The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing announced on Apr. 9 a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $263 million to SHINE Chrysalis, LLC to support the construction of a medical isotope production facility in Janesville, Wisconsin. The project aims to create a reliable and secure domestic supply of medical isotopes using fusion and fission technology.
This initiative is significant because millions of patients depend on these isotopes for diagnostic imaging and cancer treatments, yet most current supplies are imported from overseas with limited capacity. The new facility will establish the only commercial source in the United States for molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), an essential isotope whose decay product technetium-99m is used in over 40,000 procedures daily across the country.
Gregory A. Beard, Director of EDF, said: “The SHINE Chrysalis project is vital to improving the nuclear supply chain and contributing to a strong next-generation nuclear workforce while onshoring this critical production and improving national security.” Beard also said that using EDF’s loan authority supports President Trump’s policy: “ensuring a reliable and secure domestic supply chain while lowering costs.”
Dr. Matthew Napoli, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at NNSA, said: “SHINE is the key to ending reliance on imports of foreign-produced Mo-99 and ensuring U.S. patients have reliable access to American-made medical isotopes. NNSA’s leadership made this concept a reality, providing funding and technical support from our national laboratories that enabled this innovative U.S. company to go from an idea on paper to a commercial facility that is 75% complete.” Napoli added: “The EDF conditional loan will get this project across the finish line, and SHINE’s market entry will be a major win for American nuclear medicine, fusion technology, and nuclear nonproliferation leadership.”
EDF says it remains committed to financing energy projects that contribute meaningfully toward energy security, grid reliability, cost reduction for Americans, investment in industry innovation such as artificial intelligence advancement—and restoring what it calls American Energy Dominance.
While announcing this new step toward bolstering domestic energy capabilities through public-private partnership loans like this one with SHINE Chrysalis LLC., DOE has recently launched other initiatives as well—such as providing $225 million through its Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law according to DOE. The department has also encouraged international collaboration toward clean energy transitions as shown by Secretary Granholm inviting participation at global forums; highlighted technology development efforts involving national laboratories according to William White; applied innovative passive processes at sites like Savannah River Site per DOE Office of Environmental Management; announced funding opportunities aimed at decarbonizing transportation according to DOE; and identified over 140 programs supporting clean energy investments targeted at disadvantaged communities under Justice40 Initiative as reported by DOE.
Before any funds are released under this latest conditional commitment with SHINE Chrysalis LLC., both parties must satisfy specific technical, legal, environmental, and financial requirements.
