– Edited By Chris Reed –
Thomas L. Sanders, the past president of the American Nuclear Society, will focus on the development of private sector partnerships and direct the lab's science and technology support for the development of small nuclear reactors and other energy concepts in the new energy park.
An energy park at SRS would leverage the site's resources — including the land, infrastructure, technologies and highly skilled work force — to help the region contribute to national energy security and new, green energy technologies.
The Department of Energy is exploring the potential of energy parks as one option for revitalization of its assets at sites such as SRS.
Dr. Sanders most recently worked for Sandia National Laboratories, where he was the manager of Sandia's Small Modular Reactor Initiative, including development of partnerships, evaluation of reactor designs and development of fuel cycle safety and security.
The energy park concept has been under discussion for several years as a way to find new missions for the 310-square-mile site.
The SRS Community Reuse Organization, an economic development consortium, has proposed leasing 2,700 acres for a park that would accommodate private ventures in biofuels, nuclear waste processing, energy research, commercial nuclear power and a host of other potential activities.