The Clarity Digest: From the Wire

How will a government shutdown affect Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory?

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:29:34 GMT

Workers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, home of the Frontier supercomputer, will remain on the job even if the federal government shutdown occurs. (Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy)

With a federal government shutdown looming over many workers, employees at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex will continue to work for…

Oak Ridge council will meet with nuclear fuel recycling company officials on Thursday

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:34:56 GMT

From left: State Sen. Ken Yager; Lt. Gov. Randy McNally; Sen. Marsha Blackburn; Gov. Bill Lee; Jacob DeWitte, Oklo co-founder and CEO; Sen. Bill Hagerty; Congressman Chuck Fleischmann; Roane County Executive Wade Creswell; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Commissioner Bradley Crowell; TVA President and CEO Don Moul and Tennessee Department of Ec…

After tornadoes, storms and floods, NES is prepping Nashville for emergencies | Opinion

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:33:44 GMT

A truck spreads salt along the soundbound Interstate 65 at Old Hickory Boulevard on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Brentwood, Tenn. The winter storm warning for Middle Tennessee is in effect until Saturday morning. (Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)

In recent years, Middle Tennessee has experienced several natural disasters. During each of those events — ranging …

Researchers say xAI has minimal air quality impact; Shelby County reports 9 West Nile cases

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:32:29 GMT

xAI logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

A team of researchers said the xAI data center in South Memphis isn’t contributing meaningfully to air pollution, while Shelby County has reported nine cases of West Nile Virus so far this year.

Also, Rep. Steve Cohen sent a letter to t…

Trump administration to expand coal leasing, fund coal plant upgrades

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:32:58 GMT

A drone view captures extracted coal as it is transported out of a beltline system during operations at the Black Eagle Mine in Packsville, West Virginia, U.S., April 12, 2025. (REUTERS/Adrees Latif)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration will expand coal mine leasing on federal lands and provide hundreds of millions of dollars to support more c…

Most coal-fired power plants will delay retirement to feed AI boom, energy secretary says

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:37:50 GMT

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright attends a Reuters Next event in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 25, 2025. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump expects most of the nation’s coal-fired power plants to delay retirement to help deliver the vast amount of electricity needed t…

Inside GM’s virtual assembly line where AI and VR revolutionize car manufacturing

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:11:01 GMT

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Solving manufacturing problems at a global automotive company used to require a lot more travel.

But General Motors employees today solve problems that require hands-on methods in the same room ― even on opposite ends of the country.

More effective than a Zoom screen and cheaper than airplane travel, virtual vehicle construction is just one way that virtu…

Goal met: More transuranic waste from Oak Ridge shipped to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in NM

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 03:44:57 GMT

Oak Ridge’s eighth and final shipment of transuranic waste for fiscal year 2025 left the site earlier this month, destined for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico for permanent emplacement. (USA TODAY Network)

The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) has met its goal to complete eight shipments of transuranic waste to the Waste I…