, or Evolutionary Power Reactor.”

Actually, AREVA’s EPR(TM) is an advanced Generation III+ reactor—same as Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor—but the two are not the same reactor.

They do share modern Gen III+ reactor safety designs and efficiencies. We were glad to see SmartPlanet point out some of these, such as the advanced defense-in-depth safety systems and design.

The article does a good job describing the importance of the Vogtle plant for the U.S., a good sketch of emerging technologies, and the key focus on implementing lessons learned from Fukushima in modern reactor designs. Read the entire article here.

• Multiple redundant passive and active safety features
• Double-hulled four-foot thick concrete reactor buildings able to withstand the impact of a jetliner
• Greater operating efficiency and reliability

As NEI president Marvin Fertel stated, “This is a historic day. Today’s licensing action sounds a clarion call to the world that the United States recognizes the importance of expanding nuclear energy as a key component of a low-carbon energy future that is central to job creation, diversity of electricity supply and energy security.”

And there’s more where that came from … the NRC is considering 18 Combined Licenses (COL) requesting authorization to build and operate nuclear power plants in the U.S., and an additional two Early Site Permit applications with the four already approved for locating nuclear facilities. The opportunity seems ripe for initiating the replacement of fossil fuel-based electricity generation, including coal and natural gas, with clean energy nuclear and renewables.

The two Vogtle reactor approvals join more than 60 reactors approved or under construction worldwide. Along with the new build projects here in the United States, other projects represent the nuclear industry’s continuing implementation of modern components and safety upgrades into existing facilities. At TVA’s Bellefonte facility in northern Alabama, AREVA is supplying a state-of-the-art digital reactor Instrumentation & Control (I&C) system, a completely modernized control room, and a plant simulator for training operations personnel. Last month during Nuclear Science Week, we announced the planned placement of a Filter Containment Venting System (FCVS) in a Romanian reactor to enhance its emergency safety system. Internationally, the safety systems in AREVA’s ATMEA(TM) reactor were approved by the French Nuclear Safety Authority.

We look forward to the NRC’s continued considered review and actions to enable the growth and expansion of safe, clean, reliable nuclear energy in the United States.

One of the great things about living and working in Washington, D.C., is being in the heart of the action, such as watching President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address from the House gallery. Although I’ve have the good fortune to attend most of President Obama’s joint session speeches, as well as joint sessions under previous administrations, it never gets old.

Observing the pre-speech activities – watching the Members interaction, applauding the First Lady’s entrance, chatting with Members afterward and, of course, the electric moment when the House Sergeant-at-Arms calls out: “Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States!” and then watching the President enter chamber are all high points of these events.

But beyond the political theatre and pageantry, hearing the President’s message to Congress, in which he lays out the roadmap for his policies in the next year is always the most compelling part.

As a member of the AREVA Community Advisory Council, I am particularly interested in the Administration’s energy policy, so I leaned in when, halfway through his speech, the President turned his attention to this topic. It was very gratifying to hear him not only refer specifically to “America’s energy future,” but to offer up specific proposals to get us there.

The President praised the clean energy industry, saying it has “rarely been more profitable … never been more promising.” He acknowledged that today’s political climate makes it impossible to pass a comprehensive climate change plan, but called on Congress to begin taking steps to create a clean energy standard for innovation.

The President went on to announce a plan to develop clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes and revealed that the Navy would purchase enough capacity to power 250,000 homes a year – one of the largest federal commitments to clean energy in history. He also proposed to help incentivize manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and upgrade their buildings, noting that this will result in a less pollution, more jobs, increased manufacturing and a $100 billion reduction in energy costs over the next decade.

While the President did not specifically mention nuclear energy in his speech, his plan encompasses the energy mix of which nuclear is a key part. And the following day, the White House offered more details of the plan in “A Blueprint to Make the Most of America’s Energy Resources,” which noted that 80% of the nation’s electricity will come from clean sources, including renewable sources, such as nuclear, wind, solar and biomass.

Just as I carefully noted the President’s clean energy plans, I also paid close attention to how the Members of Congress responded to his proposals. Fortunately, I had a perfect seat both to watch the President and to scrutinize the reaction. While much of the reaction to the speech was partisan – with members of the President’s party applauding loudly while members of the opposition remained silent – Members of both parties reacted positively to some of the President’s clean energy proposals.

It was good to hear the President so clearly restate his commitment to clean energy and creating jobs in the clean energy industry. It was also encouraging to see the possibility for a bipartisan approach to clean energy.

This possibility may be a slight one; much will get lost in the noise and smoke of 2012 presidential and congressional politics. But let’s hope that the White House and Congress will rise above partisan politics and work together to ensure that clean energy is an integral part of America’s energy future.

During his speech, the President assured us that “I will not walk away from clean energy.” That’s a promise we should all help him keep.

A coal-fired electrical plant in Tucson, Ariz., is going green — or at least “greener” — partnering with a French, state-owned nuclear company to install a solar add-on that will generate enough clean electricity to power 600 homes using high-pressure, superheated steam warmed by a series of mirrors.

The new solar project is expected to begin construction in Spring 2012 and to be up and running at the current H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station in Tucson by 2013, according to a news release from plant operator Tucson Electric Power and AREVA, the French energy company behind the solar technology.

“Solar booster projects like this are gaining momentum in the United States and around the world as a way to leverage existing power infrastructure to provide needed energy with no new emissions,” said Bill Gallo, CEO of AREVA Solar, in the joint news release on Tuesday.

You can read the entire article here.

Recently, GreenBiz brought hundreds of thought leaders and sustainability executives for the New York installation of their annual forum. The program included insight and innovation from Interface , IBM, Wal-Mart, and Gazelle on topics that ranged from sustainable consumption, to the further integration of sustainability into core business areas, to the conVERGEnce of energy, building, information, and transportation technologies.

Last week, I made my way to the Big Apple to facilitate a GreenBiz Guru session on stakeholder engagement, a topic that is near and dear to AREVA as evidenced by our recent dialogue in partnership with the Greater Washington Urban League. The dialogue I facilitated on stakeholder engagement touched upon how companies can and should develop a multi-pronged approach to stakeholder outreach that serves as a platform for collaboration and innovation, facilitates stakeholder feedback, supports business’ license to operate, and helps companies to anticipate and respond to a variety of stakeholder expectations. AREVA’s approach to stakeholder engagement includes national and international stakeholder dialogues, local mapping, and community engagement activities and is complimented by our participation in industry level groups and initiatives.

In the broadest sense, we (business, government, civil society) are all critical stakeholders regarding the challenge and global imperative known as sustainable development. We influence and participate in a complex and interconnected system that results in our various economic, environmental and societal realities. Clean, safe, affordable energy is at the heart of many of the solutions that effectively balance responsible growth, to which AREVA is committed, with the well-being of the global community and the fundamental sustainability of our planet.

Safety systems at Units 1 and 2 at CNE Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania will have an added defense-in-depth layer with the installation of AREVA’s Filter Containment Venting System (FCVS). This compact, modular and proven system can be used in all types of reactors: Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), Boiling Water Reactors (BWR), and CANDU plants.

Bigger picture—the FCVS is just one component of AREVA’s comprehensive Safety Alliance, an initiative providing expert safety analyses, upgrades and enhancements to help utilities meet post-Fukushima safety requirements. Last year’s spate of extreme U.S. weather events and U.S. nuclear energy facilities’ successful safety responses and return to reliable energy generation clearly showed the benefits of decades of ongoing safety upgrades and enhancements.

World-view—New Gen III+ nuclear reactor projects are designed from the foundations up to incorporate these decades of safety experience in multiple redundant passive and active safety systems, for example, in AREVA’s EPR^TM reactor. With more than 60 nuclear reactors under construction in 14 countries, the benefits of modern nuclear facilities generating reliable, safe clean energy will be a reality in these locations. Now, for the rest of the world …