The arrival of the final shipment of low-enriched uranium from Russia to the USA marks the successful completion of the Megatons to Megawatts program to downblend weapons-grade uranium.

An increase in power output of some 10% at Xcel Energy's single-unit Monticello nuclear power plant in Minnesota has been approved by the US nuclear regulator.

• First uranium leaves Lost Creek
• Construction starts at Four Mile
• Westinghouse fuel deal extended
• Cameco out of South Texas exploration
• Talvivaara not worried by permit recall

Georgia Power's Vogtle 3 project has reached another construction milestone with the installation of the module that will house the AP1000's reactor pressure vessel.

Global Laser Enrichment will enter talks with the US Department of Energy after its proposal to build and operate a laser enrichment facility at shut down Paducah plant was selected. Off-specification inventory will be processed by Areva.

• Toro confirms Wiluna resources
• More reserves found at Lost Creek
• White Mesa mill to go on standby
• Azincourt buys Peruvian assets

Safety-related concrete has been poured for the basemat of the second AP1000 unit at the Vogtle plant in Georgia. The milestone means that four AP1000s are now officially under construction in the USA.

The total economic impact of the nuclear industry in North and South Carolina has been estimated to exceed at least $20 billion per year in a detailed study carried out by a team at Clemson University.

A US Court of Appeal has ruled that the Department of Energy must stop collecting nuclear waste fees from utilities until it decides how used fuel is to be disposed of.

Buildings at USEC's Paducah gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plant in Kentucky were damaged by a powerful storm. The plant ceased enrichment operations earlier this year.

The US nuclear regulator has directed its staff to complete work on the safety evaluation report for the Yucca Mountain geologic repository. Meanwhile, a court has awarded over $235 million of damages to three utilities affected by federal failure to fulfil used fuel disposal commitments.

US utility Constellation has signed a contract tosupply Chicago with electricity for its municipal facilities and street lighting. A mix of nuclear, gas, wind and solar will reduce emissions by 99.5%.