COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: MARICOPA COUNTY IS SEEING A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER OF FLU CASES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT AN EFFORT TO SLOW THE INCREASE OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN AMERICA.

AND, IS A REVIVAL OF NUCLEAR ENERGY THE ANSWER TO INCREASING DEMANDS FOR ELECTRICITY?

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY IS SEEING AS MUCH AS FIVE TIMES THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF FLU CASES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR FLU SHOT RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS WHEN FLU SEASON "USUALLY" STARTS.

JOINING US NOW IS WILL HUMBLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

WILL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO YOU HAVE HERE.

FIVE TIMES THE NUMBER?

THAT SEEMS EARLY.

IT IS A LITTLE EARLY.

WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?

>> IT IS A LOT EARLY.

TED: YEAH.

>> IT IS ABOUT NINE WEEKS EARLY.

SO YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE SURVEILLANCE CURVE LOOKS NOW.

IT LOOKS LIKE MID DECEMBER, FORMALLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT OCTOBER, IT IS REALLY TWO MONTHS EARLY.

TED: SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

>> THERE IS NO ANY TO THAT.

WE DO KNOW IT IS HAPPENING.

OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER.

ABOUT I WOULD SAY, ONCE EVERY SIX YEARS, ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE VERY REALLY EARLY INFLUENZA SEASON.

IT IS DEFINITELY AN EARLY INFLUENZA SEASON THIS YEAR.

>> IS IT STRONGER THAN USUAL?

NOT AS STRONG AS USUAL.

>> SO I LOOKED TODAY.

I COULD NOT FIND THERE IS LIKE AN EXTRAORDINARY RISK OF HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH PER NUMBER OF CASE RIGHT NOW.

SO IT IS NOT LIKE IT IS A MORE SEVERE VIRUS.

BUT IT IS DEFINITELY EARLIER.

THE PROBLEM WITH BEING EARLIER IS, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR VACCINE OFF, AND DIDN'T -- LIKE ME.

LIKE USUALLY, I GET THE VACCINE IN LATE OCTOBER.

TED: YES.

>> BECAUSE IT THEN PROVIDES YOU MORE PROTECTION INTO MARCH.

BUT THIS YEAR, I WAS HEARING ANECDOTAL STUFF.

NOT DATA.

BUT LIKE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING INFLUENZA IN EARLY OCTOBER.

SO I GOT MY SHOT LIKE OCTOBER 5th OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

TED: WELL, I AM LIKE YOU, I USUALLY WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE, IF I HAD THE FLU, I HAD IT A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

IT IS ALWAYS IN THE SPRING.

>> RIGHT.

THAT IS WHY I WAIT.

THIS YEAR I WAS HEARING ENOUGH.

WE ALL MOVED IT UP A BIT.

AND GOOD THING WE DID, TOO.

>> YES.

>> IT IS EARLY SEASON.

TED: ARE THE CURRENT VACCINES, ARE THEY ALIGNED WITH THIS STRAIN?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

YES.

I CHECKED THAT THIS MORNING.

SO FAR, EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE IT IS A REALLY GOOD MATCH.

KEY WORD "SO FAR."

BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE A WILD CAR THAT HAPPENS AT SOME POINT IN THE SEASON.

THIS VIRUS IS REALLY GOOD AT, YOU KNOW, FINDING A WHICH TO IN FEK MORE PEOPLE BY CAUTION MUTATIONS ON THE SURFACE.

IT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

THE MATCH IS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD BOTH ON THE H1N1.

TED: IS IT MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN THE SEASON IS LONGER?

LET'S SAY THE FLU SEASON GOES ON.

WHEN IT STARTINGS EARLIER.

BETTER CHANCE TO MUTATE SNOOT YEAH.

RIGHT.

THE LONGER, THE MORE PEOPLE IT INFECTS, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY IT HAS TO MUTATE.

BUT AT LEAST, SO FAR, EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE IT IS A GOOD MATCH.

TED: IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO GET A FLU SHOT WHEN THE FLU FLU IS REALLY RAMPING UP, IT IS RUNNING RAMPANT?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE TRIED TO GET IT BEFORE HAND.

WHEN THINGS ARE FLOWERING, IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO GET THE SHOT?

>> YEAH, I GIVE YOU FOR INSTANCE.

MY MOM IS 94.

WELL, FIRST, YOU GOT COVID IN EARLY OCTOBER.

THAT PUT HER IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WEEK.

SODIUM LEVELS WERE HORRIBLE.

ANYWAY, SHE IS OK.

TWO WEEKS LATER BE WHERE SHE GOT INFLUENZA.

THAT WAS THE 21st OF OCTOBER.

SHE NOT THE VACCINE ON THE 14th SO SHE HAD A WHOLE WEEK WITH THE VACCINE IN HER ARM BEFORE SHE GOT INFECT AND SYSTEMIC WHICH TOOK THE EDGE OFF A BIT.

SO MY POINT IS, LIKE, FOR ALL THE LISTENERS OUT THERE.

LIKE IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT.

YET.

LIKE, GO GET THEM BOTH NOW.

LIKE, COVID, COVID AND THE FLU.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

>> ARE WE SEEING COVID INCREASES?

>> SO THE THING WITH COVID.

LIKE WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD SURVEILLANCE DATA WITH INFLUENZA BECAUSE IT IS REPORTABLE BY LABS, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MADE THE RULES TO SAY YOU GOT TO REPORT THAT.

THEY NEVER DID THAT WITH COVID.

SO, AND I DID I WAS ALL OVER TO DO IT ON TWITTER AND STUFF THEY DID NOT DO IT ANYWAY.

THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD SURVEILLANCE DATA WITH COVID LIKE WE DO IN FLEW PLANE.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

SO IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO GET THE FLU SHOTS ASAP.

EVEN IF IT IS REALLY STARTING TO CREST.

GET IT NOW.

>> YES.

TED: THE SAME PLACES AS USUAL THIS THE PHARMACY?

>> MOST PEOPLE LIKE IT, IN THE PHARMACIES BAITS IS SO CONVENIENT.

YOU GO ON-LINE.

YOU MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT.

THAT IS WHAT I DID.

WE MADE APPOINTMENT FOR ALL THREE OF US.

WE WENT IN AND GOT SCHEDULED RIGHT AWAY.

IT WAS SUPER EASY.

>> THERE IS OTHER PEOPLE LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE.

MYLAR RENTS LIB IN THE CARE, WESTMINSTER VILLAGE.

THEY DID A VACCINE EVENT AT THE FACILITY?

I. IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU LIVE, HOW DO IT.

TED: I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT MODERNA.

WE KNOW FROM COVID.

WE KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE THE VACCINES WERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING RNA WITH THE FLU.

>> YEAH.

I WANTED TO GET IT.

I COULDN'T FIND MY PHARMACY WAS NOT STOCKING IT IN EARLY OCTOBER BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRITE.

THEN I COULD TALK TO BUT.

THE CLINICAL TRIAL PART OF IT.

IT SHOWED IT WAS 24% MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE TYPICAL INFLUENZA VACCINE.

THE PNEUMODERN NA MRNA INFLUENZA VACCINE.

THAT IS A BRAND-NEW PRODUCT FOR INFLUENZA.

TED: BUT SET UP THAT FOR 50 AND OVER.

>> YEAH.

50 AND PLUGS.

TED: IF YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN 50, CAN YOU GET IT?

>> YES, YOU CAN.

>> THE PHARMACIES WILL SEE THAT YOU MADE YOUR APPOINTMENT.

YOU ARE NOT OLD SNUFF.

IF YOU ARE AT THE REGULAR DOCTOR, YOU KNOW?

IF YOU SAY YOU WANT TO USE IT.

THEY PROBABLY GIVE IT TO YOU.

TED: IS THE FLU THIS HOT THIS EARLY BECAUSE OF MAYBE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE GETTING THEIR VACCINES IN EARLIER TIME?

IS VACCINES SKEPTICISM AT PLAY AT ALL HERE?

>> WELL, I DOUBT IT.

I DOUBT IT.

I THINK IT IS NATURAL.

IT IS JUST THE VIRUS STARTED EARLY THIS YEAR.

I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT, I MEAN, WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE IN VACCINE HESS TAN SY.

I DON'T THINK IT CHANGED.

THINGS CHANGED A LOT DURING COVID WITH CERTAIN POPULATIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT.

AND, WAY BEFORE VACCINES SCEPTICISM, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE 80'S, 90'S STUFF EARLIER IN HIKER RADIO.

LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE A SEASON LIKE THIS EVERY SIX YEARS SO.

>> INTERESTING.

>> IS JUST EARLY.

ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU TWO.

I NOT ASK ABOUT RSV AS WELL.

THE THIRD STOOL.

THE THIRD AND FOURTH HERE.

WHAT?

>> SO FAR WE ARE GETTING A PASS ON THAT.

I THINK THERE IS A FOOD REASON FOR THAT BECAUSE IF YOU, I THINK WE DID A SHOW ON THIS TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

WE HAD A GANGBUSTER RSV.

RESPIRATORY.

WE HAD A REALLY BIG YEAR.

TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

AND SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT INFECTED.

AND SO, WE HAVE A LOT, THERE IS MORE HERD IMMUNITY.

THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE FOR ANY PREGNANT WOMEN OUT THERE.

IF YOU TALK TO THE PEDIATRICIAN OR OB/GYN ABOUT GETTING THE RSV SHOT TO PROTECT THE BABY.

BECAUSE YOU GET THE SECONDARY ANTIBODIES WILL HELP AFTER THE BIRTH.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.

GET THE FLU SHOT ASAP.

A DON'T DELAY ANY LONGER.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE.

BUT FOR SO PEOPLE.

THEY GOT INFECTED.

>> POOR CHOICE AWARDS THERE.

WE UNDERSTAND.

WILL HUMBLE, ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, ALWAYS GOO TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> MY PLEASURE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE U.S.

IS ON THE RISE.

INDEED, THE U.S.

IS AN OUTLIER AMONG DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE WAY THAT MATERNAL DEATH RATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB MOST NOTABLY IN RURAL AND UNDER- SERVED COMMUNITIES.

DR.

NIRAJ CHAVAN IS DIVISION CHIEF OF MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE AND OB SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND BANNER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL GROUP IT IS GOOD HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MATERNAL MORTALITY.

WHY IS THIS ON THE INCREASE IN THE U.S.?

NOT SO MUCH SO IN OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

WHAT IS GOING ON SNEER.

>> I THINK REALLY IF WE LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING AND PROBABLY UNDERACKNOWLEDGED, UNDER REPORTED PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS MATERNAL MORTALITY.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING REALLY IS THE MANIFESTATION OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF FACTORS EXACTLY LIKE YOU SAID FROM AREAS HAVING LIMITED AC TO CARE AND IN TERMS OF FOLKS CARING FOR THEM AND TO TOP AT THIS TIME OFF, THEY ARE GETTING OLDER, SICKER IN MANY WAYS, ALSO, HAVING LIMITED ACCESS TO SOME SPECIALITY CARE.

I THINK ALL OF THESE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND TO ADD TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

>> IT SOUNDS AS IF THE CASES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, THEY ARE UNDERREPORTED.

THERE IS MORE OUT THERE THAN WE EVEN KNOW?

>> EXACTLY.

I THINK THAT IS ALL THE MORE REASON WHY, IT IS REALLY THE MOST PRESSING, I WOULD SAY, PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIC, WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING HEAD ON?

>> YOU ARE ADDRESSING THIS HEAD ON.

BANNER HAS THE RITE CALL CARE AND OB STREET TKS COURSE.

THIS IS A COURSE FOR WHOM?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

>> SO BANNER HEALTH HAS INVESTED IN ADDRESSING THIS AND TACKLING THIS PROBLEM HEAD ON.

ONE OF THE BIG WAYS WE ARE DOING THAT THROUGH THE WORKFORCE.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY EXACTLY WHAT THE CRITICAL CARE AND OB STREETICS COURSE IS LOOKING FOR.

IT IS FOR EVERYBODY AND ANYBODY WHO IS INVOLVED IN OB STET TRACKS GETTING FOR PREGNANT, PARENTING WOMEN.

THEY ARE NURSE, A NURSE PRACTITIONER.

WHETHER THEY ARE PHYSICIAN, FAMILY MEDICINE PROVIDE WE'RE SHALL OR EMERGENCY DOCTOR, ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY IN THAT SPACE.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A TEAM SUPPORT.

TAKES A VILLAGE TO CARE FOR THE MOMS WHO ARE PREGNANT.

THAT IS WHY THIS COURSE IS REALLY MULTIFACETED ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE NEED AS TO REALLY TRAIN EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT TOUCHES A PREGNANT WOMAN'S LIFE AND GIVE THE TOOLS AND SKILL SETS THROUGH HANDS ON STIMULATION BASED TRAINING TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING THING THAT LEADS TO MATERNAL MORTALITY.

A MIDWAYS AS WELL 24678 THE HANDS ON TRAINING SOUNDS FASCINATING.

WHAT IS INVOLVED THERE?

>> WELL, SO IT IS THREE FULL DAYS OF TRAINING IN SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL CLINICAL SCENARIOS THAT OFTEN ARE CONSIDERED SOMETHING CALLED SEVERE MORBIDITY AND PRECURSOR IF YOU WILL, OR PRELUDE TO WHAT EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO ETERNAL MORTALITY IF IT IS UNDER ADDRESSED.

AND SO BY REALLY BEING ABLE TO TRAIN OUR ATTEND TEE DEES, OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS IN A HANDS ON SIMULATION BASED MANNER WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT REAL LIFE LIKE EXPERIENCE TO BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS HOW YOU ACTUALLY DO THIS IF YOU WERE TO BE FACED WITH THIS.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE CARDIAC ARREST, PREGNANCY, THAT SORT OF STUFF?

>> EXACTLY.

SO IT IS A WHOLE GAMUT OF CONDITIONS, WHETHER IT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS.

SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

IT IS REALLY A WHOLE GAMUT AND THE COURSE IS UNIQUE, IT IS ADDRESSING NOT JUST ONE OF THESE BUT ADDRESSING A WHOLE CLUSTER OF CONDITIONS WHICH THEREFORE STAND TO RISE AS THE MOST CRITICAL THING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

>> THIS IS A COURSE IN BEST PRACTICE TRAINING WE NO KNOW ABOUT.

THE SIMULATIONS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS ARE PROBABLY PRETTY NEW.

ARE THESE THINGS THAT ARE KNOWN AND ARE TAUGHT AND ARE FOCUSED ON BUT JUST NOT ENOUGH?

OR IS THIS A DIFFERENT PATH ARE SON IN.

>> I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF RECOGNITION, THAT TRAINING IS CRITICAL, BUT ALSO, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT BY BRINGING IN EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT IS REALLY THE PEOPLE DELIVERING THESE LECTURES AND THE SIMULATION TRAINING IS NOT JUST OBSTETRICIANS BUT WE ALSO HAVE HIGH RISK OB SPECIALISTS FOCUSED ON THE CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE SIDE OF THINGS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE EVIDENCE SETTING.

PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE INTENSIVE CARE SETTING AND WE ARE ABLE TO TIE THAT TOGETHER WITH THE BOWL, TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS NOT JUST ON THE TRAINING PIECE OF THINGS, BUT ALSO THE DOING PIECE OF THINGS THAT IS ADDRESSING BOTH KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO PRACTICE, AND THAT CLINICALLICCAL SKILL SET IS THE OTHER COMPONENT OF THAT TRAINING?

WITH THE INFORMATION OUT THERE AND YOU WANT TO COALESCE EVERYTHING AND GET EVERYTHING ON A SINGLE LINE HERE.

THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

WHERE SO MUCH ADVANCEMENT HAVE SEEN INDICES AND ALL SORTS SOME CANCERS ARE CHRONIC CONDITIONS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THE DATASET WAS BEFORE.

AGAIN, I ASKED YOU THIS BEFORE.

WHY IS THIS GOING UP.

THERE HAS GOT TO BE MORE GOING ON HERE.

I MEAN, WHAT IS IT?

>> WELL, I THINK, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS JUST NOT HAVING ACCESS TO CARE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF OUR MOTHERS ARE COMING FROM RURAL AREAS IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS IN TERMS OF THE SPECIAL CYSTS LEVEL OF TRAINING PHYSICIAN OR PROVIDER WHO MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THINGS RIGHT ON.

RECOGNITION IS A BIG PART OF IT.

BEING ABLE TO TRAIN THE LOCAL PROVIDERS REALLY DOWN TO THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL FOR THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

WE ARE ABLE TO TEACH THEM.

HELP THEM RECOGNIZE, UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE ESCALATED RIGHT AWAY.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY IN THE APPOINTMENT WHERE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

>> THIS IS THE COURSE?

A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE PHOENIX AREA OR TUCSON AREA SHALL THEY COUPLE HERE.

THEY ARE IN URBAN AREAS.

THE FOLKS IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT NEEDS THIS INFORMATION AND TRAINING MAY BE TOO FAR AWAY TO COME IN.

IT IS THERE A WAY TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT BEING HERE PHYSICALFULLY.

>> THERE IS THE HYBRID COMPONENT WHICH IS FOCUSED ON THE TEACHING PIECE OF THINGS.

BUT I WILL SAY, A WHOLE LOT OF WHAT YOU LEARN IS ACTUALLY BEING IN THE ROOM WITH HANDS ON SIMULATION BUT ALSO DOING HANDS ON SKILLS, AND THAT SKILL THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE QUITE REPLACED IN THE HYBRID SPACE.

JO SO LAST QUESTION HERE.

ACCESS, ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND PROPER MEDICAL CARE, THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON?

>> THAT IS RUN OF THE BIGGEST REASONS, YES.

MOST CERTAINLY.

IN ADDITION TO OF COURSE, ADDRESSING CHRONIC CONDITIONS LIKE YOU SAID, OR IDENTIFYING ONLY, ONLY, THE RECOGNITION, ANOTHER PART OF.

TED: WHERE CAN PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THIS IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THE COURSES?

>> THE CRITICAL CAR CARE HAPPENS NOVEMBER 9th THROUGH 11th HERE IN PHOENIX.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THERE YOU.

TED: ALL RIGHT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER OF PHOENIX, ALL THE WHOLE TITLE, TOO LONG TO SAY THE TITLE BECAUSE THEY ONLY GOT SO MUCH TIME.

GOOD YOU HAVE HERE.

>> THANKS.

HANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU BET.

THE U.S.

ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION REPORTS THAT THE U.S.

IS EXPERIENCING ITS STRONGEST SUSTAINED SURGE IN ELECTRICITY DEMAND IN MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

THAT INCREASE IS MOSTLY DUE TO AI, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE REASON, DEMAND IS TO THE POINT THAT NUCLEAR POWER IS BACK IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION AS A WAY TO ADDRESS ENERGY NEEDS.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME DAVID ROSOWSKY, SENIOR ADVISER TO ASU'S PRESIDENT AND A KEY DEVELOPER IN A NUCLEAR TRAINING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES.

I CALLED YOU A DOCTOR.

RAW DOCTOR?

>> I AM.

TED: GOOD ENOUGH.

UM, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH, I MEAN, AI IS CHANGING EVERYTHING.

IT IS CHANGING EVERYTHING.

CORE FLECK.

>> IT IS.

AND THE BOOM OF DATA STERNS IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DEMAND SET ON THE NATION'S POWER.

TED: UM, WE ARE HEARING MORE TALK OF NUCLEAR.

WE ALWAYS HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF NUCLEAR.

ALWAYS UNDER THE CONVERSATION.

NO ONE WAS TOO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT SOUNDS LOCKETS ESPECIALLY THE IDEA OF SMALLER MORE MODULAR REACTORS.

NOT THE BIG THINGS THAT THAT ARE OUT THERE POWERING REGIONS BUT SMALLER.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL.

SURE.

THE BIG ONES THAT ARE POWERING CITIES IN REGIONS ARE DOING DOING WELL.

YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM.

THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO REPORT OTHER THAN THE FUNCTIONING AND FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED AND FUNCTIONING SAFELY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE HAD A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP WITH NUCLEAR POWER AND THERE HAVE BEEN EBBS AND FLOWS, ESSENTIALLY, A STOP AGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LARGE PLANTS.

OVER THOSE DECADES, INTO TECHNOLOGY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THAT ALLOWED REACTORS TO BECOME SMALL, HE SIMPLER SAFER MORE QUICKLY BUILD EASIER TO OPERATE AND MUCH MORE EASILY PLACED IN REMOTE LOCATIONS OR IN SMALLER THAN A BIG URBAN LOCATION.

TED: ARE THEY SCALABLE?

CAN YOU MAKE THEM BIGGER?

>> THEY ARE.

THEY ARE.

LITERALLY SMALL AND MODULAR AND THE MODULAR PIECE TELLS YOU THEY CAN BE CLUSTERED OR STACKED SO THAT YOU CAN GET UP TO THE LEVELS OF SERVING THE URBAN CORE OR REG BEEN TO.

TED: NOW, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.

IT SEEMS LIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD EITHER HAVE THESE OR EXPERIMENTING WITH THESE?

>> THEY DO.

SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT IS BEING DONE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SOME OF THE EARLIEST SEALS OF THE SMALL MOOD OW LAR REACTORS ARE OVERSEES BECAUSE IT IS.

>> HE IS WHY IR TO SIGHT AND BUILD AND REPLACE THESE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WOMEN'S CATCH UP ON THAT.

BUT WE HAVE HAD SMALL MODULAR REACTORS FO A LONG TIME.

THEY ARE WHAT POWER NUKEY SUBMARINES AND HAVE FOR MANY DECADES, BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF REACTOR.

IT USES DIFFERENT RAE ACTOR AND USES A DIFFERENT FUEL TECHNOLOGY.

IT HAS DIFFERENT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.

AND IT CAN BE BUILD MUCH MORE QUICKLY AND SIGHTED AND BROUGHT TO OPERATION IN A MUCH QUICKER WAY.

>> DO WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO BUILD, TO DESIGN, AND TOP RUN THESE THINGS?

BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, NUCLEAR HAS BEEN KIND OF UNDER THE RADAR AND QUIET FOR AWHILE.

A LOT OF THE FOL BEES BACK IN THE 70'S, 80'S RETIRING ARE LONG GONE.

I MEAN, ARE WE UP TO SPEED?

>> WE ARE NOT UP TO SPEED.

BUT THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE HAVE STARTED THIS NUR NUCLEAR ACADEMIC CONSORTIUM, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY AT PURDUE AND THE UNIT OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE.

TO GROW NOT THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR ENGINEER PURCHASE BECAUSE ACTUALLY, WE HAVE CAPACITY TO GENERATE THE NUMBER NEEDED.

BUT SPECIFICALLY, THE INDUSTRY WILL NEED MORE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS THAT KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION.

AND THAT IS THE FOCUS OF THE CONSORTIUM.

>> AND THE CONSORTIUM WANTS TO GET MORE FOLKS IN HERE.

THE DECLINE, I WOULD IMAGINE DECLINE IN WORKERS OBVIOUSLY RETIREMENT.

THINGS ARE OUT IN THE REMOTE AREAS.

IT HAS GOT TO BE TOUGH.

>> WELL, THE BEAUTY OF THE SMALL MODULAR REACTORS IS THEY TAKE A FAR SMALLER OPERATING CORP OF INDIVIDUALS AND MANY OF THEM WILL BE OPERATED REMOTELY.

TED: OH, WOW.

>> YEAH.

SAFETY CONCERNS?

>> OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS A BIG BIGGY.

I MEAN, YEAH.

SO, SO THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE ACTUALLY IN ORDER MAGNITUDE LOWER THAN THE BIG REACTORS WITH WE HAVE GROWN UP WITH.

THE REACTORS THEMSELVES ARE MUCH SIMPLER AND PASSIVELY CONTROLLED.

THEY SHUT THEMSELVES DOWN.

THE FUEL THAT IS USED, IT IS NOT THE DROPPED INTO THE REACTOR CORE BUT A PELLTIZED CERAMIC COATED FUEL THAT IS INERT ESSENTIALLY.

IT CANNOT BE -- YOU CANNOT CREATE A RADIOACTIVE RELEASE.

AND THE STORED MATERIAL AT THE END OF THE USAGE OF THIS FUEL IS ACTUALLY FAR LESS RADIO AC OF THAN THE RODS SO IT IS A MUCH CLEANER SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE FORM OF ENERGY.

TED: AS FAR AS STORING THE NUMB NUCLEAR WASTE.

SHAMMER THAN THE RODS, TOO?

I MEAN, LESS?

>> YEAH.

THEY ARE.

THEY ARE.

BUT IT IS STILL STORAGE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL WILL BE PART OF THE EQUATION.

AND THE WAY IT WORKS NOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MANAGES THE STORAGE OF THAT.

THAT WILL CONTINUE EVEN WITH THIS DIFFERENT FUEL TYPE.

TED: CAN, CANUCKIER WORK ALONGSIDE RENEWABLES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOLAR WIND.

>> ARE ON THE INCREASE, OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THOSE PARTICULAR ENERGY SOURCES.

IT IS THERE A PLACE IN THE EQUAKE FOR NUCLEAR?

>> THERE IS A HUGE PLACE.

BECAUSE, SOLAR AND WIND DON'T GIVE YOU WHAT IS CALLED BASELOAD POWER BECAUSE THEY ARE TRANSIENT.

NUCLEARES CAN BE ALWAYS ON.

THEY CAN CREATE THE BASELOAD POWER THAT YOU ALWAYS NEED.

IT IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE EQUATION, IT IS PART OF THE MIX FOR THE THREE U TILLYS HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES ANY FUTURE DEMANDS WILL BE MET BY INURESSED POWER GENERATION CAPACITY AND NUCLEAR WILL BE A BIG PART OF THAT GROWTH.

TED: TIMETABLE FOR ALL OF US.

THIS WHAT YOU SEEING IN THE?

WELL, WE ARE, WE ARE DOWN TO ONE TO THREE YEARS TO SEEING THE SMALL MODULAR REACTORS PROVE THEMSELVES TECHNICALLY AND ALSO PASS THE CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS.

THE CONSTRUCTION TIMES FAR LESS IN THE BIGGER PLANTS WHICH CAN TAKE FIVE TO TEN YEARS TO BUILD AND OFTEN OVERBUDGET, OVERTIME.

WHERE AS THE SMALL MODULAR ARE LITERALLY MODULAR PARTS THAT ARE TRUCKED TO A SITE AND THEN CAN BE ASSEMBLED ON THE SITE.

NOT A COST CONCERN THEN?

>> IT IS -- THEY ARE EXPENSIVE.

THEY ARE EXPENSIVE IN.

THE COST PER KILOWATT HOUR WILL COME DOWN AS WE BUILD MORE OF THESE THINGS FOR SURE.

ALSO, AS WE THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE MANUFACTURING OF ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES THAT GO INTO THEM.

>> IN TRUSTING STUFF.

SENIOR ADVISER AT ASU PRESIDENT.

AWHOLE LOT OF OTHER STUFF TALKING ABOUT THAT CONSORTIUM.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THE INFORMATION.

WE APPRECIATE.

>> THANKS TED.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.