The Thorium Energy Alliance (TEA) is a 501(c)3 Educational advocacy organization composed of engineers, scientists, and concerned citizens interested in reducing the cost of energy, increasing the availability of critical materials and protecting the health of the planet and the future of the human race. In particular, the group’s objective is to lay the foundation for a future that benefits from energy generated by thorium, which is a fertile element about four times more abundant than uranium. Their stated goals are:
- To restart a Homogeneous Fuels Research Reactor program and commercialize the Molten Salt Reactor and the supply chain infrastructure behind it.
- To establish the United States Thorium-Bearing Rare Earth Refinery Cooperative
- Support the reemergence of a Western Rare Earths infrastructure by working with Rare Earth producers to create a cooperative consortium to refine Rare Earths and sequester Thorium for future use.
TEA typically convenes an annual event which updates the community but, due to Covid, it has been three years since the last conference. Thus, this year’s event is something of a reunion and celebration for the organization’s members. Not only is the group unveiling a new exhibit at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, the conference venue. It is also celebrating a slate of successes achieved by its coterie of pronuclear advocates, who have been working hard to protect America’s existing nuclear power plants from premature closures.
The conference is open to any interested party that wants to learn about the latest developments in Thorium Uses, Advanced Energy, Critical Materials, & Policy. Although the event appears to be at capacity, it is possible to participate through a livestream to Youtube for most of the sessions. Day one (Oct. 13th) has been dedicated to a review of the progress of pronuclear policies and advocacy successes, followed by a screening of “Atomic Hope” with a discussion by Director Frankie Fenton. Day two (Oct. 14th) will see more than a dozen speakers, including Valerie Gardner, managing partner of Nucleation Capital, discussing topics ranging from materials advances and grid policies, to the status of specific nuclear ventures and nuclear financing.