Zach Van Horn
@nuclearzak.bsky.social
Nuclear Engineer & Educator
Outreach & Communications
Started as a STEM major looking to make a difference in the world and ended up getting radicalized by the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
All views are my own.
Outreach & Communications
Started as a STEM major looking to make a difference in the world and ended up getting radicalized by the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
All views are my own.
Storing radioactive waste in the Permian Basin threatens harm to citizens, employees, and poses risk to lands, air, and water...
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
June 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Storing radioactive waste in the Permian Basin threatens harm to citizens, employees, and poses risk to lands, air, and water...
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
But storing radioactive waste at long decommissioned reactor sites—or at Yucca—... doesn't?!
"You can have sugar, flour, water, oil, and eggs... but you MAY NOT have a cake."
June 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
"You can have sugar, flour, water, oil, and eggs... but you MAY NOT have a cake."
Gorsuch's dissent relies heavily on the NWPA and the idea that it's unlawful to store nuclear waste anywhere but the reactor site or a federally owned facility.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
June 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Gorsuch's dissent relies heavily on the NWPA and the idea that it's unlawful to store nuclear waste anywhere but the reactor site or a federally owned facility.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT FUCKING SAYS.
42USC§10151: "Persons owning and operating [nuclear reactors] have the primary responsibility...
But at the same time as this case is being decide, Texas is suing the NRC, AGAIN. This time to deregulate small nuclear reactors for (guess what!), POWERING OIL FIELD OPERATIONS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN.
June 18, 2025 at 8:53 PM
But at the same time as this case is being decide, Texas is suing the NRC, AGAIN. This time to deregulate small nuclear reactors for (guess what!), POWERING OIL FIELD OPERATIONS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN.
"Terrorists are going to target the oil fields."
June 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
"Terrorists are going to target the oil fields."
Where's the conservative nuclear advocates when a Republican governor spouts the same rad fears that they contribute to environmentalists!?
June 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Where's the conservative nuclear advocates when a Republican governor spouts the same rad fears that they contribute to environmentalists!?
June 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Radioactive waste poses such a great risk that the Justices believe we should ignore judicial standing in this case and let anybody sue when the NRC decides to issue a RAM license for it.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
June 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Radioactive waste poses such a great risk that the Justices believe we should ignore judicial standing in this case and let anybody sue when the NRC decides to issue a RAM license for it.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
This thinking blows up litigation when new plants are proposed.
More concerning, however is Gorsuch's dissent, joined by Thomas and Alito.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
June 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
More concerning, however is Gorsuch's dissent, joined by Thomas and Alito.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
He says that spent fuel cannot legally be stored away from a reactor unless it's in a federally owned facility.
Hello, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company? Three Justices think you've been breaking the law for decades.
The NRC has determined Diablo Canyon is safe to operate for another 20 years!
Thanks, in part, to a $6B grant authorized within the IIJA (Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), DCNP was brought back from the brink of early retirement.
#NukeSky
Thanks, in part, to a $6B grant authorized within the IIJA (Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), DCNP was brought back from the brink of early retirement.
#NukeSky
June 6, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The NRC has determined Diablo Canyon is safe to operate for another 20 years!
Thanks, in part, to a $6B grant authorized within the IIJA (Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), DCNP was brought back from the brink of early retirement.
#NukeSky
Thanks, in part, to a $6B grant authorized within the IIJA (Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), DCNP was brought back from the brink of early retirement.
#NukeSky
Even the Trump DOJ thinks that Texas, Utah, and Florida's interpretation of the Atomic Energy Act - which they say would prohibit the NRC from licensing small reactors - is bogus.
#NukeSky
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#NukeSky
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 30, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Even the Trump DOJ thinks that Texas, Utah, and Florida's interpretation of the Atomic Energy Act - which they say would prohibit the NRC from licensing small reactors - is bogus.
#NukeSky
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#NukeSky
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Conservative leaning #nuclearenergy advocates have praised Sen. CAPITO. Some calling her, "the most pro-nuclear representative in Congress."
Turns out the coal-to-nuclear transition can wait a little while longer - I suppose.
#nukesky
Turns out the coal-to-nuclear transition can wait a little while longer - I suppose.
#nukesky
April 9, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Conservative leaning #nuclearenergy advocates have praised Sen. CAPITO. Some calling her, "the most pro-nuclear representative in Congress."
Turns out the coal-to-nuclear transition can wait a little while longer - I suppose.
#nukesky
Turns out the coal-to-nuclear transition can wait a little while longer - I suppose.
#nukesky
100% agreement from me with Senator Risch. Now let's see his home state of Idaho repeal its anti-nuclear laws prohibiting spent fuel imports. Then build a state-of-the-art interim storage facility. That'll show those hippies how safe nuclear waste really is.
#nukesky
#nukesky
April 2, 2025 at 9:43 PM
100% agreement from me with Senator Risch. Now let's see his home state of Idaho repeal its anti-nuclear laws prohibiting spent fuel imports. Then build a state-of-the-art interim storage facility. That'll show those hippies how safe nuclear waste really is.
#nukesky
#nukesky
Hang it up, fellas! We've figured out what's been holding nuclear back and it's women and minorities.
Fully expect 30 SMRs built by 2030. 🙄
#nukesky
Fully expect 30 SMRs built by 2030. 🙄
#nukesky
March 27, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Hang it up, fellas! We've figured out what's been holding nuclear back and it's women and minorities.
Fully expect 30 SMRs built by 2030. 🙄
#nukesky
Fully expect 30 SMRs built by 2030. 🙄
#nukesky
The first #NuclearEnergy renaissance never took shape because of dropping natural gas prices, the '09 recession, and a general resistance to doing anything about climate change.
How will we get this one over what's looking like very similar hurdles? #NukeSky
How will we get this one over what's looking like very similar hurdles? #NukeSky
March 11, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The first #NuclearEnergy renaissance never took shape because of dropping natural gas prices, the '09 recession, and a general resistance to doing anything about climate change.
How will we get this one over what's looking like very similar hurdles? #NukeSky
How will we get this one over what's looking like very similar hurdles? #NukeSky
The face you'll make dredging through each page...
March 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
The face you'll make dredging through each page...
ENRON is entering a highly competitive industry of tabletop sized nuclear power plants.
February 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
ENRON is entering a highly competitive industry of tabletop sized nuclear power plants.
How it started v. How it's going
February 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
How it started v. How it's going
AIKEN COUNTY is back in the news as Federal judges around the country begin to stop the Trump administration from withholding Congressionally appropriated funds.
A short breakdown of this case for #NukeSky:
When Obama was elected in 2009, one promise he made to Nevada and Harry Reid...
A short breakdown of this case for #NukeSky:
When Obama was elected in 2009, one promise he made to Nevada and Harry Reid...
February 12, 2025 at 4:53 PM
AIKEN COUNTY is back in the news as Federal judges around the country begin to stop the Trump administration from withholding Congressionally appropriated funds.
A short breakdown of this case for #NukeSky:
When Obama was elected in 2009, one promise he made to Nevada and Harry Reid...
A short breakdown of this case for #NukeSky:
When Obama was elected in 2009, one promise he made to Nevada and Harry Reid...
January 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
January 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
"If you zoom in on this frame and use the background to measure the velocity and arm angle... comparing it to a known example of the salute, I don't think there's clear and obvious video evidence to reverse the call on the field."
January 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
"If you zoom in on this frame and use the background to measure the velocity and arm angle... comparing it to a known example of the salute, I don't think there's clear and obvious video evidence to reverse the call on the field."
Randall must be spending a lot of time on energy t****** lately - and he doesn't like it.
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/uncan...
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/uncan...
January 16, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Randall must be spending a lot of time on energy t****** lately - and he doesn't like it.
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/uncan...
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/uncan...
January 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM