Dairyland Power and Applied Atomics announce collaboration to explore small modular nuclear technology. Oct 22, 2026, 16:00 ET LA CROSSE, Wis., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Dairyland Power Cooperative and Applied Atomics, Inc., announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to evaluate the potential deployment of Applied Atomics' small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology at Dairyland's Genoa (Wis.) Site. Under the LOI, the two parties will work together to explore Applied Atomics' SMR technology in support of Dairyland's evaluation of safe, reliable, cost-competitive and low-carbon energy resources. Applied Atomics' fleet deployment strategy for multi-unit nuclear installations leads with a focus on scalable and carbon-free energy solutions, which help meet increasing demand in the region for dispatchable, low-carbon power generation. The collaboration will analyze the feasibility of locating one or more Applied Atomic SMRs at Dairyland's existing Genoa Site in southwest Wisconsin. Dairyland will explore securing the resulting carbon-free power through a power purchase agreement from Applied Atomics. "Dairyland continues to evaluate emerging technologies that could support a reliable, resilient and lower-carbon energy future for our members and the region," Brent Ridge, Dairyland president and CEO said. "This agreement allows us to take a closer look at Applied Atomics' technology and its potential to better understand how it may complement our evolving generation portfolio." Applied Atomics' scalable SMR power plants are ideally sized to meet the growing needs for firm, affordable power across Dairyland's member cooperatives. Incorporating mature, light-water reactor technology, Applied Atomics' power plants are reliable, passively-safe and supported by a best-in-class U.S. manufacturing partner. Designed for deployment from the outset, Applied Atomics projects minimize exotic fuels and materials, maximizing its ability to work with local trades and support high-paying jobs from groundbreaking through each plant's 60+ year operating life. "We're excited to further evaluate the Genoa site and a long-term partnership with Dairyland and the surrounding communities. The site's power generating history, existing transmission infrastructure and Dairyland's growing energy needs combine to make this one of the top opportunities to deploy clean, affordable nuclear power by the early 2030s," CEO of Applied Atomics Ben Kellie said. Applied Atomics has the exclusive land-based license to use mPower, a pressurized light water reactor designed and manufactured by BWXT. BWXT is actively enabling Applied Atomics' renewed push to commercialize the mPower SMR, providing technical expertise, preserved test infrastructure and deep manufacturing capability built over decades of nuclear engineering leadership. "BWXT engineered mPower with utilities squarely in mind: a proven light water design, integrated safety features and a manufacturing approach that supports predictable, cost competitive deployment," Kate Kelly, president, BWXT Advanced Technologies said. "For utilities like Dairyland evaluating future reliable, carbon free resources, mPower offers the kind of engineering certainty essential for long term planning." Dairyland's Genoa Site previously hosted a now-decommissioned 50 megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant as well as a 345 MW coal plant, which was retired in 2021. An Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is currently located at the site. About Dairyland Power Cooperative: Founded in 1941, Dairyland provides the wholesale electrical requirements and other services for 24 Class A member distribution cooperatives, 2 Class B members and 27 municipal utilities in the Upper Midwest. In turn, these cooperatives and municipals meet the energy needs of over 800,000 people. Dairyland delivers electricity over 3,700 miles of transmission lines and 400 distribution substations located throughout the system's 44,500 square mile service area. About Applied Atomics: Applied Atomics builds and operates nuclear power plants for the grid and industrial customers that depend on firm, carbon-free power. Each plant uses light water reactors; the same technology used in the plants that have supplied American baseload electricity for decades. BWX Technologies designed the mPower light water reactor and has licensed it exclusively to Applied Atomics for land-based deployment. Units are modular and each unit produces 100 MWe. Applied Atomics carries each plant from design and licensing through construction and multi-decade operation. Learn more at AppliedAtomics.com. SOURCE Dairyland Power Cooperative

Applied Atomics to build headquarters, training center in New Orleans. Baton Rouge / louisianaradionetwork.com Sep 24, 2026 | 9:53 AM Applied Atomics, which develops, builds and operates small modular nuclear power plants, is building its headquarters in New Orleans. John Fleig, the chief innovation officer with the Louisiana Economic Development Department, says the facility will be in the Bywater neighborhood, and it will include a training demonstration system that will be operational early next year. "I think it's a speed-to-market thing for start-ups in this space. They've got to prove that they can deploy their technology and get rolling quickly; they're on the clock," Fleig said. The company, which was founded last year, is expected to create 41 new direct jobs. Fleig says the project shows what's possible when Louisiana uses its energy and industrial expertise with companies developing what comes next. "In Louisiana, if we're going to continue to have an energy economy for the next 100 years, we have to make sure that we have new players in place, whether it's these small modular reactors," Fleig noted. There's a demand for small nuclear power plants to provide the power needed to run data centers and other facilities that need a lot of energy to operate. Feig says Applied Atomics' investment builds on Louisiana's broader strategy to expand its role in the nuclear energy industry. "We have to make sure that we're an open and welcoming state for these new companies; that we can support them with capital investments, with coaching, with connections to large load users; whether it's a data center or an industrial operation along the river," Fleig explained. Applied Atomics headquarters is not a nuclear power generation site, and no radioactive materials will be handled, processed or stored at the facility.

Roundup: fishing habitat loss / nuclear headquarters / Mortgage rates. Call for investment: Cameron LNG and Sempra Infrastructure helped fund the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' release of 150,000 hatchery-raised redfish in coastal waters, but southwest Louisiana fishers say more investment is needed to address habitat loss. They argue that restoring marshlands around Calcasieu Lake is more important to the long-term health of the fishery because young redfish need healthy habitat and food sources to survive. The dispute reflects broader tensions between the region's fishing community and LNG industry, including a lawsuit against Venture Global alleging that dredging and construction activities damaged wetlands and oyster habitat. Louisiana Illuminator has the full story. NOLA operations center: Applied Atomics plans to invest $8.2 million to establish its headquarters and technical operations center in New Orleans, creating 41 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $121,000. The 18,500-square-foot Bywater facility will include corporate offices, a fabrication and assembly shop, control room, training center and an outdoor Plexiplant demonstration system, but will not generate nuclear power or handle radioactive materials. The project is expected to strengthen Louisiana's emerging nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing ecosystem, with the headquarters build-out slated for completion by the end of 2026 and the training system expected to come online in 2027. Homebuyers pull back: Mortgage rates climbed to 7.12% last week, the highest level since 2024, contributing to a 1.5% weekly decline in total mortgage applications and further weakening home purchase and refinance demand. Purchase applications fell 1% from the prior week and 11% year over year, while refinance applications dropped 3% weekly and 62% from a year earlier. As borrowers look for lower monthly payments, adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for 9.8% of applications, up from 8.4% the previous week, while rates edged lower to start this week as oil prices and bond yields declined. CNBC has the full story.