Westinghouse Electric Co. says it expects to restart negotiations with China in early 2012 to further deploy its AP1000 nuclear reactor after talks were stalled following the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the transfer of indirect control of Progress Energy’s nuclear plants to include Duke Energy as the ultimate parent corporation on the licenses for these facilities.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that the operators of the 913 MWe Davis-Besse nuclear power plant, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Corp., have provided “reasonable assurance” that the shield building is capable of performing its safety functions and that the utility can proceed with restarting the plant.

Toshiba Corp. on Dec. 1 said that it shipped the condenser for the 1,154 MWe Vogtle Unit 3 AP1000 nuclear power plant that is being constructed for Georgia Power, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Co.

Westinghouse Electric Co. said the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Czech company Vitkovice a.s., in preparation for the potential construction of Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, has been completed.

The March 11 earthquake was not a major factor in the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, according to a report from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Investigation Commission.

A three-judge panel with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denied a filing by the state of Massachusetts to stop the license approval of Entergy’s 685 MW Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Massachusetts.

Georgia Power said the opening of a third nuclear reactor at the 2,236 MWe Plant Vogtle could be delayed five months if federal regulators do not approve a license by the end of 2011.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission determined that an inspection finding at Entergy’s 1,176 MW Waterford 3 nuclear power plant in Louisiana is of “white” or low to moderate safety significance.

Exelon Nuclear Partners (ENP) has signed a consulting service contract with CNNC subsidiary China Nuclear Power Operations Management Co. Ltd. (CNNO) to begin advisory services to CNNC promoting nuclear power operations.

A report from the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) said the damage to the cores and fuel of Units 1, 2 and 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant may have occurred the day the earthquake and tsunami hit in March.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said that Dominion Generation’s North Anna Unit 1 and 2 reactors, that together generate 1,806 MW, can be restarted.

Fluor Corp. said that it has signed a project development memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) to pursue a potential new nuclear power plant project in Finland.

Areva said the 1,600 MW Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) EPR reactor project in Finland met a major milestone with the installation of the fourth and last pump of the primary cooling system and its connection to the auxiliary piping and onsite power system.

Mexico is ending plans to build up to 10 new nuclear reactors in the country, opting instead to build natural gas-fired power plants.

Executives from Bechtel, CANDU Industries and Areva North America are optimistic about the future of nuclear post-Fukushima.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) and other evolving regulations including Utility MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) are already inducing many changes to the coal-fired power industry.

The safety of nuclear power as well as the prospects for new plants have been questioned since the events at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan begun unfolding on March 11, 2011.

The safety of nuclear power, as well as the prospects for new plants, has been questioned since the events at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan begun unfolding on March 11, 2011.