Over $1 million invested into nuclear technologies in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Over $1 million in grants is being invested into the development of nuclear technologies in Virginia.

On Monday, May 19, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that $1.2 million in Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) grant funding will be given to the Virginia Innovative Nuclear Hub (VIN Hub).

These grant dollars -- provided through Virginia Energy's Virginia Power Innovation Program (VPIP) -- will fund critical research, support workforce training and "further [position] Virginia as the nation's leader in next-generation nuclear technologies," the governor's office said in a press release.

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A total of $750,000 will go towards the Virginia Research & Education Reactor Facility (VA-RERF) and $462,000 will go towards the Virginia Center for Nuclear Materials and Reliability (VA-CNMR).

The VA-RERF project will focus on the possibility of establishing a micro-scale research reactor in Virginia. It will serve as a testbed for research, reactor stimulation and hands-on nuclear workforce training, which will ideally "reduce Virginia's reliance on out-of-state labs and expand in-state capabilities."

The VA-CNMR project will focus on researching a key challenge to Generation IV reactors, which is the degradation of materials in non-aqueous environments -- or those involving a liquid other than water. This will help support the nuclear industry's efforts to "deploy safer, longer-lasting nuclear technologies."

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“From our world-class universities and research institutions to our skilled workforce and innovative companies, every aspect of Virginia’s ecosystem is aligned to advance nuclear innovation,” Youngkin said in the release. “These strategic investments will accelerate our momentum, creating high-quality jobs, strengthening our energy security and cementing the Commonwealth’s position as America’s nuclear innovation leader for decades to come.”

These projects will begin by the end of May. Initial assessments and planning are expected to be completed by May 2026.