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Illinois Lifts Ban on New Nuclear Reactors, Focusing on Small Modular Reactors Illinois, known for hosting the world's first nuclear reactor, has recently reversed its 36-year-long prohibition on the construction of new nuclear reactors. The decision, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, aims to expand the use of nuclear power, which currently contributes over 50% to the state's energy production. The new legislation permits the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), limiting their electrical output to 300 megawatts. This move excludes large-scale nuclear reactors, like the ones currently constituting Illinois' nuclear fleet. Advocates argue that SMRs, although untested and requiring years for construction, offer advantages such as lower costs through factory-scale production and a faster implementation timeline. The legislation comes at a time when Illinois is shutting down coal-burning plants to achieve its 2045 climate goal of transitioning away from fossi...

Unraveling Nuclear Risks: The Dilemma of Small Modular Reactors Recent developments in the world of nuclear power have triggered concerns among experts about the potential risks associated with the spread of nuclear weapons. The focus of these concerns is directed at Moltex, a nuclear startup based in Saint John, New Brunswick, which is working on small modular reactors (SMRs) powered by spent fuel from CANDU reactors. The critical element in this process is the separation of plutonium from uranium in CANDU waste, which is then used to fuel new SMRs. In September, a group of twelve nuclear scientists penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressing their apprehensions about Moltex posing a nuclear weapon proliferation risk. They called for a formal risk assessment of emerging nuclear technologies. Edwin Lyman, the nuclear power safety director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, emphasizes the seriousness of the proliferation and security threat in the process of extracti...