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. The funding will support the construction of the Chrysalis facility in Janesville, Wisconsin, which is designed to produce high-volume medical isotopes using fusion and fission technology.
The new facility aims to address the nation’s reliance on foreign-produced medical isotopes that are essential for diagnostic imaging and cancer treatments. Currently, most of these isotopes are imported from overseas, with limited capacity available domestically.
Chrysalis will be the only commercial source in the United States producing molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a critical isotope whose decay product technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is used in more than 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: “Using EDF’s loan authority to further commercialize a project long supported by DOE is Trump’s policy at work: 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.”
SHINE has developed its technology over 16 years with significant support from NNSA funding as well as technical contributions from National Laboratories.
EDF stated it remains committed to financing projects that enhance energy security and grid reliability while reducing costs nationwide.
While this announcement signals DOE’s intent regarding financial support for SHINE’s project completion—expected to create hundreds of jobs—the department clarified that certain technical, legal, environmental, and financial conditions must still be met before finalizing any financing agreements or disbursing funds.
In related efforts supporting clean energy transition nationwide,the Department announced $225 million in July 2022 through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at implementing modern building energy codes; Secretary Jennifer Granholm also called upon international partners last year for greater action toward clean energy goals; testimony before Congress highlighted ongoing advances by DOE offices in technological development; innovative processes were deployed at Savannah River Site by DOE contractors; $96 million was allocated last summer toward decarbonizing transportation; and 146 programs now back Justice40 Initiative priorities, aiming clean energy investments toward disadvantaged communities.
