News outlets around the world were buzzing last week when Iran announced in a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it has built a second nuclear fuel enrichment facility deep under a mountain near the city of Qom. The UN security council appeared outraged and the US government claimed it has known of the facility for “some time.”

I also discuss the upcoming first ever Thorium Energy Alliance conference.

"This Week in Nuclear" Go here for detailed show notes, links, videos, other news, and More

Who says blogging and podcasting has to be all work and no play? Come and join your favorite nuclear bloggers, reporters, writers and podcasters at an "underground meet up" on Tuesday, November 17 , 2009 at 6:00 PM at the Omni Hotel. Participants will include more than a dozen of today's most influential pro-nuclear voices on the Internet and in print.

My sources tell me the following people have indicated they plan to attend:

* Rod Adams, The Atomic Show podcast
* Dan Yurman, Idaho Samizdat blog
* Yours truely (John Wheeler, This Week in Nuclear)
* Nancy Roth, Andrea Jennetta; Fuel Cycle Week Blog
* Ted Rockwell, Learning about Nuclear Blog
* William Tucker, author, Terrestrial Energy
* Edward Kee, moderator of the “Nuclear Power, Next Generation Group,” at Linkedin,
* Jarret Adams, Areva US blog,
* Tim Chambers, Dewey Square Group, and
* Dave Bradish, lead blogger, Nuclear Energy Institute
* Cam Abernethy, Webmaster, Nuclear Street
* Alan Rominger, North Carolina State University
* Lisa Stiles, pro-nuclear activist and occasional contributor to NEI Nuclear Notes and various other blogs and podcasts
* Jeff Madison of Cool Hand Nuke

Word is spreading quickly and the celebrity list is growing by the day!

I referred to the event as "underground" because while it is being held at the same venue as the ANS Winter Meeting, our gathering is independent of ANS. And hey, "underground"describes independence and spontaneity which is certainly the case. Plus having an 'underground meet up" sounds much cooler than saying we're having a meeting! Anyway, it is sure to be a great time. Who knows, maybe we'll do a live show!

Everyone is invited - just show up! If we overflow the space we'll move to a nearby social establishment!

Light refreshments are being provided by Areva and Cool Hand Nuke. Many thanks to Dan Yurman for his leadership in kicking this off!

Do other forms of energy production get the same attention in the media as nuclear power plants? Here are some recent observations and I'll let you decide for yourself.

Gazprom, Russia's state owned natural gas company is setting up shop in Houston, TX and has begun a very aggressive program to enter the US natural gas market.

This development has far-reaching implications for US energy security and national security.

Will hybrid electric vehicles spell the end of the oil age?

If this happens, with one-fifth of the electric grid powered from clean nuclear energy, we'll be shifting our transportation energy source from imported oil to home grown nuclear energy.

Good news! There's a lot to like in the newly released Kerry-Boxer Climate Bill.

"This Week in Nuclear" Go here for detailed show notes, links, videos, other news, and More

I love it when the normally stuffy, conservative nuclear industry gets something right. In this case it's sponsoring the Washington Capitals, Newman Wachs Racing, and the NY Yankees!

In this episode I provide an analysis comparing the characteristics of nuclear energy against the criteria the U.S. government uses to define "renewable energy sources" to determine if nuclear energy should be considered renewable.

Nuclear energy supporters get a big win in Germany, and the Indian Point 20 year life extension passes key milestones despite anti-nuclear efforts to block their license renewal.

Finally, I cover some upcoming nuclear and energy industry events.

"This Week in Nuclear" Go here for detailed show notes, links, videos, other news, and More

Join me on a trip to Nuclear Lake in New York, the site of an early atomic research and development laboratory where an plutonium spill occurred.

Anti-nuclear activists have made outrageous claims about the existence of huge mutant fish and acid-like water. Let's go check it out!

Sea stories from aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.

The evolution of ship propulsion systems, and why small modular nuclear reactors coupled with gas turbines will revolutionize energy production.

Show notes, news, videos, blog, and more

In the photo: Commander Mark S. Wheeler, USN, Supply Officer of the USS John C. Stennis (on left) and John Wheeler, host of "This Week in Nuclear"