CBCG was initially formed to pursue the independent power generation
market in the early 1990s. As a prime developer, CBCG successfully
formed project teams with Northern States Power (NRG subsidiary),
ZurnNepco, Westinghouse Industrial Turbine division, Consumers Power,
Pacific Power, and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited of India for
development of various combustion turbine and coal based power projects
in the US and India.
In 1998, CBCG was reorganized and the company base
and registration were relocated to Washington State. CBCG managed
programs for the Department of Energy environmental restoration
project at the Hanford Site, proposed innovative approaches for
reuse of surplus nuclear facilities, and is currently engaged
in advanced nuclear energy concept design and the facilities to
close the nuclear fuel cycle.
CBCG is providing technology development, nuclear
systems engineering design and layout configurations, nuclear
plant startup planning, and overall cost information for nuclear
power plant engineering and operations for projects currently
under development by private sector sponsors and Energy Department
advanced reactor programs. Current work is focused on advanced
design concepts for sodium fast reactors, fast reactor fuels and
deep burn concepts, and developmental testing programs.
The CBCG team is experienced in US commercial and
Fast Reactor Programs. Our test reactor experience includes engineering
and operations on Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR)-I and EBR-II
in Idaho and the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) in Washington
State. The CBCG Project Team consists of senior engineering professionals
with an average experience in excess of 35 years in nuclear power
systems and sodium fast reactors. All technical team members hold
engineering or technical degrees, approximately 70% of the team
hold advanced degrees, and 30% of the team hold Ph.D.s.
Recent projects at Hanford have included support
to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) on facilities
reuse planning, and work with local economic reuse organizations
in conversion of surplus facilities to commercial beneficial use.
Specifically, CBCG developed the commercial management plan for
potential products produced at the Hanford Fast Flux Test Facility
as part of a PNNL restart plan for the dormant test reactor.
CBCG developed an innovative commercial approach
to financing and managing the restart of Hanford’s Fast
Flux Test Facility. CBCG’s approach envisioned a commercial
based facility, privately financed and operated for the production
of medical, agricultural, and industrial isotopes, while providing
irradiation services for materials and fuels testing for energy
research programs. In response to a 2001 Expression of Interest
request from the DOE, CBCG management assembled a “world-class”
team for the upgrade, restart and operations of the FFTF under
a commercial management approach. Financing was to be provided
through a construction loan from labor union pension investment
funds. In the post 9/11 atmosphere, DOE elected to terminate consideration
of the proposal in December of 2001, citing liability and regulatory
uncertainties.
