INL to provide Oklo access to recovered fuel for microreactor demonstration project

A representation of what Oklo Inc.'s Aurora Powerhouse will look like

Idaho National Laboratory announced Wednesday it will provide Oklo Inc. with access to recovered fuel from nuclear waste materials to aid the company in its efforts to develop and demonstrate the Oklo Aurora – a small advanced fission technology that can be used in remote or off-grid locations to generate power.

The California-based company applied for access to the material through a competitive process INL launched earlier this year. Notifications of selection were made to applicants in December 2019. The goal is to accelerate deployment of commercially viable microreactors by providing developers with access to material needed to produce fuel for their reactors.

“We are excited to work with Oklo Inc. and support their needs related to fuel development and microreactor demonstration,” said Dr. John Wagner, associate laboratory director for INL’s Nuclear Science & Technology directorate.  “As the nation’s nuclear energy research laboratory, we are committed to working with private companies and others to develop the technologies that will provide clean energy to the world.”

Jacob DeWitte, Oklo co-founder and chief executive officer, said, “This award paves the way for an important demonstration of the first Oklo Aurora plant, as well as the ability of advanced reactors to convert used nuclear fuel, that would otherwise be treated for disposal, into clean energy.” Last month, Oklo announced it received a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy to build and demonstrate the Aurora technology at INL.

Uranium recovered from used fuel is being downblended to produce “high-assay, low-enriched uranium,” i.e., HALEU. HALEU is low-enriched uranium that contains over 5% and less than 20% uranium-235, the fissile isotope in nuclear fuel that produces energy during a fission chain reaction.

All 96 nuclear reactors currently operating in the U.S. use fuel enriched with less than 5% uranium-235.

Several U.S. companies are developing microreactor technologies that would use HALEU and need access to the fuel in order to demonstrate and prove out designs.

“Many of these designs call for fuels with higher levels of uranium-235 so the reactors can operate for years without having to be refueled,” Wagner said. “That is an important attribute since this technology is envisioned to be used in remote areas that can be difficult to access.”

However, there are no commercial facilities in the U.S. now capable of producing HALEU. 
To address this gap, DOE has established a capability at INL to produce HALEU by processing and treating used fuel from the now-decommissioned Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (the used fuel contains high concentrations of uranium-235 and was being treated and processed for disposal). With this supply, INL can produce up to 10 metric tons of HALEU for research, development and demonstration purposes.

DOE retains ownership of HALEU during and after use, and the material will stay on the INL Site. The finalization of access to the HALEU is pending the establishing a cooperative agreement between INL and Oklo on the use of the material for their microreactor demonstration.

“Building and operating advanced reactors is essential to restoring U.S. leadership in nuclear energy,” said Dr. Ashley Finan, director of the National Reactor Innovation Center. Led by INL, NRIC was established in August 2019 to provide access to resources to accelerate the demonstration of advanced nuclear technology concepts. “The NRIC team is committed to empowering innovators to move their projects from concept to reality. We look forward to working with Oklo on the fuel supply for their first unit and congratulate them on achieving this milestone.”

Reactor demonstration sites at the INL Site are available through a DOE site use permit or other facility use arrangements. INL has a well-developed infrastructure and a well-characterized site with existing facilities and a skilled workforce to support new reactor projects.

Wagner said those factors plus being able to supply HALEU enable INL to support Oklo and other entities developing new reactor technologies. He added that INL is continuing discussions with the other applicants to see how the lab can support their efforts.

“We are interested in receiving more proposals from the microreactor development community,” he said. “There is an additional quantity of HALEU available to support reactor demonstrations.

East Idaho Entrepreneurs: Cameron C. Taylor

NOTE: Each Monday BizMojo Idaho will feature a small business profile from East Idaho Entrepreneurs, Renae Oswald's podcast focused on local people in business. This week's profile is Cameron C. Taylor.

'How Long Until I'm the CEO?'

Cameron C. Taylor

When Cameron C. Taylor was looking for an internship he interviewed with FranklinCovey. During the interview he asked them, “How long until I'm the CEO? What do I have to do to be the CEO of the company?” He told them if he was working there, his goal would be to be the CEO. After learning that it would take 30 to 40 years, he decided the best way to get what he wanted was to have his own company.

While attending BYU, he listened to a lecture series where entrepreneurs explained their businesses and he was intrigued. He already had a side business and was making some money, so the thought of being an entrepreneur made him excited. The MBA program that he was enrolled in required him to sign an agreement that he would not have any side businesses or a job. That wasn't going to work for him, so he gave up the MBA and took a leap of faith.

He had no idea what he was going to do. Cameron admits that he is a natural visionary, “I've always had that sense … trying to envision what it will look like.” He knew he'd always been comfortable with sales, so he started a sales training and development company. One of his first big clients breached the contract and did not pay for tens of thousands of dollars of product.

“I had nothing, and all that was funded on credit cards,” he said. He didn't have the cash flow to save that business, so he had to walk away. He moved in with his brother and decided to start over.

At this point, he knew he needed to get a job. He had debt and no income. He had a wife and new expenses. Looking for a job, he went six months without any offers. “I graduated from the top of my class at business school,” he explained, “and no one wanted me.”

It was during this time where he said he started asking God for something different. He realized that he wasn't asking the right question when he was asking for God to help him find a job. Now he always asks, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” He realizes now that not getting a job was a blessing but it didn't feel like it at the time. The answer that God gave him was to start a business doing a lecture series on leadership and entrepreneurship for BYU.

He'd had some experience at the university and some contacts, so he pitched it and he was surprised when it was approved. One of the entrepreneurs that lectured during the series approached Cameron to implement an idea. The entrepreneur agreed to put up the money if Cameron would come and build the business. He believes he was guided and said, “when I tried to do what I wanted to do I can't get a $6/hr job, but when I do what God wants me to do it happens.” He and his partner built this company from negative cash flow the first year to multi-million dollar business where he was winning awards and getting recognition.

There were times that first year that he wondered if it was going to work. “I even looked at the job boards,” he said, “then I thought, 'I don't want a job.'” Even to this day, he has nightmares about working for someone else. He attributes his success to taking his guidance from God. His practice was to take his first hour of the day to meditate and pray. He says this is the secret to success

During this journey he has always felt led to write books. “I love that writing and creating of materials,” he says. He wrote a book when he was 23 and he also was a ghostwriter for another author. This experience was the foundation for writing the book, Does Your Bag Have Holes? 24 Truths That Lead to Financial and Spiritual Freedom. That was the beginning of his authoring and publishing multiple books, and he continues to write today. “Writing is a part of my ministry, it's part of my charitable efforts. I knew we were going to be giving a lot of these away.” Because of this, he started his own publishing company. It is his venue to share and teach

When giving advice to others who are thinking about going into business he encourages people to turn to God and see yourself as He sees you. He believes that even though he didn't always believe in himself, God did and he can put his faith and trust there. “This is where the confidence comes from,” he says.

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Rizo's Pizza closing; MOD Pizza coming in April

Rizo's Pizza in Ammon will be closing Feb. 22.

By Rhett Nelson
Reprinted from East Idaho News

After nearly four years, Rizo’s Pizza in Ammon is closing its doors. Seattle-based MOD Pizza recently bought the restaurant and will be moving in early April. Rizo’s last day of operation will be Saturday, Feb. 22.

Rizo's Owner Jamie Rhoda told EastIdahoNews.com he has decided to pursue other interests that make sense for his family at this time. “Many of you know the trials our family has been going through over the past year and 10 months. We can’t thank the community enough for supporting us over the years,” Rhoda says.

The interior of MOD Pizza in downtown Boise

Rhoda’s son, Truette, was killed in a motorcycle accident during a trip to Utah in April 2018. The events of that day still weigh heavily on Rhoda’s mind, but he says he and his family are “hanging in there.” Rhoda did not say what he’s planning to do next, but he is looking forward to turning a page and beginning a new chapter in life. And even though the business is closing, he says he’s not going anywhere. “We will continue to be part of this amazing community in other ventures and look forward to seeing all of our friends and customers that we’ve had the privilege to serve at Rizo’s,” he said.

Meanwhile, MOD Pizza is eager to open its second eastern Idaho location. The company opened its store in Pocatello in early 2019, and also has locations in Twin Falls and the Boise area.

Renovations will begin soon after Rizo’s last day of business. The remodel will include the installation of a new oven along with several additional updates.

“Rizo’s has created a wonderful gathering place for the community of Ammon, and we’re honored to be able to continue this legacy,” MOD Pizza Real Estate Director Greta Pass said in a news release.

Someone with connections to MOD Pizza approached Rhoda shortly after he made the decision to close. After learning about their business model, he says it just seemed like a good fit. “This worked out very beneficially for both of us,” Rhoda said. “We’re very happy with it, and so are they. It was a great fit.”

MOD Pizza's menu offers a variety of artisan-style pizzas made on-demand, using freshly-pressed dough and signature sauces. Customers create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of more than 30 toppings. The menu is rounded out with the signature MOD “No Name Cake,” hand-spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades and iced teas, and beer and wine.

Scott and Ally Svenson founded MOD Pizza in Seattle 12 years ago after searching for quick, affordable and healthy dining options for their busy family. Today, there are more than 470 locations nationwide.

“Their pizza is great. They embrace their local communities and make sure their employees are the No. 1 priority,” Rhoda said. All 15 of Rizo’s employees will be able to apply for employment with MOD.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Rhoda family during this transition, and their warm spirit will certainly live on at MOD,” Pass said.

In the final days of business, Rhoda wants to say thank you to all his customers. From now until Feb. 22, anyone who walks in and says the code word “True Blue” in honor of Truette will get a large pizza for $6.99 or a personal pizza for $3.99.

Rizo’s Pizza is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

When it opens, MOD Pizza's hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

East Idaho Entrepreneurs: Colter Hansen, Arcane Marketing

NOTE: Each Monday BizMojo Idaho will feature a small business profile from East Idaho Entrepreneurs, Renae Oswald's podcast focused on local people in business. This week's profile is Colter Hansen of Arcane Marketing.

 

Attention to Detail

Colter Hansen

As the CEO of Arcane Marketing, Colter Hansen says he does not leave anything to chance. “Going through the merger of all those companies has been no small task,” Colter says. “We all define success differently, whether in personal or professional lives ... I really like to see my team succeed.”

Colter believes that since they have done the work around roles and responsibilities it has provided needed clarity for leadership and they can provide that structure for their employees to be successful. “It's taking people places, and we want to take them places,” Colter says.

“The entrepreneurial mindset has always been with me,” he says. Colter started a landscape company when he was 16 and also hired employees. “I love seeing a finished product, the deliverable is just so much fun for me.” Seeing the outcome of hard work has always been important to Colter, and he believes that's what drives him to be a good businessman.

Upon returning from a church mission, Colter sought the advice of a successful businessman and asked him what he should do for his career. He said, “It doesn't matter, just create value.” From that, Colter started a real estate career and invested in properties. He was doing this while attending college. During his real estate investing education he loved the practical application of what he was learning. Having early success with investing he was able to form some critical relationships that helped propel him forward in his career.

His career has not been without setbacks. In 2010 he says he got his "Harvard-cost-equivalent" education after a property investment went bad and he lost six-figures-plus. “I'm able to look back at that and understand the due diligence pieces that I missed,” he said. “Not everyone who you talk to and tells you the flowery story has the right flowery story.” This experience taught him to do the absolute best for every client and follow through with what his customers are told.

Being the first international accountant hired out of school to work for Melaleuca provided him the ability to learn how to structure his own personal business from experts. He worked in the corporate world for several years and loved it, but grew tired of the travel and being away from his family. This is what led him to fully branch out on his own, partnering with Ryan Harris in Strategic Social Partners, which is now Arcane Marketing.

Colter's advice for those interested in being business owners is, “Relationships are the priceless piece of life, there's no relationship worth any amount of money to sacrifice,” he said. “The risks are that sometimes things don't go as planned ... we do the absolute best we can. ... There's risk and reward ... as long as you can sleep at night because you were honest with those you dealt with and did your absolute best.”

Information
For more information on Arcane Marketing check out their website at https://www.arcanemarketing.com/. For more information on RizeCon or RizeX, go to their site at https://www.rizex.io/.

Bioplastics company BioLogiQ plans warehouse on Professional Way

Brad LaPray, BioLogiQ CEO

It looks like there will be some major construction on Yellowstone Highway south of Sunnyside Road, with BioLogiQ planning a new warehouse on Professional Way.

According to the building permit application filed Jan. 27, the Idaho Falls company has plans for a 31,180-square-foot warehouse. The job value is estimated at $1,571,904, and the applicant is Streamline Precision Contracting of Burley. The site plan show an area marked out to the north for future building.

BioLogiQ is a bioplastics company started in 2011 by Brad LaPray, an Idaho native who grew up working in fields but left for the East Coast for 20 years. According to the company website, LaPray started BiologiQ with the intent of creating a useful plastic from excess starch created during potato processing. This led to the invention of NuPlastiQ BioPolymers and technology that enables plastic manufacturers to use their existing equipment to make sustainable plastic products.

In 2017, several farms, including Wada Farms, launched production programs to sell fresh potatoes in bags made from the company's "Tater Made®" logo that were made from BioLogiQ's NuPlastiQ resin at Wal-Mart supercenters. In addition to its headquarters in Idaho Falls, BioLogiQ has offices in Hong Kong and Shaoguan City, in China’s Guangdong Province.


To read an interview LaPray gave BioMarket Insights in 2019, follow this link: Bringing the Humble Potato Into the New Plastics Economy.