Randy Hemann, the new Oak Ridge city manager, had been scheduled to deliver the annual “State of the City of Oak Ridge” to the League of Women Voters on Tuesday, but the presentation has been canceled due to the winter weather, which has included heavy snow, cold temperatures, and hazardous road conditions.
The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge said it hopes Hemann can deliver the presentation another time, but a new date hasn’t been announced yet.
[Read more…]
City of Oak Ridge offices and facilities and Oak Ridge National Laboratory will be closed Tuesday due to winter weather.
The city said only essential employees are expected to report to work. The Oak Ridge City Council work session scheduled for Tuesday will be postponed and a new date published later.
[Read more…]
Roads, schools, and businesses closed as snow fell for hours in Oak Ridge. The snow began about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, and snow continued to fall at about 6 p.m. Monday.
Oak Ridge Today measured almost seven inches of snow at about 5 p.m. Monday. The National Weather Service in Morristown had forecast between four to six and six to eight inches of snow in the Oak Ridge and Clinton areas.
“Very cold air is moving in across the region with sub-freezing temperatures continuing through Thursday,” the National Weather Service said. “Temperatures Tuesday night will be around zero!”
Roads, even main streets like Oak Ridge Turnpike, had a thick layer of snow on them, with a wet, slippery surface underneath. Traffic was light when normally it would be heavy, and most drivers drove slowly and cautiously, with some turning on their hazard lights.
“With significant snow accumulations across much of the area and very cold temperatures, hazardous travel conditions may develop,” the NWS said. “Avoid travel, but if you must, use caution.”
[Read more…]Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations.
ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign.
A total of $121,030 was pledged during the 2023 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both.
“ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.”
ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.
Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau
###
Oak Ridge, Tenn. — America’s nuclear energy industry faces a critical problem that ORAU’s newly launched STEM Accelerator hopes to solve.
The drive toward a carbon neutral clean energy future is anticipated to spur the growth of advanced nuclear reactors that are smaller, simpler to construct, more cost-effective to operate than existing facilities and offer high-quality career opportunities. However, there is a critical shortage of the skilled professionals needed to oversee manufacturing, construction and operation of these facilities.
The ORAU STEM Accelerator (OSA) was created to help bridge this gap by convening a diverse network of two- and four-year academic institutions, industry, non-profit, professional organizations, labor unions and government partners with the aim of addressing the toughest challenges in STEM education, training, research and innovation.
“OSA will focus its work in three sectors: nuclear science and technology, space manufacturing and critical national infrastructure,” Olivia Blackmon, OSA director said. “We’re focusing on nuclear science and technology first, because the current need is so great, with a piloted program in nuclear energy.”
The U.S. nuclear energy industry faces significant challenges in attracting and retaining qualified talent.
“Retirements, retention issues, inflation, shifting demographics, etc. This is all documented from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and projections are suggesting worsening labor market conditions over the next decade extending into 2060,” Blackmon said, adding that something needs to be done and quickly to reverse this trend.
To that end, OSA is already plugged into some major national efforts in collaboration with the NEI and other partners to help solve these critical challenges, including:
– Establishing a Nuclear Energy Coalition
– Analyzing data for decision-making
– Implementing strategic talent planning
– Strengthening career awareness and retention
– Establishing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility best practices
– Emphasizing training and certification
– Building a sustainable pipeline
“Our goal is to drive research and development, advocate for innovative training and education solutions, shape policy, and deliver tangible outcomes to strengthen the United States STEM workforce,” Blackmon said.
To learn more about OSA, visit https://orau.org/partnerships/stem-accelerator.
###
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a construction permit for a test reactor at Heritage Center industrial park in west Oak Ridge. The NRC decision was announced Tuesday, and construction could start next year.
The 35-megawatt thermal Hermes demonstration reactor would be built by Kairos Power, which has headquarters in Alameda, California, and a Tennessee operation in Oak Ridge.
Hermes would use molten salt to cool its reactor core. It would not generate electricity. Instead, it would provide operational data to support the development of a larger version for commercial power, the NRC said.
“A critical step on Kairos Power’s iterative pathway to commercializing its advanced reactor technology, the Hermes reactor will demonstrate the company’s ability to deliver clean, safe, and affordable nuclear heat,” the company said in a press release.
[Read more…]
The Tennessee Valley Authority has retired the Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton.
The plant burned the last of its onsite coal onsite in August, ending a 48-day run. TVA retired the plant December 1.
The TVA Board of Directors approved the retirement of Bull Run on February 14, 2019. That followed an environmental review process that included public input, TVA said.
Bull Run began operating in 1967. At the time it was the largest in the world in the volume of steam produced, according to TVA. Located on 750 acres in Claxton across from Oak Ridge, it was the only single-unit power plant in the TVA system, and it was designed to produce up to 950 megawatts. It has an 800-foot reinforced concrete chimney.
[Read more…]
Artificial intelligence policy and its societal implications will be discussed during a lunch in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.
The featured speaker at Lunch with the League will be Lynne E. Parker, associate vice chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It has been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it is open to the public.
You are welcome to bring a lunch or purchase a boxed lunch. Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon.
[Read more…]
The Tennessee Division of Forestry said Tuesday that the Windrock Mountain fire that began Thursday is controlled.
On Tuesday afternoon, the size of the affected area was 328 acres with a containment percentage of 95 percent.
Representatives from state forestry were still at the fire site to monitor it, officials said.
[Read more…]Minor traffic delays are possible Saturday morning in Oak Ridge during the Secret City Half Marathon and 5K.
Race Director Hannah Fatheree expects nearly 1,000 runners and walkers on city streets and greenways during the family-friendly events.
“Motorists should also be aware of the early morning course preparations,” a press release said. “While the races start at 9 a.m., there will be volunteers setting out cones along the course as early as 6 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will be out in force directing and stopping traffic where and when needed. While no roads will be shut down due to the race traffic, motorists should expect some minor delays due to runners crossing streets on Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road. Motorists are asked to take it slow in these areas and be mindful of the race participants.”
[Read more…]
The wildfire burning near Rocky Top has grown to an estimated 210 acres and is still 75 percent contained, officials with the Tennessee Department of Forestry said Tuesday.
“Forestry is back on scene this morning,” Anderson County Emergency Management Agency Director Brice Kidwell said Tuesday morning. “They are working to reinforce and clean up the lines they’ve dug over the last few days.”
Kidwell said the Division of Forestry had indicated they planned to do more “back burning” Tuesday to try to fully contain the wildfire that was first reported just after 6 p.m. Saturday. Because of the planned back burning, residents could see more smoke and hazy skies later Tuesday, he said.
[Read more…]The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.
Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.
Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here:
Basic
Pro
Temporary
If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:
Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.
We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.
Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!
