Energy Transition Blog

Research evidence excerpt

Energy Transition Blog

■ Another DOE Reactor Nears Key Milestone. The DOE approved the final safety analysis for Oklo's (OKLO, Neutral) isotope

test reactor, paving the way for the reactor to achieve criticality this month. Oklo's Groves Isotope Test Reactor is the first step

in advancing the company's radioisotope production business; providing chemical elements for use in the medical industry,

semiconductor manufacturing, and scientific research. The DOE's Reactor Pilot Program (see: ET Blog) has helped accelerateENERGY the Texas reactor's timeline, which is on the verge of criticality less than a year after construction start. If OKLO is able to start

its reactor this week, it would become the third company to bring a reactor online by DOE's July 4th deadline and the second

company to do so outside a national lab.

■ Code Red. Heatwaves across the East and Midwest have caused the DOE to issue an emergency order for PJM (the largest

power grid in the US) as high temperatures are generating fears of a supply shortage across the region. PJM noted that it

expects ~160GW of peak load demand today and ~163GW of peak load demand tomorrow. Expectations are that PJM's

reserve margin could drop to ~4%, significantly lower than the anticipated ~26% baseline margin.TRANSITION

■ A Shot for Solar. A North Carolina House Committee approved legislation that would end tax breaks for new utility-scale solar

projects. What began as a proposal to repeal tax breaks for data centers has now shifted gears into eliminating an 80% property

tax exemption on solar energy equipment for new systems installed after July 1st of 2027. We note that existing equipment

that's been installed prior to that date would maintain the tax break. The bill argues that the solar industry has matured