Blizzard cuts Pilgrim power
Entergy's single-unit Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Massachusetts lost all offsite power on the evening of 8 February during a snow storm that affected north-eastern USA. The plant automatically shut down as designed and its diesel generators provided power to plant equipment until offsite power was fully restored on 10 February. Plant operators declared an unusual event - the lowest level in the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission emergency classification system.
Westinghouse SMR development
Engineering services company Burns & McDonnell has agreed to help further develop Westinghouse's small modular reactor (SMR), one of the three such designs vying for US government funds to support first-of-a-kind engineering, design certification and licensing. Westinghouse estimates that the construction of just one of its SMRs - an integrated 225 MWe pressurized water reactor - would provide economic benefits of almost $3 billion.
New president for B&W NE
Michael Lees will retire as president of Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy (B&W NE) at the end of March, having worked for B&W for more than 30 years. His successor, Joseph Zwetolitz, will assume the role in mid-February. Zwetolitz has worked within the commercial nuclear power industry for more than 27 years, most recently serving as president of Americas Region at Westinghouse Electric and previously with Areva and Framatome ANP.
