Crowded out
Election years are not the time to make waves in Virginia’s legislature, says Greg Habeeb, a former Roanoke delegate who now advises clients pursuing legislation in the General Assembly. Big changes — the kind the state saw during the Democrats’ two years of full legislative control in 2020 and 2021 — are expected to be […]
BWXT begins production of fuel for 1st U.S. microreactor
Lynchburg-based BWX Technologies Inc. has begun producing the nuclear fuel that will power the first microreactor built and operated in the United States, the company announced Wednesday. BWXT will manufacture a nuclear core for Project Pele under a $37 million award from the Idaho National Laboratory, as well as tristructural isotropic particle fuel, known as […]
BWX Technologies hires new chief admin officer
Lynchburg-based BWX Technologies Inc. has hired Robert “Bob” Duffy as its senior vice president and chief administrative officer, the nuclear components and fuel supplier announced Monday. He starts Aug. 29. Duffy will take the place of Rick Loving, BWXT’s current chief administrative officer, who announced his retirement after 43 years with the company. Duffy previously [&hellip[...]
BWXT appoints new president of nuclear operations
The new president of BWX Technology’s Nuclear Operations Group Inc. spent three decades working for the Navy as a civilian. Sharon H. Smoot started her new position Aug. 1. She is responsible for the BWXT subsidiary’s mission to provide a range of nuclear components and services, including manufacturing reactor components for Navy submarines and aircraft […]
Lynchburg-based BWXT elects new chair
Lynchburg-based nuclear components and fuel supplier BWX Technologies Inc. announced May 3 that Jan A. Bertsch assumed the role of chair of the board of directors. Bertsch succeeded retiring chairman John A. Fees. “We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Jan’s caliber assume this important leadership position for our company,” BWXT President and CEO […]
Clean slate
On April 17, 2020, with a flourish of the pen, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reshaped the future of energy production in the commonwealth. Signing the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) into law last year, Northam declared that Virginia would become a leader in fighting climate change, and, indeed, no other Southern state has passed legislation […]
Bechtel promotes exec to president of nuclear, security, environmental unit
Reston-based global engineering and construction company Bechtel Corp. has promoted John Howanitz to president of Bechtel Nuclear, Security & Environmental Inc. He will begin Sept. 1. Craig Albert, Bechtel president and chief operating officer, said in a statement, “John’s experience in delivery of energy, environmental, national security and mission-critical projects combined with his lon[...]
Dominion’s Surry nuclear plant’s lifespan extended to 2052-53
Dominion Energy Inc.’s two Surry County nuclear power reactors have received approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate until 2052 and 2053. The two nuclear reactors at Dominion’s Surry Power Station, which are capable of generating enough power for 419,000 homes, received a 20-year extension from its previous license, which allowed the plants to […]
BWX Technologies lands $2.2B in naval nuclear contracts
Lynchburg-based BWX Technologies Inc. has landed $2.2 billion in U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts, the nuclear components and fuel supplier announced Tuesday. Approximately half of the contract was awarded in the first quarter of the year, with the rest as options subject to congressional appropriations, according to the company, which employs approximately 6,600 people […]
Lynchburg’s BWXT wins $690M contract extension
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a contract extension to Lynchburg-based nuclear components and fuel supplier BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT) worth up to $690 million, the company announced today. BWXT has worked with Irving, Texas-based engineering and construction firm Fluor Corp. on the project, an effort to decontaminate and decommission the former Portsmouth Gaseous […]
BWXT subsidiary chosen to develop microreactor design for DOD
Lynchburg-based BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC is one of two companies chosen to develop a final prototype design for a transportable advanced nuclear microreactor, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday. Along with Maryland’s X-energy LLC, BWXT was selected from a preliminary design competition and will continue developing its design under a Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) [&he[...]
Framatome launches government solutions subsidiary
Lynchburg-based Framatome Inc. announced Monday the launch of an independent subsidiary, Framatome U.S. Government Solutions LLC, which will focus on nuclear energy initiatives and projects for federal agencies. “Our Framatome team has been delivering solutions to the commercial nuclear industry for more than 60 years and Framatome U.S. Government Solutions consolidates our diverse areas of [&he[...]