US nuclear regulators are considering a proposal from Southern California Edison for a trial restart of unit 2 at the San Onofre Generating Station (SONGS) at 70% power. The two unit plant has been off line since the discovery of unexpected wear in steam generator tubes.

Nuclear safety regulators have approved International Isotopes' plans to deconvert depleted uranium hexafluoride tails and go on to sell fluorine gases and other chemical by-products.

An independent review of Progress Energy's plan to repair the damaged containment structure of its idled Crystal River nuclear power plant suggests that the cost is likely to be almost $1.5 billion. However, in the worst-case scenario, it could cost almost $3.5 billion and take eight years to complete. The utility has yet to decide whether to repair or retire the unit.

A huge power uprate of 149 MWe at unit 2 of Florida Power & Light's St Lucie nuclear power plant has been approved by the US nuclear regulator. It is part of a $3 billion project to boost nuclear output that will save $3.8 billion in fossil fuel costs.

Support for nuclear energy in the USA is gradually approaching pre-Fukushima levels, a new public opinion poll shows. Some 65% of Americans now favour the use of nuclear, compared with 71% before the accident.

It is 'unclear' whether the benefits of an accelerated transfer of used nuclear fuel from storage pools to dry storage at US nuclear power plants would outweigh the risks and costs involved, an updated study by Electric Power Research Institute concludes.

Approval of four new reactors could be delayed by as the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission reconsiders its confidence in long term waste management arrangements over the next 24 months.

Georgia Power has put back the expected dates for its new units at Vogtle to enter service by several months, although the delay is not currently expected to impact plant costs.

Unistar Nuclear Energy is ineligible to obtain a licence to construct a new nuclear power plant at Calvert Cliffs as it remains wholly-owned by a foreign corporation, a licensing board of the US nuclear regulator has ruled. Owner EDF of France has been given 60 days to show progress in its search for a US partner for the project.

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Nuclear-trained ex-servicemen and women from the US Navy should be able to seamlessly transition to employment in the country's civil nuclear power industry under a groundbreaking agreement between the US Naval Propulsion Program and representatives of the nuclear industry.