Recently, the market has been responding to the growing need for energy to support AI. Partnerships are forming and the notion of small modular reactors (SMR) are front and center. In addition, using conventional nuclear facilities we see that ...
"Microsoft is involved with nuclear power in a few ways, including a deal to purchase all the power from the Three Mile Island nuclear plant and Amazon's purchase of a data center site near the Susquehanna nuclear power plant:
Three Mile Island
Microsoft has a long-term power purchase agreement with Three Mile Island that would power about 800,000 homes annually. Instead, Microsoft will use the power to run its data center infrastructure in the area. Ratepayers and the state won't be responsible for the costs to restart the plant. "
Now THAT is telling. Microsoft see's such a huge need for power dedicated to their data center and AI applications and they are planning to reserve the power that could power nearly a MILLION homes ! But alas - It will take quite awhile to refurbish the useful part of the old three mile island facility. But, this is just the beginning of the story...
You know the old saying- follow the smart money?
Let's follow a trail of bread crumbs left by a pretty smart fellow - Bill Gates.
Last week, there was an announcement that an LLC called TerraPower co-founded by Bill Gates is planning a partnership with a company called ASP Isotopes (ASPI).
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/asp-isotopes-inc-enters-term-110000638.html
The plan is for TerraPower to build a plant to use the ASPI laser process to create HALEU Uranium isotopes as fuel for nuclear reactors. A particular feature can extend the life of nuclear fuel and reduce waste.
TerraPower is developing a Small Modular Reactor (SMR)- or in this case it's called a Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR)- design combining
a liquid sodium coolant with a molten salt-based storage
system. The prototype is called the Natrium reactor with output power of 345 - 500 megawatts planned for a location in Kemmerer, Wyoming to retire an aging coal plant.
"WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASP Isotopes Inc. NASDAQ: ASPI ("ASP Isotopes” or the “Company”), an advanced materials company dedicated to the development of technology and processes for the production of isotopes for use in multiple industries, today announced that it has entered into a term sheet with TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company and advanced nuclear energy developer, related to the construction of a uranium enrichment facility capable of producing High Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) and the future supply of HALEU to TerraPower, as a customer of Quantum Leap Energy LLC (QLE)."
Note Quantum Leap Energy LLC is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of ASP Isotopes, Inc.
So, this partnership involves ASPI/ Quantum leap producing and selling enriched uranium to Terra Power in the planned facility at TerraPower's expense.
A query on Chat -gpt reports that ASPI spinning off the part of Quantum Leap that produces High - Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU), vital for SMRs is being considered.
But wait - the story goes on... ASPI can also produce other important isotopes used in the medical field for such areas as imaging and advanced cancer treatments. In addition isotopes for creating advanced lasers , semiconductors and even futuristic quantum computers. Apparently , ASPI would focus on these and let the Quantum spinoff work the nuclear power sector.
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Other stocks on watch list:
MO - earnings beat, stock up with a 7.6% dividend
KGC - Kinross Gold - earnings report on Nov 5, KGC pays a divy
IAG - no dividend, but - growth depends on costs vs Gold price
NVDA, AMD, INTC - watching..
PLTR, at the close, beat earnings by 1 cent per share for an eps of ten cents. (The market likes it in after hours but some short covering is going on.)
BBAI, spec stock on AI related contracts but it needs more $
more to come -- but hey - stay tuned for more posts
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Speculative Biotechs with questions to be answered (someday):
TERN - with an oral pill that brings on faster weight loss than the current leaders ? stay tuned for subsequent data, in the meantime insiders are buying?
ONCY - a Pelareorep IV that reportedly makes cancer tumors "hot" and triggers T Fighter cells? long time coming, who knows?
ANVS - an alzhiemers and Parkinson's drug all in one?
and many more!
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For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the future days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with the reality of the time. But trying to look ahead a few months into the future may be a way to do things. If you think too deep about world events and the recent alliances forming, projecting ahead can be a dicey endeavor. In all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly. Remember, never get arrogant in our various notions because things do change in the market and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside of our control.. So we try to -stay aware.
With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.
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