Region IV News

Westinghouse WIN Members Teach Local Scouts About Nuclear Energy

On Oct. 16, five Columbia Site Women in Nuclear (WIN) members donated their time and talents to lead Girl Scout Troop 9135 on an exploration of nuclear science and power generation.

“I feel it’s really important for girls to have opportunities at a young age to learn about math, science and nuclear energy, especially from women who are in those career fields,” said Reliability Engineer Jill Sinegar, who volunteered with the scouts.

With less than three hours to spend, the schedule was packed with solar cooking and scientific discovery. From the beginning, the group got to work building solar cookers out of pizza boxes. These were used to prepare the dessert of the night, s‘mores, while the pizza served as dinner.

Sinegar, Rosemary Dalton, Courtney Grant, Latonya Manago-Smith and Dianne Marshall described their roles and responsibilities at the Columbia Site to the scouts, providing information about future career possibilities in nuclear. The group conducted an energy audit of the meeting space, a local church, and the findings were documented for the church to assist them with energy conservation.

In preparation for the final event, “Girl Scout Feud,” WIN volunteers showed a presentation on nuclear and other power sources such as coal, wind, solar, natural gas and hydroelectric. There was a short discussion of the benefits and shortcomings of the various power sources, followed by a friendly debate between the scouts, which were split into two teams. In the end, everyone was a winner with solar cooked s‘mores to enjoy.

TAs a result of the exercises, the scouts will receive two badges: Planet Power, a scientific journey to discover power generation and conservation, and Solar Cooking for the tasty treats the girls enjoyed. What a great way to share the benefits of nuclear with our community!

Westinghouse WIN Participates in Walk for Life

Last month, Westinghouse Columbia employees walked in the Palmetto Health Foundation’s Walk for Life. More than 3,200 women and men in South Carolina will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Participation in Palmetto Health Foundation’s Walk for Life helps increase awareness, education, patient and family support and research conducted by the Palmetto Health Cancer Centers. Westinghouse’s group was organized by the local Women in Nuclear chapter, WIN president Alicia Lemieux said, “We had a great time and were happy to participate for a wonderful cause. We raised just under $1000 and hope that next year we have more employees participate and raise much more money for the Palmetto Health Foundation!”

Entergy Women In Nuclear at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Make Holidays Brighter for the Less Fortunate for Thanksgiving

For almost a month, Entergy WIN at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station collected food via donation boxes located throughout the plant. Employees brought in canned goods, dried beans, rice and packaged meals to be donated to the needy. “We are giving the food to several organizations, including Christian Chapel Church Food Pantry in Port Gibson, the food pantry in Bovina, Good Shepherd Community

Powerful Knowledge and Girl Scouts: An ‘Electric’ Combination

Dominion Virginia Power’s Innsbrook Technical Center in Glen Allen, Va., was lit up with the energy of more than 130 Girl Scouts and leaders from the Girl Scout Commonwealth Council of VA Inc. on Oct. 17 as Dominion hosted “It’s Electric III.” Girl Scouts in grades 7–12 learned about how electricity works, how it is generated and distributed, and how to be safe around electricity at the third production of this interactive and enlightening event.

The event focused on educational and career opportunities for the young women, with an emphasis on math, science, and technical skills. Through exposure to people who have made science a part of their work lives, the girls could envision science and engineering as viable career paths.

Girls heard directly from numerous female engineers and scientists about what it takes to join the field—and the exciting experiences these careers can yield. From rocket launches at Cape Canaveral to radar systems on huge ships to controlling megawatts of nuclear energy, the girls learned that engineering can take you far beyond the basics of math and equations. Students from India and the Middle East and engineers who have traveled to Europe and Asia also shared facts about using electricity in these countries and what education and technology has meant to them.

Thanks to Dominion’s experienced engineers, biologists and professional women, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Women in Engineering societies, and student engineers from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Girl Scouts and their leaders now know much more about the power of electricity and how it works in our everyday lives. They learned about the physics of electrical current, the generation and transmission of electricity from power plants to our homes, conservation of our natural resources, and proper safety behavior around common electrical sources.

Girls were able to ride a bicycle to generate electricity, see the power grid of electrical distribution in Virginia, design circuits for lighting and audio, understand the environmental impact of the many different ways to generate electricity and learn their responsibility to use electricity wisely.

The girls received the It’s Electric III patch, an It’s Electric t-shirt, handouts about electricity and conservation, and a backpack filled with gifts. They completed several requirements from the Girl Scout Electricity, Electronics and Engineering patches and the Eco-Action, Planet Power and Building a Better Future journeys.

SHADES Workshop Teaches Girls about Math and Science

The 28th SHADES (SHaring ADventures in Engineering and Science) workshop for middle school girls was held Oct. 24 at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The goal of this one day workshop is to attract 6th and 7th grade girls to careers in science and engineering by showing the students that math, physical sciences, life sciences and engineering disciplines are fun and interesting. As part of the highly interactive program, the girls had the chance to extract DNA from fruit and use Skittles to study half life. The workshop also featured a “Zip Speed Ahead” design competition, in which the girls worked in teams to design a container for a ping pong ball to “zip” down the line. Prizes were awarded to the teams with the fastest times.

SHADES is sponsored by a coalition of organizations, including two AAUW branches, the Oak Ridge/Knoxville Section of ANS, the Society of Women Engineers and the Oak Ridge Women in Nuclear. Visit www.ornl.gov/shades for more information.

One to Watch: WIN Member Involved With Major Potential Nuclear Fuel Source

Thornton and other Virginia Uranium employees are working to educate the local and statewide community about the impacts of uranium mining and benefits of nuclear energy. Though exploration of uranium deposits is allowed by state law, Virginia has suspended the actual mining of the mineral as one of only four U.S. states with such a moratorium. In considering lifting this moratorium, Virginia legislators are faced with building a regulatory framework for the permitting process and questions about environmental and economic affects such mining could have on surrounding localities.

The uranium resource was discovered during a national exploration program that looked at the entire eastern U.S. in the late 1970s. Mining for uranium in Virginia was then studied in the 1980s through the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission. Development on the project ceased as uranium prices declined, but has resurfaced with the emergence of increasing energy needs in the United States. In November 2007, the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy issued a permit to Virginia Uranium to allow the commencement of exploratory drilling on Coles Hill. The results of the exploration were significant. The deposit holds more than 119 MM lbs of uranium and, unlike many uranium resources, actually reaches the surface. It is the largest undeveloped uranium deposit in the United States and the seventh largest in the world.

The ore deposit is so large that if fully recovered, it could fuel Virginia's existing nuclear demand for more than 65 years. Nuclear power generates roughly 40 percent of Virginia's electricity annually.

What makes the deposit even more compelling is the rich history and impressive agricultural background of the land. There are more than 1,200 farms in Pittsylvania County and agricultural production has a combined gross annual revenue of $50 million.

The uranium deposit was found specifically on Coles Hill, a 3,000-acre farm that has more than 300 head of cattle living on it. The Coles family has owned and lived on the property since 1785. Now the sixth generation of Coles family members stand as pillars of the thriving agrarian economy in Pittsylvania County.

The Coles, along with the neighboring Bowen family, own majority control of Virginia Uranium and have made the health and welfare of the surrounding community among the highest priorities of the company. The land boasts a historic home built just after the War of 1812, family cemeteries, an old school house and other historic buildings. As custodians of such a rich tradition and protectors of this historical land, Virginia Uranium has good cause to be concerned about the reclamation and conservation of Coles Hill.

The opportunities for Virginia's economic growth and the nation's energy independence are great, but more must be done to determine if this notable project can be developed. In May 2009, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission requested a study by the National Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the National Research Council, to further explore whether uranium can be mined and milled safely in Virginia. The study will take 18–24 months to complete, and the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission will then assess the benefits and safety of mining uranium in Virginia.

Nina, a mother of two, has more than 20 years of experience as a controller for companies located in Pittsylvania County. At this point in her career, she is excited about the opportunity to bring more members to Women in Nuclear and to get involved with other regional chapters as the project progresses. She has discovered that the US WIN and WIN Global conferences offer ideal opportunities for women to connect with other women in the nuclear industry. She is also excited about being involved with a company that can be a partner in the nuclear fuel source and has the vision to develop a world-class mining operation model while preserving the area's historical heritage.

As this moves forward, expect to hear more about Southside Virginia and Coles Hill.

Progress Energy's Harris-Raleigh Chapter

The members of the Harris/Raleigh WIN Chapter met for a lunch meeting at Lucky 32 on October 29.

H. Szews opened the meeting with welcoming comments and an update on Cell Phones for Soldiers, the first HNP-Raleigh Chapter WIN event. 70 phones and 50 accessories, plus $50, were donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers between HNP and Corporate-that's 120 60-minute calling cards that we are able to provide US soldiers so that they can call home, which is especially important given the upcoming holiday season.

L. Williams gave an intor/update to the WIN website available on the Progress Energy Intranet. Next, the leads for several planned/proposed service projects for the remainder of 2009 and early 2010 gave a summary of their event and information about what was needed to make it successful. Each lead gave an overview of the project and tied in the value of that project to our company. The projects discussed were Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank drive, Marbles Kids Museum, Prom Dress Drive, Krispy Kreme Challenge, and Dress for Success. Meeting attendees were asked to sign up for any/all events in which they were interested in participating.

Chris Burton and Jim Scarola concluded the meeting with closing remarks, encouraging continued participation and highlighting that we, too, gain from being involved-not just the organizations for which we volunteer. Jim Scarola accepted several questions, most of which were centered around the ongoing outage at our sister plant, CR-3.

Once the meeting was adjourned, folks signed up for the activities which most interested them.

AREVA Lynchburg

The 2008/2009 end-of-year social for the Lynchburg Chapter of Women in Nuclear (WIN-LC) was held on May 26, 2009, at Acorn Hill in Lynchburg, Virginia. Approximately 35 people were in attendance. George Beam, Chief Operating Officer of AREVA and AREVA Corporate Sponsor of WIN-LC, ad-dressed the group. George highlighted many of the major events of the nu-clear industry from the early 1980’s, when George himself started his career as a reactor engineer at the Oconee Nuclear Station, up to the present day, which holds the promise of the rebirth of nuclear energy here in the U.S. as well as abroad. George referred to himself as the “Forrest Gump of Nuclear Power,” a term which perfectly describes George’s well-rounded career, longevity and commitment to this vital industry.

The 2008/2009 session of WIN-LC marked the first year of the group’s scholarship program. A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Ms. Danielle Montalbano, a graduating senior of Brookville High School who plans to major in either Environmental or Civil Engineering with the hopes of a career in the nuclear industry. Danielle and her parents, Dana and Victor, were present to receive the scholarship, which was also awarded on May 29 at the senior assembly at Brookville High School. Our best wishes are extended to Ms. Montalbano as she begins her college education at Central Virginia Community College with a planned transfer to Virginia Tech.

Cathy Woody, the 2008/2009 chapter president, thanked Tina Snyder and Amy Napior for their efforts toward making the WIN-LC newsletter a success. Cathy also announced the upcoming officer election to be conducted this summer and urged members to attend the WIN-US and Global conference to be held July 20-24 in Washington, DC. This conference offers a unique opportunity for members as it provides an opportunity to meet and network with members from both the U.S. and abroad.

Brandy Rector gave an update on recruitment efforts, highlighting some planned activities for the upcoming year. Peggy Hobbs reported that a WIN-LC website will be a planned activity for the 2009/2010 session. Wanda Brooks-Crocker presented awards and recognition to the 2008/2009 slate of officers, the corporate and executive sponsors at AREVA and Babcock & Wilcox, and the 2008/2009 scholarship program participants. Committee chairs are sought for other committees, including Activities and Professional Development, Public Outreach/Speaker’s Bureau, and Mentoring. Etta Ash-well gave the final 2008/2009 treasurer’s report and announced that the budget process for 2009/2010 is underway.

After the business meeting, the social began with delicious food supplied by Mary Anne Kerr and mini spa treatments offered by staff members from The Spa and Salon at Acorn Hill. Drawings for door prizes rounded out the evening.

AREVA and Duke WIN Groups Team Up

AREVA WIN Charlotte Chapter is a new chapter and it has been established since November 2008. To boost their membership and to have an opportunity to network with other local chapters, a WIN AREVA Charlotte and Duke social event was planned. On Thursday evening, June 11 at 5:30, the WIN AREVA and WIN Duke chapters met at Hickory Tavern for a joint social event. The gathering was a wonderful professional development opportunity for our local WIN community to get together and get to know one another. Everyone had a great time, and future joint events are expected.

The social meeting really gave AREVA WIN the opportunity to find out what a more experienced chapter does. One of the Duke members is even on the national board and was able to give us much insight into the logistics of WIN on a national basis.

It was very exciting to find out that most of those who attended were going to be able to meet again at the WIN Global conference in late July.

Overall, the joint social event was a great success and was a wonderful opportunity to bring two local chapters together.

Nuclear engineering program prepares future researchers

An Oak Ridge National Laboratory program for nuclear engineering students is helping provide the workforce to produce carbon-free nuclear power for the future.

Students like Nikki Sheppard, a senior at North Carolina State, are taking advantage of the Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis program, which has grown from two to 50 students since 2002.

"I chose to study nuclear engineering at Oak Ridge because of its focus on research," Sheppard said. "Also, ORNL exposes you to a variety of opportunities compared to another internship I participated in where there was little diversity."

Bernadette Kirk, Nuclear Science and Technology Division, and Hamilton Hunter, Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, initiated the program seven years ago to help boost the declining number of students in nuclear engineering programs.

"The NESLS program aims to bring in student interns so they can get some research experience," Kirk said. "As nuclear engineers begin to retire, we want and need to fill those empty spots with a new generation of qualified professionals."

Kirk said some energy analysts expect an increase in U.S. nuclear power generation, creating good job prospects for students graduating with a nuclear engineering degree. Industry estimates cite about 8,000 nuclear engineers currently working at the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants. Doubling the number of reactors to 200 by 2050 would require 21,500 engineers with nuclear training.

Even without that many new plants being built, the aging nuclear energy workforce will soon retire, leaving job openings for incoming nuclear engineers, Kirk said. Although new plants aren't under construction in the U.S., several licenses are being renewed.

Julie Ezold, also of the Nuclear Science and Technology Division and an NESLS mentor, said the intern program plays a significant role in training tomorrow's nuclear engineers. Last year, ORNL hired four nuclear engineers who had participated in the program.

"Nuclear power has to be part of the mix," Ezold said. "Currently, U.S. nuclear power plants make up 20 percent of the electrical capacity. We want our interns to actually work on research projects that could advance this significant portion of the energy sector."

UT-Battelle manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy.