Casper College to Host Presentation on the Upcoming Sodium Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming
A proposed draft of the “Sodium” nuclear power plant under construction in Wyoming was shared in a press release from PacifiCorps. (PacifiCorps)
CASPER, Wyoming – Casper College will host a presentation in December entitled “Perceptions of Nuclear Progress,” which will focus on the sodium nuclear reactor, which is expected to be built somewhere in Wyoming.
Dr. Glen Hansen, an engineering lecturer at Casper College, will speak about the sodium reactor during the presentation and discuss the science behind nuclear reactors. Hansen will also discuss safety issues related to nuclear power plants.
“Hansen’s presentation will be followed by a discussion of the pros and cons of the country’s first sodium power plant in Wyoming,” says Casper College. “The evening ends with a question-and-answer session moderated by Erich Frankland, lecturer in political science.”
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When Governor Mark Gordon announced in June this year that Wyoming had been selected to build a new “advanced” nuclear reactor, he said it would be “groundbreaking and monumental” for Wyoming.
The sodium system, which is expected to be built at one of four locations in Wyoming, was co-developed by TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
Proponents tout the sodium reactor as “advanced” technology, with TerraPower claiming that it can offer “improved reactor economy, higher fuel efficiency, improved safety and reduced waste.”
The Union of Concerned Scientists, on the other hand, is hesitant about the rosy picture that TerraPower and other players in the field of new nuclear technology are painting.
In a March 2021 report entitled “’Advanced’ Is’t Always Better: Assessing the Safety, Security, and Environmental Impacts of Non-Light-Water Nuclear Reactors,” the Union of Concerned Scientists identified a number of potential problems related to it on claims about new “advanced” nuclear technology.
The question of whether the sodium reactor would actually be an improvement on existing nuclear technology is further explored in this article.
Hansen’s presentation at Casper College is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7th at 7pm in the Durham Auditorium. The presentation is hosted by Phi Theta Kappa’s Zeta Alpha Chapter at Casper College, of which Hansen is an advisor.
Hansen previously headed the Computational Multiphysics division at Sandia National Laboratories. Casper College adds that he also led nuclear engineering computer software development at Idaho National Laboratory and was assistant group leader in the X Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“For more information, contact Bowden at [email protected] or 307-268-2064 or Teresa Stricklin, PTK advisor and math teacher, at [email protected] or 307-268-2615,” Casper College said.
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