Advancing Nuclear Technology - John Parmentola Clip 1.mpg

2011 Special Summit on New Nuclear Energy Roundtable:
Advancing Nuclear Technology

• John Parmentola, General Atomics
• Finis Southworth, NGNP Alliance
• Robert Prince, Hyperion Power Generation
• Eric Loewen, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

About the Summit:
The Special Summit features perspectives from government, industry and the non-governmental community as well as roundtable discussions on the state of the global "Nuclear Renaissance" -- including lessons from the recent earthquake and tsunami-related events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan; insight from the financial community on new nuclear investment; status reports on new nuclear "first movers"; and assessments of the U.S. licensing paradigm. The Special Summit will also focus on new nuclear infrastructure readiness including nuclear technology advancement; supply chain and workforce readiness; and development of a sustainable fuel cycle. The Special Summit is moderated by Llewellyn King, the Executive Producer and Host of White House Chronicle on PBS — a news and public affairs program airing nationwide and on XM Satellite Radio. He is also a nationally syndicated columnist. The Summit is organized under the auspices of the United States Nuclear Infrastructure Council, the leading national think tank advocate for new nuclear energy.

Panelists:
John Parmentola
Senior Vice President
General Atomics
Currently, Dr. John Parmentola is the Senior Vice President for Energy and Electromagnetic Systems at General Atomics, responsible for the strategic direction and day to day operations of the San Diego-based company's Energy and Electromagnetic Systems Operating Group. Previously, he held the position of Director for Research and Laboratory Management for the U.S. Army, directing laboratory management policy, infrastructure and security for all Army laboratories, research, development and engineering centers, and base realignment and closure efforts. Dr. Parmentola served as science and technology advisor to the chief financial officer of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Earlier in his career, Dr. Parmentola was the executive director for the American Physical Society Panel on Public Affairs.

Excerpted Quotes:
"...safety is of ultimate importance in pursuing any reactor. And some people know that high temperature gas reactors, at least the thermal ones, are inherently safe. The one that we have been pursuing, can be made walk-away safe. Which means if you loose power and you loose coolant, you can have a reactor that will remain safe in the sense of no melt down."

"Based on our calculations and also Argon National Laboratory, this reactor can burn for thirty years without refueling or fuel reshuffling. It has to do with the nature of the design of the reactor."

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Advancing
• Nuclear
• Technology
• John
• Parmentola
• Clip
• NIC
• Energy