As climate change is renewing interest in nuclear power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the New Canaan Men’s Club will hear from Seth Grae who will speak on New Technology and Nuclear Power at its Friday meeting in Morrill Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 111 Oenoke Ridge.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. with Grae’s discussion about advances in nuclear power technology beginning around 10:40 a.m.
Grae leads Lightbridge Corp.’s efforts to develop and deploy advanced nuclear reactor fuel that is capable of generating more electricity both from existing and new reactors, while enhancing safety and mitigating proliferation concerns. He is a member of the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC) to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and is on the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Board of Directors.
According to the Energy Information Administration, Connecticut gets about 37% of its electrical capacity from two nuclear plants at its Millstone nuclear station in Waterford. Connecticut’s percentage of nuclear power capacity is said to be the seventh largest for any state in the U.S. At one time, there were three nuclear plants operating at Millstone and another nuclear plant, known as Connecticut Yankee, operated in Haddam Neck on the Connecticut River. Millstone One, as it was known, and Connecticut Yankee, have both been decommissioned.
With a rising interest in reducing consumption of fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil, to combat climate change, utility companies are renewing interest in nuclear power. The United States and other nations are increasingly taking actions based on an understanding that climate and energy security goals can only be met with significant growth of nuclear energy within a diversified energy mix.
The New Canaan Men’s Club has openings for new members, men 55-years old and above. For information, email ncmens@ncmens.club