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Curtis Roberts

@refractivecomm.bsky.social
209 followers 144 following 97 posts

9-to-5ish in ⚛️ nuclear energy. Prior renewables. Clean energy transition ASAP requires energy mix. Ecomodernist environmentalist. Often found outside enjoying the world. Let’s talk.

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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Anybody else remember the book, “The House with the Golden Windows”? #DCsunset @capitalweather.bsky.social
Sunset tinging the Capitol Building windows gold.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
“🏆 Nearly all non-Russian enriched uranium used by American nuclear reactors is produced using ETC centrifuges” 👀 #NukeSky #EnergySky #uranium www.linkedin.com/posts/orano-...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Hey, 👋 Wolf Creek! Looking good for your 40th decade as a nuclear powerhouse steadily generating electricity, jobs, and economic development. Who else is going to #WM2025? @evergypower.bsky.social
Flight path showing plane passing by Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Kansas.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Orano to supply Energoatom, Ukraine's nuclear energy operator, with enriched uranium to fuel their reactors. #NukeSky #EnergySky ⚛️ www.linkedin.com/posts/orano-...
linkedin.com
Orano USA on LinkedIn: #uranium #georgesbesse2 #france #projectike
As a significant global producer of enriched uranium to power nuclear energy facilities, Orano is committed to providing a reliable nuclear fuel supply. ⚛️…
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Reposted by Curtis Roberts
World Nuclear News @worldnuclearnews.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Japan's Federation of Electric Power Companies has announced that a total of 400 tonnes of used nuclear fuel, instead of the originally planned 200 tonnes, will now be transported to Orano in France for research on the reprocessing of used mixed oxide fuel. www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/fre...
world-nuclear-news.org
French-Japanese MOX fuel recycling studies expanded
Japan's Federation of Electric Power Companies has announced that a total of 400 tonnes of used nuclear fuel, instead of the originally planned 200 tonnes, will now be transported to Orano in Fran...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Spreading the news ... especially for those impacted by recent job actions ... this is a great tool to find a job in the nuclear energy industry. #NukeSky #EnergySky #jobs nuclearworks.org/map-for-comp...
Image of job search website by Nuclear Energy Institute.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Looking for a great #NukeSky Starter Pack? Follow all the folks posting kudos to @nuclearkatie.com on her PhD in nuclear engineering. ✅
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
PSA … How to stop iPhone Messages from auto downloading images into your Photos? 🤨👇 - Open iPhone's Settings app - Scroll down, tap Apps - Scroll down, tap Messages - Find/tap “Shared with You” (it’s “On”) - Tap “Photos” - Change setting to “Off” to prevent auto saving from Messages. 🙌🏻
down.click
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
"How to Talk About Nuclear" ... in which Dr. Jim Conca hollers for a shift to Q&A advocacy referencing Pink Floyd 🌈, Death itself 💀, and even Lazard's latest 📉. BTW, great resource links (and stats), too. 👀 www.ans.org/news/article... @americannuclear.bsky.social #NukeSky #EnergySky
Stylized atom with a prism as the nucleus through which a beam of light is refracting.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
NEWS: Orano signs investment agreement with Mongolian government for the development and operation of the Zuuvch-Ovoo #uranium mine. After 4-year development, production capacity is expected around 2,500 tons of uranium per year. #NukeSky #EnergySky www.orano.group/en/news/news...
orano.group
Orano signs investment agreement with Mongolian government to develop world-class uranium deposit
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Two birds met for a quick hello in this morning’s snow dusting before continuing their morning hops. @capitalweather.bsky.social
Bird prints in the snow.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
No ☢️ head-fake needed ... "So what’s good SMR branding look like? Oklo and TerraPower come to mind, meaning they speak to us in simple, aspirational terms that we can understand and relate to, while still respecting our intelligence." #NukeSky www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-i-...
linkedin.com
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Rebrand the Nuke
Any marketer in sustainable energies has heard it a million times — this is the year we all go nuclear. Hell, Fast Company wrote a piece two years ago titled, “Nuclear Power… Needs Better Branding,” a...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
To whet your appetite for this excellent 2025 counter-cultural book, read this bite-sized portion … Unreasonable Hospitality is good business: 5 lessons from Will Guidara. www.unusual.vc/post/unreaso...
unusual.vc
Unreasonable Hospitality is good business: 5 lessons from Will Guidara
Unreasonable Hospitality is an honest look at what it means to be a “hospitality-first culture.” We share five of the most memorable learnings that we took away from Unreasonable Hospitality.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Key point in this @axios.com Information Gods article: “The burden now falls on **you** to find sources of information you trust for reliable truth. That means better scrutinizing not only the publications you choose, but the individuals you follow on social media.” www.axios.com/2025/01/08/m...
axios.com
Behind the Curtain: The information gods
The people with the largest platforms hold more power than ever in shaping reality.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
Right, as it says, imagine a fuel recycled and re-used many, many, many times. It’s a feature not a bug. This white paper describes TRU recycling as a near-term fuel source for advanced reactors until production ramps up for high assay low enriched uranium HALEU. www.orano.group/usa/en/our-p...
orano.group
Orano White Papers
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
A step further, the new SABRE method is designed as “a mine without a mine”—no digging needed. A benefit all around for people and the environment. cdn.streamlike.com/play?med_id=...
cdn.streamlike.com
30 innovations @Orano in 2021: Sabre
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Those are significant concerns, but modern western uranium mining removal methods use tech instead of people. This recent report about a Canadian mine is insightful. youtu.be/6H78NMLGEZM?...
youtu.be
A look at the world's highest-grade uranium mine
YouTube video by CNBC Television
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Definitely agree with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the clean energy mix, but why not new nuclear, too? ☢️
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
A good #EnergyTransition question …
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
I like this train of thinking, @wmata.com!
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Apparently there were fewer bad people than expected in 2024. We could send this surplus Santa coal to Germany—they’re still burning it since Greenpeace helped convince them to shut down nuclear energy first instead of fossil fuels. 🔌💡 #NukeSky
Skid piled with large, full, price-discounted canvas bags labeled “Santa’s Bag of Coal”.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
#NukeSky
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
Happy NewYear!
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
DYK why we drop a ball on New Year’s Eve, via Mashed Radish … mashedradish.com/2024/12/31/t...
mashedradish.com
Why does a ball drop on New Year’s Eve?
The ball drop is based on a system that once helped ships set their clocks—and navigate—in the 1800s.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
🔌💡
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
So, I wonder if the 2024 increased funding for adv nuclear (private, IRA/DOE) is a related shift in clean energy investment away from the clean energy sources examined in your article.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Plus, this recent announcement: Oklo and Switch Form Landmark Strategic Relationship to Deploy 12 Gigawatts of Advanced Nuclear Power, One of the Largest Corporate Clean Power Agreements Ever Signed. oklo.com/newsroom/new...
oklo.com
Oklo and Switch Form Landmark Strategic Relationship to Deploy 12 Gigawatts of Advanced Nuclear Power, One of the Largest Corporate Clean Power Agreements Ever Signed
Oklo and Switch have signed one of the largest corporate power agreements in history, a 12-gigawatts non-binding Master Power Agreement. This milestone agreement demonstrates a shared commitment to ad...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Yes, I was thinking the emerging advanced reactor tech and its significant investments would be an interesting clean energy comparison. As a resource, the Nuclear Energy Institute tracks these investments with quarterly blog posts. Q3: www.nei.org/news/2024/ta... #NukeSky 💡🔌
nei.org
Taking the Investment Pulse: Q3 2024
Even in the face of a changing administration, nuclear remains strongly bipartisan, and folks across aisles and state borders are embracing nuclear. Let's break down this quarter's investments.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Thank you, Arlington National Cemetary, for the commitment, respect, and celebration. It means a lot for family members.
Christmas wreath on gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. Quote on arch at ArlingtonHonor guard at Arlington’s Tomb of the an Unknown Soldier.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
That’s like saying in 2008 the same story has been told about electric vehicles for 200 years. Same as EVs, we’re making progress realizing real-world solutions. With the value of nuclear energy in the clean energy mix, it’s worth looking at the possibilities
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Okay, perhaps I should have first ensured the understanding that dry storage is ONLY licensed as an interim system. It is designed for secure storage until the used fuel is moved to permanent placement.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
The fact of Finland opening a functioning permanent disposal facility Is not speculation. France has recycled used nuclear fuel for decades. Some advanced reactors already in development are designed to run on recycled used fuel material. Solutions are underway … and storage is safe in the interim.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
No, started off correcting claim that dry storage was unsuitable for interim storage. It safely sits there until disposal available. Finland is preparing its final repository to receive waste. There are solutions that U.S. has not yet implemented. Challenge is not technical.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
It’s timing. The interim storage tech is proven safe until repository available. Govt paying millions $$ to utilities until DOE fulfills disposal promise—bet that doesn’t last much longer.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Right, best solution for used nuclear fuel is to recycle the 96% of still-useful material into new fuel, medical isotopes, and industrial uses. Then dispose 4% remnant (needing ~300 years storage) in permanent geologic repository. Of course, need government to fulfill promise to build repository.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Here’s some good FAQs about used nuclear fuel in dry storage. #NukeSky www.orano.group/usa/en/our-p...
orano.group
Top 10 FAQs
During our 50+ years of experience safely managing used nuclear fuel, we have advanced safe used nuclear fuel storage technology significantly with Orano’s NUclear HOrizontal Modular Storage (NUHOMS®)...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Dry storage is suitable for all used fuel transferred as early as 2 years from cooling in the used fuel pool. The storage modules are designed as interim storage for 100 years, but the stored canister could be moved to a new module or permanent disposal at anytime. They’re regularly inspected, too.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Why do you think so?
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Listen to what Grumpy said. #NukeSky 🔌💡
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
I understand your point on self-sufficiency, but including nuclear energy in the clean energy mix enables the population density and industry of our modern society and significantly reduces the environmental impact of renewables-only. A portfolio of clean energy sources makes sense.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Not my safety data.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
… and the article clearly says, “In fact, the clean nuclear energy offer at 11.99 cents per kilowatt-hour is lower than the local D.C. utility’s current supply rate. By choosing carbon-free nuclear energy, Washingtonians can save money on their energy bills while they help fight climate change.”
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Similar to everyone growing their own vegetables, herding their own cows, pressing their own wine, and making their own nails? No, not going back there. Seems the visionary agrarian Prez would appreciate the value of nuclear’s efficient, small geo-footprint, steady energy generation.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Not a “lack” but proven successful accident prevention with trained teams and robust tech. For safety comparisons, data shows nuclear energy’s safety record ranks with wind and solar —and, yes, the calculation includes *those* three nuclear accidents. ourworldindata.org/safest-sourc....
Safety analysis showing nuclear energy ranks with wind and solar.
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Five-plus decades of perfect safety performance shows that we know HOW to store used nuclear fuel, so the solution for having a permanent US repository is being hampered by something else — politics, perhaps?
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Reposted by Curtis Roberts
Juan Moreno-Cruz @jmorenocruz.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
“Don’t make me tap the sign.gif” This is a really good entry by @hannahritchie.bsky.social and she also has a very nice post about nuclear on her substack www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/nuclear-lo...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
More like Jeffersonian speak … abundant available clean energy, especially with a small geo-footprint like nuclear energy, improves societal standards, individual prosperity, and environmental health. www.ecomodernism.org
ecomodernism.org
An ECOMODERNIST MANIFESTO
AN  ECOMODERNIST MANIFESTO
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Best use of a waste product being generated anyways is to make it useful. Safe? A 100% safety record ought to do it: 50+ yrs. of used nuclear fuel in dry storage with no harm to people or environment, worldwide. www.orano.group/usa/en/our-p...
orano.group
Top 10 FAQs
During our 50+ years of experience safely managing used nuclear fuel, we have advanced safe used nuclear fuel storage technology significantly with Orano’s NUclear HOrizontal Modular Storage (NUHOMS®)...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Time to update your notes … used nuclear fuel has been safely kept in dry storage with no harm to people or the environment for [checks current notes] 50+ years, worldwide. www.orano.group/usa/en/our-p...
orano.group
Top 10 FAQs
During our 50+ years of experience safely managing used nuclear fuel, we have advanced safe used nuclear fuel storage technology significantly with Orano’s NUclear HOrizontal Modular Storage (NUHOMS®)...
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Curtis Roberts @refractivecomm.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
I had expected it might be higher, but Constellation says nuclear option, “at 11.99 cents per kilowatt-hour is lower than the local D.C. utility’s current supply rate. By choosing carbon-free nuclear energy, Washingtonians can save money on their energy bills while they help fight climate change.”
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