The future of three Exelon nuclear power plants is in question after they failed to secure a capacity payment that would have supported their operation in a difficult power market.

The first of America's regional response centres is now in operation, ready to supply equipment to any of the country's nuclear power plants facing an emergency situation.

Regulations to protect fish and other aquatic life drawn into cooling water systems at large power plants and factories have been announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The US Department of Energy has stopped collecting nuclear waste fees from utilities, 16 years after missing its own deadline to open a permanent waste disposal site. The suspension of the fees has been welcomed by industry.

Approval for two new reactors at Turkey Point and the required transmission lines has been granted by Florida state authorities.

A US company is planning to construct a new facility to produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) from university research reactors. At the same time, work is beginning on a new Australian facility to produce the vital medical isotope.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has drawn up a list of 21 reactor sites in central and eastern USA that must carry out in-depth analyses of updated earthquake risks as a matter of priority. The regulator says that all are considered safe for continued operation in the meantime.

The 900 tonne containment vessel bottom head for Vogtle unit 4 has been lowered into place, marking a major milestone for the Georgia construction project.

• Powertech clarifies Dewey-Burdock position
• Permit for Lance
• No Q2 restart for McClean
• ERA and Rössing join forces
• Pinenut producing to 2015
• Talvivaara permit

DTE Energy has applied to the US nuclear regulator for a 20-year extension to the operating licence of the Fermi 2 plant in Michigan. If granted, the single-unit plant could operate until 2045.

The G7 group of industrialised nations has focused on energy security, prioritising low-carbon sources including nuclear power for deployment in an effort to establish resilient low-carbon power systems.