Piketon area school district receives critical funding for new middle school SV-PA COG | 1/2/2023 |
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The Fiscal Year 2023 government funding
package includes $20,000,000 for the Scioto Valley Local School District (SVLSD) to build a new middle school. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and U.S. Representatives Tim Ryan (OH-13) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) fought hard for the community to secure the funding.
The SVLSD Board of Education voted unanimously in May of 2019 to close and quarantine the Zahns Corner Middle School soon after being notified of the detection of Neptunium-237 in a United States (US) Department of Energy (DOE) air monitor stationed at the school, and relocated the students to its elementary and high school buildings. Since then, the local governments and districts in which the DOE Site in Piketon, Ohio, is situated
formed the SV-PA COG. The members of the COG are the Pike County Commissioners, the Village of Piketon, Seal and Scioto Townships, the Pike County General Health District, and the Scioto Valley Local School District- which represent the frontline community directly impacted by 1) the environmental burden created by DOE activities; 2) emergency evacuation due to DOE hazards; and 3) the tax-exempt DOE properties. The COG partners with Sunday Creek Horizons- a full-service consulting firm focused
on Appalachian communities and causes- to develop legislative priorities, engage with decision-makers at the federal level, achieve socio-economic justice, and promote collaboration at the local level to support the broad economic goals in the region.
“As local government officials, we have a fundamental responsibility to protect the health, safety, quality of life, and economic future of the community- a responsibility we share with our federal delegation and the DOE,” said Chandler. “Together, the members of the SV-PA COG commit to a path forward that simultaneously supports economic development and promotes the health and wellness of our community. We will continue to hold DOE accountable when their activities
release harmful contaminants into the environment and we will work together as partners to mitigate risks and invest in our future. It starts with community-focused education by building a new middle school.”
The new middle school is a
54,000 sqft building designed to immerse 4th – 6th grade students in new technologies and innovative, STEAM-based instruction to encourage, enable, and empower the next generation of new economy workers and leaders. The facility layout will support a future 50,000 sqft expansion for the PreK-3rd grade students. The SVLSD campus is within the Village of Piketon’s newly-formed Scioto Valley-Piketon Area Education District (SV-PA ED). The 64-acre SV-PA ED site plan supports a PreK-Post Doc
education experience.
“Building a new middle school is our top priority. The Board did the right thing when they closed Zahns Corner Middle School, as any level of contamination on or near a school increases health risks and is
unacceptable. Our students and staff deserve a safe place to learn,” said SVLSD Superintendent Wes Hairston. “We are sincerely grateful for the unwavering support shown for this community by Senator Brown, Senator Manchin, Congressman Ryan, and Congresswoman Kaptur.”
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Curious about nuclear fusion power? Join ECA for a "Fusion 101" webinar January 11, 2023 @3pm ET The Department of Energy just announced a historic milestone was reached for fusion power - want to learn more about this energy source and recent scientific breakthrough? Join ECA's virtual event to learn everything you want to know about fusion and the potential commercialization of the technology, with time for Q&A.
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If you have any questions, please contact ECA Program Manager Sarah Templeton at saraht@energyca.org
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The Idaho National Laboratory's nuclear legacy Sen. Mike Crapo | 12/23/22 I was born just a few miles away from the National Reactor Testing Station the same year it proved we could use atomic power to generate electricity. In 1951, Walter Zinn and his team were able to power four light bulbs using a nuclear reactor. Today, Idaho National Laboratory continues to lead the way in driving innovation across the
industry.
This includes finding ways to create accident-tolerant fuels and develop small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear concepts. Nuclear energy is good for jobs, good for the economy, good for our air and it is a great source
of base-load clean energy. It must be a part of any conversation of an all-of-the-above approach to our nation’s energy portfolio.
Since coming to Congress, I have worked with my colleagues to advance nuclear energy research and production
across our country. Over the past few Congresses, I was successful in navigating the passage of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act and the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act. Both of these bills served as significant steps toward eliminating some financial and technological barriers standing in the way of nuclear innovation. These efforts have directly benefited the INL, especially in the lab’s successful efforts to host the Versatile Test Reactor, which will allow
testing of nuclear materials 10 times faster than what is currently capable today.
Building off the success of NEICA and NEIMA, I joined my colleagues in introducing the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act. ANIA would support the work being done at INL by: - Increasing the efficiency and predictability of permitting processes for advanced nuclear.
- Furthering the development of advanced nuclear fuels.
- Enabling preparation for advanced reactor demos at U.S. Department of Energy sites like INL.
Additionally, ANIA would advance U.S. nuclear competitiveness through greater collaboration with U.S. allies, strengthening our current aging nuclear fleet, increasing our energy security by reducing our reliance on China and Russia for nuclear fuel. Senate negotiations continue on this important legislation that I am hopeful will see movement. The work that takes place at the lab shows policy-makers what is achievable when Congress prioritizes innovation. It is an honor to be a part of and serve this
community of extraordinarily intelligent and creative individuals who have made the lab what it is today. I relish the opportunity to promote the work being done in Idaho and tell others in Washington, D.C., of nuclear power’s positive potential. And I look forward to continuing to advocate for nuclear energy, as the INL is solidly rooted as a cornerstone of the eastern Idaho community. |
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Interactive guide for communities and governments to help navigate nuclear waste cleanup The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) recently released the Guide to Successful Environmental Cleanup, an interactive online resource that provides frequently asked questions, case studies, and recommendations regarding nuclear waste cleanup. To assist local government officials, their communities, and federal agencies in deciphering the
complexities of the environmental cleanup process, ECA developed this guide to facilitate future successful cleanups. |
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories,
highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. |
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