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House of Representatives approves funding for Next Lab fuel

The molten salt reactor at ACU's NEXT Lab is the only one of its kind, using liquid HALEU, instead of rods or pellets.
The molten salt reactor at ACU's NEXT Lab is the only one of its kind, using liquid HALEU, instead of rods or pellets.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved funds last week to pay for the fuel needed by Abilene Christian University's NEXT Lab. Congressman Jodey Arrington proposed the amendment to an appropriations bill for energy and water development.

The Department of Energy had given conditional approval to provide the fuel for research nuclear reactors, and the amendment sets aside $50 million to cover the costs associated with that.

KACU's Heather Claborn spoke with the Licensing Director for the NEXT Lab, Lester Towel, and ACU's Chief Strategy Officer Blair Schroeder to find out what this means for ACU's nuclear project.

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