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Oklo and Siemens Energy Sign Agreement to Accelerate Power Conversion System for New SMR in Idaho

LCG, November 19, 2025--Oklo Inc. and Siemens Energy announced today that the parties have signed a binding contract for the design and delivery of the power conversion system for Oklo’s Aurora-INL (Idaho National Laboratory) nuclear small modular reactor (SMR). The agreement authorizes Siemens Energy to begin engineering and design work to expedite procurement of long-lead components and to initiate the manufacturing process for the power conversion system. Oklo’s expertise in advanced fission technology will be combined with Siemens Energy’s extensive industry experience with steam turbine and generator systems, with the ultimate goal of generating carbon-free, reliable electricity.

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NERC's New Winter Reliability Assessment Raises Concerns for Elevated Risk of Insufficient Supplies to Meet Demand in Extreme Operating Conditions

LCG, November 19, 2025--NERC yesterday released its 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment (WRA), which concludes "much of North America is again at an elevated risk of having insufficient energy supplies to meet demand in extreme operating conditions." The WRA does state that resources are adequate for normal winter peak demand, but extended, wide-area cold snaps will be challenging.

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Industry News

Minnesota Power Announces 225 Megawatt Cogen

LCG, Aug. 16, 2001--Minnesota Power & Light Co. said this morning it and Blandin Paper Co. are planning a 225 megawatt cogeneration plant adjacent to Blandin Paper in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Minnesota Power said its subsidiary Rainy River Energy Corp. will own 71.5 percent of a new company, Rapids Power LLC, and Blandin Paper Co. will own 28.5 percent. The project is expected to cost more than $200 million.

Although Minnesota power used the phrase "state-of-the-art" freely in its news release, the plant will burn about 40 percent wood chips and 60 percent coal. It will meet all of the paper company's steam requirements and sell power into the regional wholesale market.

Blandin, a leading producer of lightweight coated stock for magazines and catalogs, uses lots of steam to heat its calenders, big, polished steel rollers which dry the paper web and impart a gloss. The paper company is owned by Helsinki, Finland-based UPM-Kymmene, the largest manufacturer of magazine papers and third-largest paper producer in the world.

"We are very excited about this joint venture arrangement with UPM-Kymmene," said BobEdwards, president of Minnesota Power. "It will benefit both our companies, as well as the state andregion."

Raimo Malkki, a senior vice president of Blandin Paper, said "We are pleased that this newfacility will not only modernize our steam supply, but also help sustain our long-term viability andsuccess."

Permit applications will be filed in September, Minnesota Power said. With timely approvals, construction would begin in the fall of next year with commercial operation beginning in mid-2005.

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