Curtis Roberts

A matter of perspective---mostly nuclear energy, science, and shiny distractions. Ecomodernist environmentalist. #learnmorefearless

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

“Not only are those descriptors not terribly important, but they often require some linguistic gymnastics and careful parsing to make them true.” #SciComm

[Rod Adams @Atomicrod]

On Friday, April 17, Kairos Power started building Hermes 2, a commercial scale demonstration plant. The advanced facility already has an off-take agreement from Google. The power from Hermes 2 will be delivered from its Oak Ridge, TN site to the customer via the TVA grid. It's in front of, not behind the meter.

It is a big step among hundreds of other steps that are being taken by a growing field of assorted participants in an enormously important, global event worth calling a Nuclear Renaissance.

(Some might think of it as a competition, but it has more in common with a fund-raising Run, Walk and Roll that has a very serious set of beneficiaries and sponsors.)

Some of the entrants are sprinters, some are experienced middle distance runners, some are world-class marathoners and a few are serious ultimate marathoners. As you might find in any field of a large event hosted by a community that encourages participation by all, there are even a few posers, pretenders and tourists.

I'd put @KairosPower into the category of serious, ultimate marathoners backed by careful preparation and patient capital. They deserve congratulations and the rest of us should enjoy watching them for a long time as they overcome many barriers.

BUT

As a long time energy blogger, I get a LOT of press releases.

While I am at least as excited as anyone else to hear about advances in technology, project progress and business developments, I wish the issuers would avoid reaching for superlatives.
First ever, biggest, smallest, cheapest, most expensive...

Not only are those descriptors not terribly important, but they often require some linguistic gymnastics and careful parsing to make them true.

Since the TerraPower Natrium reactor project in Kemmerer, WY was issued a construction permit by the NRC on March 4, 2026, why would @KairosPower decide to make the following claim on April 17, 2026?

"Today, Kairos Power broke ground on the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – the company’s first commercial-scale reactor and the first-ever power-producing Gen IV reactor to receive a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)."

- Natrium received its CP from the NRC.
- It is a power producing, Gen IV reactor - sodium-cooled fast reactor integrated with a molten salt thermal storage system

Am I missing some kind of technicality that makes the statement true?

Does it really matter if Hermes 2 is the first, second, tenth or 20th if it meets customer needs - including an acceptable price and delivery schedule?

[Rod Adams @Atomicrod]

On Friday, April 17, Kairos Power started building Hermes 2, a commercial scale demonstration plant. The advanced facility already has an off-take agreement from Google. The power from Hermes 2 will be delivered from its Oak Ridge, TN site to the customer via the TVA grid. It's in front of, not behind the meter.

It is a big step among hundreds of other steps that are being taken by a growing field of assorted participants in an enormously important, global event worth calling a Nuclear Renaissance.

(Some might think of it as a competition, but it has more in common with a fund-raising Run, Walk and Roll that has a very serious set of beneficiaries and sponsors.)

Some of the entrants are sprinters, some are experienced middle distance runners, some are world-class marathoners and a few are serious ultimate marathoners. As you might find in any field of a large event hosted by a community that encourages participation by all, there are even a few posers, pretenders and tourists.

I'd put @KairosPower into the category of serious, ultimate marathoners backed by careful preparation and patient capital. They deserve congratulations and the rest of us should enjoy watching them for a long time as they overcome many barriers.

BUT

As a long time energy blogger, I get a LOT of press releases.

While I am at least as excited as anyone else to hear about advances in technology, project progress and business developments, I wish the issuers would avoid reaching for superlatives.
First ever, biggest, smallest, cheapest, most expensive...

Not only are those descriptors not terribly important, but they often require some linguistic gymnastics and careful parsing to make them true.

Since the TerraPower Natrium reactor project in Kemmerer, WY was issued a construction permit by the NRC on March 4, 2026, why would @KairosPower decide to make the following claim on April 17, 2026?

"Today, Kairos Power broke ground on the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – the company’s first commercial-scale reactor and the first-ever power-producing Gen IV reactor to receive a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)."

- Natrium received its CP from the NRC.
- It is a power producing, Gen IV reactor - sodium-cooled fast reactor integrated with a molten salt thermal storage system

Am I missing some kind of technicality that makes the statement true?

Does it really matter if Hermes 2 is the first, second, tenth or 20th if it meets customer needs - including an acceptable price and delivery schedule?

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

My mind must really be getting into the #America250 celebration. Anyone else see the Statue of Liberty at the @wmata Dunn Loring Station?

👉 Stand on the New Carrollton side of platform at the #WMATA post at the seating shelter, look up through the space at the top of the wall.

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Well worth actually reading, too.

[MindBranches @MindBranches]

“Never Split the Difference”
(summary in 4k)

[MindBranches @MindBranches]

“Never Split the Difference”
(summary in 4k)

[Orano U.S. @Orano_usa]

Statement from Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO of Orano USA, on the Signing of Executive Orders Advancing Nuclear Energy:

“We applaud President Trump for his historic series of executive orders that revitalize America’s nuclear energy capabilities. By streamlining the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, accelerating the deployment of advanced reactors, and restoring the nuclear industrial base, the President is charting a course toward the nuclear renaissance that will power our nation’s future.

For more than 60 years, Orano has proudly partnered with the United States in advancing nuclear technologies.

Today, we are already aligned to help realize this renewed vision through Project IKE, our proposed multibillion-dollar investment in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to launch a domestic uranium enrichment facility for fueling existing and advanced reactors.

We are uniquely positioned to produce significant amounts of enriched uranium with our proven centrifuge technology, which will help ensure a reliable American nuclear fuel supply and support global energy markets.

President Trump’s commitment to fast-tracking advanced reactors and restoring a robust enrichment program will not only secure America’s energy future—it will also position the U.S. to support the deployment of the next-generation reactors domestically and internationally.

As Secretary Wright aptly stated, America must lead the commercialization of affordable, abundant nuclear energy.

We thank President Trump and Secretary Wright for their decisive actions. The future of American energy leadership begins here at home, and we are proud to contribute to this national priority.”

Learn more about Project IKE: https://t.co/lOgO1rbcW8

#ProjectIkeEnrichment #uranium #advancedreactor #nuclearenergy

[Orano U.S. @Orano_usa]

On #AprilFoolsDay, don't be "myth-taken" about nuclear energy!

Facts are:
🔋 Nuclear fuel is a small, ceramic pellet, not green goo
🔒 Used fuel in dry storage or transport = 50+ years without any harm
☁️ Cooling tower puffs are warm water vapor, not pollution
♻️ More than 90% of used nuclear fuel is recyclable
😍 77% of Americans support using nuclear energy

See next tweet for this info's sources. 💯

#nuclearenergy #nuclearwaste #nuclearfuel

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Anybody else remember the book, “The House with the Golden Windows”? #DCsunset @capitalweather

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

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 @wolfcreekpower

#nuclearenergy #nuclearpower

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

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.

[Orano U.S. @Orano_usa]

Looking for a private sector job in U.S. nuclear energy? ⚛️

Explore @NEI's NuclearWorks job search tool for companies and openings in your area.

https://t.co/iXM4kBr6N1

@ANS_org @ans_ymg @NA_YGN

#nuclearjobs #engineers #engineeringjobs #energyjobs #NuclearWorks #OranoHires

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

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." # scicomm

[Self @SelfBrandStudio]

Check out my latest article: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Rebrand the Nuke
https://t.co/3xcEYsMCws via @LinkedIn

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

To whet your appetite for this excellent 2025 counter-cultural book, read this bite-sized portion, via @Unusual_VC … Unreasonable Hospitality is good business: 5 lessons from @wguidara. https://t.co/jl7AB6fRC8

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Key point in this @axios 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 publications you choose, but individuals you follow on social media.” https://t.co/954Wv20vRm

[MindBranches @MindBranches]

Book Summary: “Smart Brevity”

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Apparently there were fewer bad people than expected in 2024. Should we 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. 🙄

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Thank you, @ArlingtonNatl, for the commitment, respect, and celebration. It means a lot for family members.

[Orano U.S. @Orano_usa]

3x nuclear energy in the U.S. by 2050? ↗️
That equals 10x U.S. enrichment capacity! 👀

To achieve this required domestic enrichment output, we need all suppliers running full bore—it's not an either/or.

Our Project Ike enrichment facility planned for Oak Ridge, TN, is designed as a major source for reliable, diversified, domestic capacity.

#ProjectIkeEnrichment #uranium

[Mothers for Nuclear @moms4nuclear]

Attention everyone who cares about climate change!! 🚨🔔‼️

Are you feeling worried?

Well, we can offer you a HUGE piece of hope:
Advocate for nuclear! 💪🏼♥️⚛️🌎🌱

This is the way.

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Don’t get fooled. Check story sources before circulating election claims. #Election2024 https://t.co/JIExy82j7v

[Curtis Roberts @RefractiveComm]

Voting—done!—for #Election2024 !

As an American, it’s one of the most important things we do for our country.

Go vote!