First American Nuclear

04/15/2026

A.J. Camacho of .net Politico broke the news about our NRC Regulatory Engagement Plan and executive new hires Pat Schweiger, George Malone, and Raphael Paz.

Learn more about what attracted them to FANCO. https://www.eenews.net/articles/first-american-nuclear-poaches-top-industry-talent/

The Indiana-based small modular reactor developer has landed executives from top competitors Oklo, NuScale and GE Hitachi.

04/15/2026

And we’re off!

Today we announced that the licensing process for the FANCO EAGL-1 advanced small modular reactor (SMR) is officially underway with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 🏁

But this isn’t just any Regulatory Engagement Plan. As CEO Mike Reinboth put it, "FANCO designed EAGL-1 to be licensed under the NRC standards that have kept us safe for decades," said Mike Reinboth. “This country can’t afford to wait; we need a credible pathway to nuclear now and that is FANCO’s mission.”

We're excited to work closely with our esteemed colleagues at the NRC in the coming months to usher in the modern era of safe, clean, abundant, and affordable energy.

Read more about how FANCO can deliver immediate power to customers while the NRC puts EAGL-1 through its paces. https://fanuclear.com/first-american-nuclear-submits-regulatory-engagement-plan-for-fast-spectrum-small-modular-reactor-smr/

04/15/2026

What do you do when you have the most experienced and talented team in the nuclear industry? You make it Even. Stronger. Please join us in extending the warmest FANCO welcome our newest members:

⚛️ Patrick Schweiger as Chief Technology Officer
⚙️ George Malone as Chief Nuclear Program Officer
📈 Rafael Paz as Chief Financial Officer

Read more about their remarkable backgrounds in reactor engineering, program ex*****on, and energy finance. https://fanuclear.com/first-american-nuclear-announces-key-executive-appointments-as-company-expands-leadership-team/

04/14/2026

Big things are happening in Indiana—and nuclear energy is at the center of it.

According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, the state is well-positioned to become a leader in the defense industry, with advanced nuclear technologies like small modular reactors playing a major role.

First American Nuclear is proud to be part of that story. Our work to develop next-generation nuclear energy and invest in Indiana supports reliable power, job creation, and long-term energy security.

The future of American energy is being built right here.

The governor gave the opening address of the two-day conference focused on advancing national security through mission-driven technology and capability deployment.

03/19/2026

Nuclear is a clean energy source because it generates electricity with no direct emissions.

Those massive towers you often see at nuclear plants aren’t smoke stacks. They’re cooling towers, and what you’re seeing is just water v***r.

Nuclear plants produce electricity using heat from fission to create steam, which spins a turbine and generates power. There’s no combustion involved, which is why you don’t see smoke or air pollution coming from the plant.

Hear a FANCO intern and Purdue nuclear engineering student explain how it works.

03/10/2026

Here’s something most people don’t realize about nuclear energy.

All the "nuclear waste" or used fuel ever produced in the United States could fit on a single football field stacked about ten yards high.

Most of it is made up of small ceramic uranium pellets about the size of a fingertip, sealed inside metal fuel rods. After use in a reactor, the fuel is safely cooled in water and then stored in thick steel and concrete dry casks designed for long term protection.

Hear FANCO intern and Purdue nuclear engineering student explain how used nuclear fuel is actually handled.

03/08/2026

Big news for the future of clean energy: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved plans for a new commercial nuclear reactor in the United States—another sign that advanced nuclear technologies are moving from concept to reality.

Across the industry, innovators are working to deliver the next generation of reactors that are safer, more efficient, and capable of powering a low-carbon future.

This milestone shows that the momentum behind advanced nuclear is real—and growing.

At First American Nuclear, we’re proud to be part of an industry pushing forward solutions that can provide reliable, carbon-free energy for decades to come.

03/02/2026

U.S. commercial nuclear power operates under some of the highest safety standards in the world.

By deaths per unit of electricity produced, nuclear ranks among the safest large scale energy sources ever deployed.

Next generation designs like EAGL-1 incorporate passive safety systems that automatically shut down and remove heat without operator action.

Here more nuclear facts from a future nuclear engineer.

02/11/2026

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re highlighting Nicole Elizarraras, a FANCO mechanical engineer helping build the next generation of nuclear technology. ⚛️ 💪

Nicole grew up in her dad’s machine shop—tinkering, asking questions, and learning how to think like an engineer long before she ever called herself one.

Though she originally wanted to study biochemistry and pursue med school, a conversation with her dad convinced her to go into engineering. Sitting in his shop before she left for college, they talked about projects Nicole had worked on throughout middle and high school.

“So many of them were things people told me wouldn’t work. They pointed out failures, and said others had already tried. But those projects ended up being some of my most successful. Now they’re used as examples for other students to draw inspiration from,” she said. “Engineering became more than a career path for me. It became a way to carry those moments and curiosity.”

Now, Nicole is bringing that curiosity and persistence into her work developing fuels handling systems at FANCO and is helping design a lead bismuth loop to test the thermal hydraulics of the coolant used in the EAGL-1 reactor.

“I didn’t get here because I always felt confident. I got here because I learned early on that being told ‘it won’t work’ isn’t the end of the story,” she said. “And if there’s one thing I hope more women know, it’s that the curiosity you already have, the questions you ask, and the persistence you carry all belong here.”

Today, and every day, we celebrate women and girls, like Nicole, who are pushing boundaries, challenging assumptions, and doing the work to move science forward.

02/03/2026

Nuclear isn't just the backup plan anymore.

A new report from the World Nuclear Association shows nuclear emerging as a core pillar of long-term climate and energy security strategies.

The report estimates global nuclear capacity to reach 1,446 GWe by 2050, exceeding the COP28 goal of tripling nuclear energy.

Simply keeping existing reactors online for 60-80 years could supply more than a quarter of the global nuclear capacity, safely and cost effectively. But with electricity demand rising faster than ever (driven by electrification, AI, and digital growth), meeting the demand will require faster construction timelines, smarter policies, and long-term investments.

At FANCO, we’re helping build that momentum closer to home. The State of Indiana has been supportive of our plans for the EAGL-1 reactor, designed to deliver utility-scale, around-the-clock baseload power at a cost that’s competitive with fossil fuels and renewables.

The world needs clean energy that’s available 24/7. Nuclear is one of the few technologies that can deliver that at scale.

If today’s commitments hold, nuclear energy will play a huge role in providing affordable, reliable, low-carbon power for an increasingly electrified world in the decades ahead.

Click here to read the full report 👉 https://world-nuclear.org/our-association/publications/world-nuclear-outlook-report/executive-summary---world-nuclear-outlook-report

01/15/2026

What do nuclear fears and cat videos have in common?

They’re both memes! 🐱 ⚛️

Nuclear energy has caused far fewer deaths than fossil fuels, even accounting for the worst accidents in history. So why does it inspire so much anxiety?

Memes, of course, but not the internet kind. In 1976, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term “meme” as the cultural equivalent of biological genes—ideas compete, and the strongest survive over time, like physical traits.

Based on the premise that the most “viral,” not necessarily the most factual, ideas prevail, VP of nuclear safety James Conca, Ph.D., unpacks why energy in general has been a source of memes throughout history, and why the nuclear-fear meme has had particular staying power. He also explains how memes morph over time. Indeed, concern over nuclear has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, and it’s not hard to guess what’s taking its place.

💡 Read Dr. Conca’s post here and discover memes you never knew existed: https://fanuclear.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-of-nuclear/

Why are we so afraid of nuclear? 01/13/2026 - by James Conca, Ph.D. Search for: Search The role of memes in irrational fear, and the importance of re-education around nuclear energy  Dr. Conca’s cat, the meme-worthy Angus  There is little doubt that the words “nuclear” and “radiation” ...

12/23/2025

’Twas the night before Christmas… nuclear edition. 🔬🎄

Our VP of Nuclear Safety, James Conca, brings a little holiday cheer fireside with a fun twist on a familiar classic.

Wishing everyone a safe, joyful holiday season and a bright year ahead. ✨🔥