DOE advances Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus concept, signs MOUs with five states

States invited to explore hosting NLIC facilities

The Department of Energy launched the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus (NLIC) program by inviting states, through a request for information, to express their interest in hosting a facility that could support work from the front end to the back end of the fuel life cycle.

By April, 26 states had expressed interest in hosting such a facility, indicating broad initial engagement with the program’s concept.

DOE signs memorandums of understanding with five states

At the end of July, the DOE signed memorandums of understanding with five states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah—to more closely explore state-federal partnership possibilities.

The MOUs are described as exploratory rather than firm commitments from either the federal or state governments, with future selections dependent on whether any of the states develop projects through the program.

What happens next

The announcement frames the NLIC effort as a set of early partnership steps rather than decisions on specific facilities or projects. Over time, it will become clearer which, if any, of the five states move forward with NLIC-related proposals.

In the meantime, reporting highlights that Oklahoma and Louisiana have preexisting nuclear sector capabilities that could potentially support new fuel cycle developments, though the extent of any eventual role under NLIC is not stated in the source.

Westinghouse and Amentum expand AP1000/AP300 collaboration targeting faster AP300 licensing

What the companies say they will do

Westinghouse and Amentum have signed AP1000/AP300 collaboration agreements as part of Westinghouse’s APX strategy, which aims to use a single technology platform across AP1000 reactors and the AP300 SMR.

Westinghouse said its ongoing collaboration with Amentum is expected to accelerate the licensing of the AP300 SMR with the NRC and that the two companies will work together to enhance engineering and execution capabilities for delivering 1 GW reactors at scale.

Amentum said its expertise spans the full spectrum of the nuclear project lifecycle, and that the collaboration with Westinghouse will support deployment of advanced nuclear solutions to meet demand for firm baseload power.

Regulatory approval focus for the AP300

Under the most recent agreement, the companies stated they "will collaborate to obtain regulatory approval for the AP300 SMR by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission".

Westinghouse framed the AP300 design as being based on the licensed and operating AP1000 pressurised light water technology, including major equipment, structural components, passive safety features, proven fuel, and I&C systems.

Westinghouse also said the AP300 is the first SMR based on an Nth-of-a-kind operating plant and aims to leverage Gen III+ technology that has already received regulatory approval in the USA, the UK and China and is in compliance with European Utility Requirements.

Broader context from Westinghouse’s market plans

The release places the agreements within Westinghouse’s broader deployment outlook and technology platform strategy.

Westinghouse last week filed a draft registration statement for a potential IPO.

Westinghouse’s co-owner Cameco said Westinghouse has a pipeline of deployment opportunities for 91 potential AP1000 reactors totalling about 105 GWe across global markets. The co-owner also referenced US opportunities supported through American Nuclear Supply Chain Loans announced by the US Department of Energy earlier this year, along with other partnerships announced in 2025, and the resumption of the two-unit VC Summer project.

BWXT agrees to sell medical business for USD800 million, retaining minority stake and isotope expertise

Transaction and what BWXT will keep

BWX Technologies (BWXT) said it has agreed to sell its medical business for USD800 million, describing the move as a way to concentrate resources and capital on its core nuclear national security and commercial nuclear power markets.

BWXT said it expects to retain a minority share in the medical business and to continue providing specialised isotope and radiochemical expertise. It also said the transaction, under a Sweden-based private equity firm Nordic Capital, is expected to enable scaling and expansion of radiopharmaceutical capabilities, including developing, manufacturing and delivering products for diagnostic imaging and radiotherapeutic treatments.

BWXT said the medical business employs 300 people in Ottawa and Vancouver in Canada and that it acquired Toronto-headquartered Kinectrics in January 2025 for USD525 million.

Kinectrics capabilities described in BWXT’s announcement

BWXT said Kinectrics operates two core business areas: commercial power services and nuclear medicine.

It said Kinectrics’ commercial nuclear services portfolio includes support for all stages of the nuclear power plant lifecycle and other areas of the related grid ecosystem.

The company also highlighted isotope production connected to its nuclear operations: it produces ytterbium-176, a stable isotope used for the production of non-carrier-added lutetium-177 through irradiation at the Bruce nuclear power plant.

Timing and stated rationale

BWXT said the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close before the end of the year.

In its statement, BWXT said its nuclear operations cover a range of activities, including powering US navy submarines, manufacturing heavy nuclear components, developing advanced reactor fuels, small modular reactors, and advanced nuclear systems for use on space missions by NASA.