Study: SWVA has potential in reactor supply chain

DUFFIELD — A study released Tuesday by the LENOWISCO Planning District says far Southwest Virginia's mining economy can be the basis for supplying components and site construction for small nuclear modular reactors across Virginia and the U.S.LENOWISCO Executive Director Duane Miller and consultant Jeff Koza-Reinders of Reston, Virginia-based Dominion Engineering, Inc. spoke about the study, an analysis of the region's ability to become part of a supply chain within a cluster of industries and nuclear research organizations across Virginia and eastern Tennessee."This study is complementary to the (SNMR) site feasibility study we did a year ago," said Miller.The site study identified a range of potential reactor plant sites in Wise County, Norton, Lee County and on the Wise-Dickenson county line.The site study followed Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's October 2022 announcement at a closed ceremony in Wise County for a proposed small reactor to be located in the region within a decade.In Virginia, Koza-Reinders said, SNMR construction firm BWX Technologies and reactor servicing and fueling company Framatome — both in Lynchburg, Virginia — could be customers for a developing parts and manufacturing sector in the Southwest Virginia region west of Wytheville.The Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, spent fuel reprocessor Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin and Naval Station Norfolk along with the Atlantic Fleet's complement of aircraft carriers and submarines are also parts of that industry cluster, Koza-Reinders said.The U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the Virginia Department of Energy add to how the region can get involved in supplying reactor manufacturers and supporting businesses, Koza-Reinders added.Southwest Virginia's coal economy has created a workforce with welding, electrical, machinist and heavy construction skills that can adapt to several supply chain needs for SNMR's, Koza-Reinders said. That workforce, combined with trade training programs among Virginia community colleges and developing software engineering and other programs at UVA Wise and other Virginia four-year colleges and universities could provide skills for manufacturing and nuclear plant operations support."This area has excellent welders and heavy machinery operators and repair workers," said Koza-Reinders. "They have the ability to do civil engineering projects that would be needed for reactor site construction."Welding for nuclear power plant components requires stricter standards than for other manufacturing work, Koza-Reinders said. Southwest Virginia's welding workforce may contain a range of skill levels that would determine the kinds of certification and training programs needed.Koza-Reinders said the region has two key advantages in becoming part of the regional and national SNR supply chain.Regional government and developers already have strong partnerships, Koza-Reinders said, with state agencies such as the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Tobacco Indemnification Commission, Virginia Energy Commission, GOVirginia and community and four-year colleges in the region."Southwest Virginia really focuses on workforce training and development," Koza-Reinders said.Southwest Virginia also has a strong network of organizations that are competitive in the state and federal grant application process, Koza-Reinders said.Miller and Koza-Reinders each said the region's rail and road transportation system — especially rail lines built for the mining economy — would give Southwest Virginia-based suppliers the ability to manufacture and ship large components such as reactor cooling pumps and systems to reactor manufacturers."Most of the components needed by reactor manufactures will be able to fit on rail cars or heavy trucks," said Koza-Reinders.Miller said General Assembly consideration of an inland port for truck and rail transport along the Interstate 81 Southwest Virginia corridor would improve shipping accessibility.The supply chain study is based on an existing trained workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Southwest Virginia non-metropolitan statistical area, Miller said. Nationally, the nuclear industry is projected to need approximately 375,000 trained workers, he said, with each direct nuclear power job potentially creating three support industry and related jobs."The study is valuable even if SNMRs don't come to Southwest Virginia because of the supply chain potential," Miller said.