Jake Jurewicz, co-founder and CEO of Blue Energy, discusses the innovative approaches his company is taking to address the challenges of nuclear energy development. He emphasizes the importance of financing, prefabrication, and strategic partnerships in making nuclear power more viable and attractive to investors. The discussion also touches on the transition from gas to nuclear, site selection for small modular reactors (SMRs), and the regulatory environment affecting the industry. Jurewicz expresses optimism about the future of nuclear energy and the potential for a renaissance in the sector as demand for clean energy continues to grow.

Steffan Szumowski, a 16-year US Nuclear Navy veteran and author of "The Nuclear Review," joins the show to discuss the accelerating momentum of the domestic nuclear industry under the current administration. The conversation covers the Department of Energy's ambitious "breakneck" push to have three new reactors attain criticality by July 4, 2026, supported by new pilot programs for both reactors and fuel. Szumowski explains the strategic effort to onshore the supply chain by awarding $900 million contracts to companies like Centris and Orano to build domestic enrichment capacity and eliminate reliance on Russian supply. The guests explore how the massive power needs of AI data centers are driving "hyperscaler" deals with advanced reactor companies like Oklo and TerraPower, even as debate continues over the future of large-scale AP1000 deployments. Szumowski shares insights from his experience operating submarine reactors and highlights why real engineering progress is the only way to win the race among 126 different small modular reactor designs.

Support for this podcast and all of Clear Commodity Network comes from TerraHutton.

Trevor and Justin discuss the current state of the uranium market, focusing on recent trends, Cameco's quarterly financials, and strategic partnerships in the nuclear sector. They analyze the implications of market corrections, the challenges faced by uranium producers, and the potential for future growth driven by new technologies and government initiatives.

The latest episode of Going Nuclear welcomes Dr. Benjamin Reinke, Vice President of Global Business Development and Deputy Chief Commercial Officer at X-Energy. X-Energy is a leading American nuclear reactor fuel design engineering company focused on developing the Xe-100, a generation four high temperature gas cooled small modular reactor. The Xe-100 is powered by proprietary TRISO-X fuel, engineered to be melt-proof, ensuring safe, clean, and scalable energy for electricity and industrial process heat applications. Reinke explains that the reactor’s high operating temperatures expand its use cases beyond traditional base load power, offering opportunities like providing high-temperature process steam to heavy industry. This capability was first realized through X-Energy’s partnership with Dow Chemical, marking the first industrial sale of nuclear power from a vendor to a global commodity producer. Additionally, X-Energy recently made headlines with its landmark deal with Amazon, which invested heavily in the company and committed to off-take power from a minimum of five gigawatts of Xe-100 reactors by 2039. The company is also pursuing fleet deployment internationally, having partnered with Centrica, the largest UK-owned utility, to target a six gigawatt deployment in the United Kingdom. With these significant commercial successes totaling over 11 gigawatts, Reinke emphasizes that X-Energy’s current focus is now on project delivery, supply chain scaling, and the construction of their first commercial-scale TRISO-x fuel facility.

In the first half of the show, Trevor and Justin dive into the latest developments in the uranium market. Fresh off a trip to the World Nuclear Association's 50th-anniversary conference in London, Justin shares his key takeaways from the event, which saw record attendance and overwhelmingly positive sentiment from producers, utilities, and banks alike. Both discuss how the market focus has shifted decisively back to uranium after years of concentrating on conversion and enrichment services. They break down the recent surge in the uranium spot price.

For the second segment, Trevor and Justin are joined by a special guest, Pat O'Brien, Director of Government Affairs at Holtec. Pat gives an inside look at Holtec's groundbreaking project to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, which is poised to be the first US nuclear plant ever to be brought back online after a permanent shutdown. The restart project is on track to be completed "on time and under budget" thanks to a combination of private funding, $300 million in state grants, and a $1.52 billion loan from the Department of Energy.

In this episode of "Going Nuclear," Justin and Trevor dive into the complexities of long-term contracting in the uranium market. They discuss the recent trends, including the strategic moves by utilities and the unique approaches of international players like Korea. With insights into the evolving pricing dynamics and the implications for future supply, this episode offers a comprehensive look at how long-term contracts are shaping the uranium industry's landscape. 

Trevor Hall and Justin Huhn discuss the explore the recent developments in the spot uranium market, including significant financial movements by the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust, and the implications for uranium prices and equities. The conversation also touches on the expected utility demand and seasonal trends, as well as the increasing interest from tech companies in the nuclear sector, highlighting Nvidia's investment in small modular reactors.

In this episode, Trevor and Justin discuss the recent executive orders aimed at expanding nuclear energy in the U.S., including plans for new reactors and regulatory reforms. They analyze market reactions to these developments, investor sentiment, and the implications for uranium stocks.

The episode also features an interview with Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, author of the new book titled "Atomic Dreams: The New Nuclear Evangelists and the Fight for the Future of Energy". Justin and Rebecca discuss the evolving landscape of nuclear energy, particularly focusing on the Diablo Canyon plant in California. They explore community perspectives, shifting sentiments within the environmental movement, and the case for nuclear energy beyond climate concerns. The conversation also touches on the future of energy demand, challenges facing Diablo Canyon, and the potential of advanced nuclear technologies.

In this episode, Trevor Hall and Justin Hune discuss the recent fluctuations in the uranium market, highlighting the wild sentiment swings and significant policy reversals in nuclear energy across various countries. They delve into the ambitious goals set by the U.S. to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, the challenges of financing nuclear projects, and the dynamics of the spot price in the uranium market. The conversation sets the stage for an insightful discussion with guest expert Steve Everly from FTI Consulting, focusing on energy policies and the future of nuclear energy.

Steve discusses his extensive background in energy policy, particularly focusing on nuclear energy. He highlights the unique gaps that nuclear can fill in the energy landscape, especially in light of the growing need for reliable, low-carbon energy sources. The discussion covers the current investment landscape for nuclear energy, the role of private capital, and the importance of federal incentives. Everley also addresses the challenges in the supply chain for nuclear fuel and the increasing interest from tech companies in investing in nuclear energy solutions.

Trevor Hall and Justin Huhn share insights into a rather bleak uranium and nuclear energy market, exploring the geopolitical influences, tariff impacts, and the dynamics of American nuclear projects. They analyze the volatility in the market, the reliance on foreign uranium, and the implications for future pricing and equity trends. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding market signals and the potential for price movements in the coming year.