Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Nuclear Specter Returns 'Threat of War Is Higher than in the Cold War'

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/munich-conference-warns-of-greater-threat-of-nuclear-conflict-a-1018357-druck.html

SPIEGEL ONLINE

02/13/2015

Nuclear Specter Returns

'Threat of War Is Higher than in the Cold War'

By in Munich
The Ukraine crisis has dramatically worsened relations between NATO and Russia. With cooperation on nuclear security now suspended and the lack of a "red telephone," experts at the Munich Security Conference warn any escalation in tensions could grow deadly.
The scientists had no idea that their experiment could spell the end of civilization. On Jan. 25, 1995, Norwegian and American researchers fired a rocket into the skies of northwestern Norway to study the Northern Lights. But the four-stage rocket flew directly through the same corridor that American Minuteman III missiles, equipped with nuclear warheads, would use to travel from the United States to Moscow.
The rocket's speed and flight pattern very closely matched what the Russians expected from a Trident missile that would be fired from a US submarine and detonated at high altitude, with the aim of blinding the Russian early-warning system to prepare for a large-scale nuclear attack by the United States. The Russian military was placed on high alert, and then President Boris Yeltsin activated the keys to launch nuclear weapons. He had less than 10 minutes to decide whether to issue the order to fire.
Yeltsin left the Russian missiles in their silos, probably in part because relations between Russian and the United States were relatively trusting in 1995. But if a similar incident occurred today, as US arms expert Theodore Postol warned recently, it could quite possibly lead to nuclear catastrophe.http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/munich-conference-warns-of-greater-threat-of-nuclear-conflict-a-1018357-druck.html

Time to Reconsider Nuclear Propulsion

Time to Reconsider Nuclear Propulsion

▶ Ambassador Jack Matlock: The Mistakes We Made with Russia and How to Stop Making Them - YouTube

▶ Ambassador Jack Matlock: The Mistakes We Made with Russia and How to Stop Making Them - YouTube

Israel’s Obsession for Monopoly on Middle East Nuclear Power

Israel’s Obsession for Monopoly on Middle East Nuclear Power


http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/israels-obsession-for-monopoly-on-middle-east-nuclear-power/

Did Obama Just Waste $907 Million Trying to Save Nuclear Power?

Did Obama Just Waste $907 Million Trying to Save Nuclear Power?


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/02/14/did-obama-just-waste-907-million-trying-to-save-nu.aspx

South Africa Ignores Advisers Over $85 Billion Nuclear Plan

South Africa Ignores Advisers Over $85 Billion Nuclear Plan

(Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s government is forging ahead with plans to spend as much as 1 trillion rand ($85 billion) on new nuclear plants, ignoring objections from environmental activists, opposition parties, unions and even its own advisers.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-13/south-africa-ignores-advisers-over-85-billion-nuclear-plan

Fuel Fix » Global oil layoffs exceed 100,000

Fuel Fix » Global oil layoffs exceed 100,000

Fuel Fix » Judge tosses coastal damage suit against oil companies

Fuel Fix » Judge tosses coastal damage suit against oil companies

The Age Of Oil And Gas, And How We Got Here


The Age Of Oil And Gas, And How We Got Here

http://www.forbes.com/sites/statoil/2015/02/13/the-age-of-oil-and-gas-and-how-we-got-here/

Scientists: We Cannot Geoengineer Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis

Scientists: We Cannot Geoengineer Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis

Tomgram: Michael Klare, A Republican Neo-Imperial Vision for 2016

Tomgram: Michael Klare, A Republican Neo-Imperial Vision for 2016 
http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175955/tomgram%3A_michael_klare%2C_a_republican_neo-imperial_vision_for_2016/

US 'at risk of mega-drought future'


US 'at risk of mega-drought future'

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31434030

Study predicts future megadroughts for western U.S.

Study predicts future megadroughts for western U.S.

The chance of a megadrought hitting the western United States rises to 80 percent if emissions fail to slow down in the coming decades.


http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2015/02/13/Study-predicts-future-megadroughts-for-western-US/7851423837104/

Utility-Scale Projects Helping to Power Solar Growth


Utility-Scale Projects Helping to Power Solar Growth


http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2015/02/utility-scale-projects-helping-to-power-solar-growth?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-February14-2015

What Apple Just Did in Solar Is a Really Big Deal


What Apple Just Did in Solar Is a Really Big Deal


http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/02/what-apple-just-did-in-solar-is-a-really-big-deal?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-February14-2015

Tesla Plans Battery Storage for Emerging Residential Market

Tesla Plans Battery Storage for Emerging Residential Market



http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/02/tesla-plans-battery-storage-for-emerging-residential-market?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-February14-2015

'Uncertain Radiological Threat': US Navy Sailors Search for Justice after Fukushima Mission

'Uncertain Radiological Threat': US Navy Sailors Search for Justice after Fukushima Mission


http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/navy-sailors-possibly-exposed-to-fukushima-radiation-fight-for-justice-a-1016482.html

Friday, February 13, 2015

IEA Technology Roadmap: Nuclear Energy

IEA Technology Roadmap: Nuclear Energy

http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/technology-roadmap-nuclear-energy-1.html

Westinghouse expects contracts for 12 Chinese nuclear reactors: CEO - Electric Power | Platts News Article & Story

Westinghouse expects contracts for 12 Chinese nuclear reactors: CEO - Electric Power | Platts News Article & Story

CASEnergy Coalition advocates for nuclear energy

CASEnergy Coalition advocates for nuclear energy


http://qctimes.com/business/casenergy-coalition-advocates-for-nuclear-energy/article_710d10c3-6285-5446-9052-d5aa4ae9b360.html

Being Realistic about Nuclear Proliferation

Being Realistic about Nuclear Proliferation

by Peter Jenkins
February 13th, 2015 | http://www.lobelog.com/being-realistic-about-nuclear-proliferation/#respond
Earlier this week, after a closed White House briefing on Iran, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) said: “Instead of preventing proliferation, we are managing proliferation. If we enter a new world order where we are going to manage proliferation…. that is a different and far more challenging world.”
It seems likely that he was consciously echoing Henry Kissinger, who told the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 29: “Nuclear talks with Iran began as an international effort … to deny Iran the capability to develop a military nuclear option. They are now an essentially bilateral negotiation over the scope of that capability through an agreement that sets a hypothetical limit of one year on an assumed breakout. The impact of this approach will be to move from preventing proliferation to managing it.”
What Corker and Kissinger are suggesting is that:
  • Iran’s uranium enrichment program equals nuclear proliferation. It does not.
  • Preventing Iran from acquiring uranium enrichment facilities is an affordable option for the United States. It is not.
  • Depriving Iran of its enrichment facilities would be lawful. The conditions for it to be lawful do not exist.
To Enrich Is to Proliferate? http://www.lobelog.com/being-realistic-about-nuclear-proliferation/#respond

Platts: Westinghouse expecting to receive billions worth of Chinese reactor contracts

Platts: Westinghouse expecting to receive billions worth of Chinese reactor contracts


http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/energy/2015/02/platts-westinghouse-expecting-to-receive-billions.html

The Possible Outcomes of Nuclear Negotiations With Iran | Raghida Dergham

The Possible Outcomes of Nuclear Negotiations With Iran | Raghida Dergham

Russia's planning on upgraded nuclear submarines

Russia's planning on upgraded nuclear submarines


http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/02/russias-planning-on-upgraded-nuclear.html

Details on SA/Russia nuclear deal emerge

Details on SA/Russia nuclear deal emerge

The nuclear deal seems to bind SA financially & holds the country liable for accidents at power plants.

http://ewn.co.za/2015/02/13/Details-emerge-in-SA-Russia-nuclear-deal

S. Korea delays decision on extension for 32-year-old Wolsong-1 reactor

S. Korea delays decision on extension for 32-year-old Wolsong-1 reactor


http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/150212/s-korea-delays-decision-extension-32-year-old-wolsong-1-reac

Only one drum involved in WIPP release

Only one drum involved in WIPP release
Photographs taken inside the underground Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) have confirmed that a single waste drum was the source of the contamination incident that has stopped operations at New Mexico facility since February 2014.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/WR-No-further-drums-involved-in-WIPP-release-1302157.html

US policymakers starting to address market issues, says NEI

US policymakers starting to address market issues, says NEI
There has been a "significant evolution in thinking in a relatively short period of time" among US federal regulators, state officials and regional transmission organizations to address the market issues negatively impacting nuclear power plants in the USA, Marvin Fertel, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute said yesterday.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-US-policymakers-starting-to-address-market-issues-says-NEI-13021501.html

National Academy of Sciences Report on Carbon Removal: A Recap and Commentary

National Academy of Sciences Report on Carbon Removal: A Recap and Commentary


http://theenergycollective.com/noahdeich/2193311/recap-and-commentary-national-academy-sciences-report-carbon-removal?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

The Darker Side of the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal

The Darker Side of the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal


http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/the-darker-side-of-the-u-s-india-nuclear-deal/

Westinghouse Electric CEO Roderick Expects Ongoing Work In China

Westinghouse Electric CEO Roderick Expects Ongoing Work In China


http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2015/02/13/westinghouse-electric-ceo-roderick-expects-ongoing-work-in-china-021302.aspx#.VN5aUy5mrmc

Bill Gates visits China to discuss nuclear reactor cooperation

Bill Gates visits China to discuss nuclear reactor cooperation


http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150213000076&cid=1205

Much needed nuclear market reforms taking shape

Much needed nuclear market reforms taking shape


http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/much-needed-nuclear-market-reforms-taking-shape/2015-02-13

Slow safety screening holding up nuclear reactor restarts in Japan

Slow safety screening holding up nuclear reactor restarts in Japan - See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/slow-safety-screening-holding-nuclear-reactor-restarts-japan#sthash.g5KX2cQI.dpuf

http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/slow-safety-screening-holding-nuclear-reactor-restarts-japan

B&W Announces $535 Million in Contracts for Naval Nuclear Reactor Programs

B&W Announces $535 Million in Contracts for Naval Nuclear Reactor Programs


http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150212005541/en/BW-Announces-535-Million-Contracts-Naval-Nuclear#.VN5YAi5mrmc

Russia-Egypt Nuclear Power Plant Deal: Why Ignoring Egypt's Needs Is Bad For The U.S.

Russia-Egypt Nuclear Power Plant Deal: Why Ignoring Egypt's Needs Is Bad For The U.S.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/annaborshchevskaya/2015/02/13/russia-egypt-nuclear-power-plant-deal-why-ignoring-egypts-needs-is-bad-for-the-u-s/

The Pentagon's massive $534 billion budget request could force deep cuts elsewhere - Business Insider

The Pentagon's massive $534 billion budget request could force deep cuts elsewhere - Business Insider

Inspector General Report on Spent Fuel Pools Makes Recommendations To Improve Oversight

An Office of the Inspector General audit regarding the NRC’s oversight of spent fuel pools is now available here. The audit set out to determine if the NRC’s oversight of spent fuel pools — and the nuclear fuel they hold — provides adequate protection for public health and safety, and the environment.
The NRC is responsible for developing the regulatory framework, analytical tools, and data needed to ensure safe and secure storage, transportation, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. In the U.S. today, there are 93 spent fuel pools currently storing spent fuel. Recent NRC staff studies demonstrating the safety of spent fuel pools and the safety of continued storage of spent fuel at reactor sites highlight the need to make sure the pools operate safely for longer periods than originally envisioned.
The OIG found the NRC does provide adequate oversight of spent fuel pools and the fuel they contain, but opportunities exist for improvement. Specifically, we found that regulatory uncertainty exists in the NRC’s evaluation of the analytical methods used to prevent a chain reaction in the spent fuel pools. In addition, there are gaps in NRC’s spent fuel pool inspection program as inspections of spent fuel pools greatly vary between licensee sites and are limited in scope.
As part of its mission, the NRC must inspect and assess licensee operations and facilities to ensure compliance with its regulatory requirements. The NRC should also regulate in a manner that clearly communicates requirements and ensures regulations are consistently applied and practical. The OIG believes an absence of effective spent fuel pool guidance for both licensees and NRC staff may reduce program efficiency and effectiveness.
The report makes four specific recommendations to improve NRC oversight, including developing and issuing new guidance for licensees and developing new NRC inspection procedures. NRC management stated their general agreement with the findings and recommendations.


http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov/2015/02/13/inspector-general-report-on-spent-fuel-pools-makes-recommendations-to-improve-oversight/?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Negotiating with Iran: Breakout and sneakout

Negotiating with Iran: Breakout and sneakout


http://thebulletin.org/negotiating-iran-breakout-and-sneakout7981

Timeline: The IPCC’s shifting position on nuclear energy

Timeline: The IPCC’s shifting position on nuclear energy


http://thebulletin.org/timeline-ipcc%E2%80%99s-shifting-position-nuclear-energy7975

PennEnergy's Top Power Headlines 2/13

Top Power Headlines

US, Russia at odds over energy in Cold War-style conflict

$subtitles.get($x) Pipelines, ports and power plants are the weapons of what could prove a generation-defining conflict between the U.S. and Russia over how Europe heats and electrifies its homes … Continue Reading
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Kemper overruns climb another $45MM

$subtitles.get($x) Southern Co. said it will spend at least another $45 million to finish the power plant it's building in eastern Mississippi's Kemper County, pushing total costs to nearly $6.2 billion … Continue Reading
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Top Power News

Dallas company wants to store nation’s spent nuclear fuel

Apple, First Solar enter $848MM power purchase agreement

Corette coal power plant now set for permanent shut down

Siemens to ax 7,800 jobs globally to cut costs

Putin's visit to Egypt nets plan to build nuclear plant

Judge dismisses suit over TVA coal plant switch to gas power

Duke looks to acquire Osprey gas power plant

Illinois coal power plant at center of Midwest rate fights

Siemens to build 200 MW combined cycle power plant in Malta

Japan readies first robot to probe melted Fukushima reactor

Dominion plans 400 MW of solar projects in Va.

ABB wins $100MM subsea transmission system order in Denmark

New Mexico considers more fines over leak at nuclear waste repository

Bentley acquires Acute3D to advance reality modeling

Transatomic Power Pulls In $2.5M to Test Components for Its Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor

Transatomic Power Pulls In $2.5M to Test Components for Its Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor


http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/transatomic-power-pulls-in-2.5-million-to-test-equipment-for-molten-salt-nu

Energy Market: Oil on wild ride; How will it end?

Energy Market: Oil on wild ride; How will it end?


http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/02/energy-market-oil-on-wild-ride-how-will-it-end.html?cmpid=EnlWeeklyPetroFebruary132015

PennEnegy's Most Popular Oil & Gas News

This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News

China finds sizable natural gas field in South China Sea

Obama Administration to offer more than 41 million offshore exploration acres in GoM

North Dakota bill cuts time for wasting natural gas from oil wells

Steelworkers to expand strike to 2 BP oil refineries in Midwest

Vermont Natural Gas halts gas pipeline plans

Explosion on Brazil oil ship; Union says 3 deaths

Financing new ventures in oil and gas E&P technology domain - Part-1

Financing new ventures in oil and gas E&P technology domain - Part-2

Pembina Pipeline Corporation to expand Vantage oil pipeline

IEA sees oil price recovery but no return to highs

Halliburton says it will eliminate at least 5,000 jobs

EIA: Light-sweet crude oil imports to Gulf Coast virtually eliminated

Excelerate Energy begins using idle port in Massachusetts

Algeria shale gas protesters vow escalation

Nuclear Nuances of Saudi-Pakistan Meeting

Nuclear Nuances of Saudi-Pakistan Meeting

By Simon Henderson
Life In Riyadh
Tuesday’s meeting in Riyadh between King Salman and Pakistan’s top military commander will revive speculation of a secret nuclear agreement to counter any Iranian nuclear threat. The visit by the chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will likely prompt concern in Washington and other major capitals that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have reconfirmed

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Westinghouse to work on India nuclear plan before liability resolved -CEO

Westinghouse to work on India nuclear plan before liability resolved -CEO


http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/12/toshiba-westinghouse-india-idUSL1N0VM21V20150212

Nuclear negotiators lean in as clock ticks on Iran deal

Nuclear negotiators lean in as clock ticks on Iran deal



http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/02/iran-p51-approach-decision-phase-enrichment.html

NASA Study Finds Carbon Emissions Could Dramatically Increase Risk of U.S. Megadroughts


NASA Study Finds Carbon Emissions Could Dramatically Increase Risk of U.S. Megadroughts

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/february/nasa-study-finds-carbon-emissions-could-dramatically-increase-risk-of-us/

A Safety Reminder from National Grid: Be sure to avoid power lines when clearing snow and ice

ng-logo-yellow-tag
A Safety Reminder from National Grid:
Be sure to avoid power lines when clearing snow and ice
As snow accumulations continue to mount across New England and with more snowfall likely in the coming days, National Grid is urging customers to take precautions to avoid the potential hazards these conditions present. Massive amounts of snow and ice building up on roofs and piled beneath power lines are serious and potentially dangerous. Snow on roofs can lead to water damage and, in some cases, can cause roofs to collapse. Large piles of snow under power lines can bring the tops of those mounds, which children frequently use for sledding, dangerously close to energized power lines. In both cases, the chance of being injured by coming in contact with power lines increases and snow and ice build-up on roofs can damage electric service lines running to homes and businesses. National Grid is urging home and business owners to be especially cautious as they work to clear their roofs by following these safety recommendations:
  Keep all ladders, shovels, roof rakes and other devices well clear of any lines coming from the street to the structure, regardless of material. In extremely wet conditions, even wood can be a conductor of electricity.
  If necessary, start clearing snow from the opposite end of the roof from the service point where electricity is delivered.
  If you are unsure of how to go about clearing snow, or if your roof is particularly steep, contact a qualified roofing contractor.
  As snow is removed from the roof, be aware of what is below that could become buried as snow hits the ground. Be especially mindful of the location of your electricity and gas meters as they could be damaged by falling snow and ice.
You should also be aware that heavy snow loads could damage the connections of your electricity service to your home or building, often known as the weatherhead. As snow melts or is removed, look at this connection point from a safe distance to be sure it hasn't been pulled away from the building, creating a potential fire hazard.
National Grid is responsible for repairs to the overhead lines to the weatherhead, and the meter itself. Repairs to any other portions of the service are the responsibility of the customer. If any of that service is damaged, customers should contact a certified electrician to handle the repairs. Please see our website for more information about post-storm responsibilities.
As we brace for the possibility of more storms over the coming days, remember that National Grid provides several ways for you to stay connected:
  Download our mobile app by searching for National Grid in iTunes and GooglePlay stores.
  To register for broadcast text alerts for major storms, text the word "STORM" to NGRID (64743).
  Visit the Outage Central section of our website where you can view outage maps, access important safety tips and report outages. Alternatively, our mobile website can be accessed by going to nationalgrid.com on your mobile device and selecting "View safety and outages."
  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@nationalgridus) for the latest updates.
National Grid
Here with you. Here for you.

The next energy fight: Exporting natural gas | WashingtonExaminer.com

The next energy fight: Exporting natural gas | WashingtonExaminer.com

Reid says he will seek sixth term in Senate - The Washington Post

Reid says he will seek sixth term in Senate - The Washington Post

To Kill A Pipeline...Or Two: The Sad Reality Of Obama's Energy Thinking

To Kill A Pipeline...Or Two: The Sad Reality Of Obama's Energy Thinking


http://www.forbes.com/sites/tboonepickens/2015/02/10/to-kill-a-pipeline-or-two-the-sad-reality-of-obamas-energy-thinking/?ss=energy

The Cost of Clean Coal

The Cost of Clean Coal

BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips team up in the GoM

BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips team up in the GoM


http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2015/01/bp-chevron-conocophillips-team-up-in-the-gom.html

Zuma Seeks Nuclear Power to Solve South Africa’s Energy Crisis - Bloomberg Business

Zuma Seeks Nuclear Power to Solve South Africa’s Energy Crisis - Bloomberg Business

Westinghouse to work on India nuclear plan before liability resolved -CEO | Reuters

Westinghouse to work on India nuclear plan before liability resolved -CEO | Reuters

It’s too early to speak about ‘breakthroughs’ in India-US nuclear deal: Russia - The Hindu

It’s too early to speak about ‘breakthroughs’ in India-US nuclear deal: Russia - The Hindu

China’s Xi to make first state visit to US as both flag problems | World | Saudi Gazette

China’s Xi to make first state visit to US as both flag problems | World | Saudi Gazette

Regulators decide against convention change

Regulators decide against convention change

Seventy-two countries party to the Convention on Nuclear Safety declared their intention to continuously improve in that area, while a proscriptive proposal to amend the convention did not gain consensus.
Rafael Mariano Grossi (Dean Calma / IAEA) 250x167
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Argentina's ambassador to the IAEA, acted as president of the conference (Image: Dean Calma / IAEA)
The convention dates from 1994 when countries combined to agree common interest in maintaining high standards of safety at nuclear power facilities and create a framework for national regulators to exchange information and cooperate in their work.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Regulators-reject-convention-change-1102151.html

China's Nuclear Power 'Going Global'

China's Nuclear Power 'Going Global'


http://english.anhuinews.com/system/2015/02/12/006684200.shtml

Despite safety concerns, China resuming construction of nuclear plants


Despite safety concerns, China resuming construction of nuclear plants


http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/china/AJ201502120074

No curbing climate change without nuclear power

No curbing climate change without nuclear power



http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/no-curbing-climate-change-without-nuclear-power-1.565883

What to Say and Who to Say It: A Lesson for Nuclear Advocates in Ohio

What to Say and Who to Say It: A Lesson for Nuclear Advocates in Ohio


http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2015/02/what-to-say-and-who-to-say-it-lesson.html

US Names Russian Nuclear Power Plants for India, Iran Best Projects of 2014

US Names Russian Nuclear Power Plants for India, Iran Best Projects of 2014


http://sputniknews.com/business/20150212/1018179248.html

EIA: Japan Bringing Limited Nuclear Power Back Online

EIA: Japan Bringing Limited Nuclear Power Back Online
http://www.energydigital.com/utilities/3782/EIA:-Japan-Bringing-Limited-Nuclear-Power-Back-Online

Guest View: The US without nuclear power

Guest View: The US without nuclear power

The day the U.S. is without nuclear power is a day we don’t want to see in our country’s future.

http://www.lebanondemocrat.com/opinion/column/569371

Diplomatic row with Austria over EDF nuclear power station escalates

Diplomatic row with Austria over EDF nuclear power station escalates



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/diplomatic-row-with-austria-over-edf-nuclear-power-station-escalates-10040309.html

Hinkley Point new nuclear power plant: the story so far

Hinkley Point new nuclear power plant: the story so far

As EDF Energy says a decision on building reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset is still months off, the Telegraph charts the long history of plans for the UK's first new nuclear plant in a generation.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/nuclearpower/11404344/Hinkley-Point-new-nuclear-power-plant-the-story-so-far.html

How (and Who) Will Pay for our Energy Infrastructure?

Posted: 12 Feb 2015 05:00 AM PST
You may have heard that the Federal highway trust fund is running out of money because, darn it, people aren’t using enough gasoline. The transformation of our energy system is rapidly accelerating the need to confront a long-standing problem with how we pay for our transportation and utility infrastructure.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/jamesbushnell/2193151/how-and-who-will-pay-our-energy-infrastructure

Japan Plans to Restart Some Nuclear Plants in 2015 After Fukushima Shutdown

Posted: 12 Feb 2015 08:00 AM PST
Previously one of the world's largest producers of nuclear-generated electricity, Japan has relied heavily on fossil fuels following Fukushima and subsequent shutdown of the country's nuclear fleet. In 2014, Japan's nuclear generation was zero. The government anticipates bringing online a few nuclear facilities in 2015.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/todayinenergy/2193376/japan-plans-restart-some-nuclear-plants-2015-after-fukushima-shutdown

Comparing the Costs of Renewable and Conventional Energy Sources

Posted: 12 Feb 2015 09:00 AM PST
You can’t get far in a discussion about the nation’s electric power sector without running into the question of costs. How do renewable sources, such as solar and wind, stack up against fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas? How much will it cost utilities and ratepayers to build—and operate—a new power plant?read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/energy-innovation-llc/2192586/comparing-costs-renewable-and-conventional-energy-sources

Czech Republic and Jordan agree to cooperate in nuclear power

Czech Republic and Jordan agree to cooperate in nuclear power



http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Czech-Republic-and-Jordan-agree-to-cooperate-in-nuclear-power-11021501.html

GE Hitachi forges 3rd Vietnam agreement

GE Hitachi forges 3rd Vietnam agreement


http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150211/ARTICLES/150219941/-1/news300

Entergy: No guarantee it will pay costs to close Vermont Yankee if work extends past 60 years

Entergy: No guarantee it will pay costs to close Vermont Yankee if work extends past 60 years


http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/02/11/entergy-no-guarantee-it-will-pay-costs-to-close-vermont-yankee-if-work-extends/

EROI -- A Tool To Predict The Best Energy Mix

EROI -- A Tool To Predict The Best Energy Mix


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/02/11/eroi-a-tool-to-predict-the-best-energy-mix/

ANS Conference International High Level Radioactive Waste Management

International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management
April 12-16, 2015 | Charleston Marriott | Charleston, SC
 
Sharpen Your Expertise!


4 Days of Technical Sessions including:
Repository Licensing
Storage and Transportation
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Optimization
Repository Site Selection
Biosphere . . . and more!


View the Preliminary Program & Register Today!

 
Click here to unsubscribe.
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American Nuclear Society | 555 N. Kensington Ave. | La Grange Park, IL 60526

NuScale steam generator prepares for tests

NuScale steam generator prepares for tests

A full-scale, first-of-a-kind helical coil steam generator (HCSG) for use in NuScale Power's small modular reactor (SMR) design is set to undergo performance tests in Italy.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-NuScale-steam-generator-prepares-for-tests-1102155.html

NRC Blog Update: IMPEP — Evaluating the NRC’s Radioactive Materials Program

IMPEP — Evaluating the NRC’s Radioactive Materials Program

David Spackman
Health Physicist
For the NRC and each of the 37 states that regulate radioactive materials under agreements with us, a time comes every few years when we start talking about “IMPEP.” The acronym is spoken about as frequently as the top 10 new words added to Webster’s Dictionary every year – that is to say a lot.
IMPEP may be very easy to say, but understanding its true value requires a closer look.
IMPEP stands for the Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program. Think of it like an audit. It is the NRC’s primary tool for assessing how well radioactive materials programs are agreementstatenesperforming. Every Agreement State and NRC program is evaluated under IMPEP every four to five years. A rotating team of experts from the Agreement States and the NRC do the reviews. The teams focus on specific areas of a radioactive materials program that have the potential to affect public health and safety. The reviews are very detailed, typically lasting a full week.
Once an IMPEP review team has looked at everything they need to see on-site, they document their findings. They write a report and recommend a “grade” on the program’s performance to the Management Review Board, which is comprised of senior NRC managers and a state program manager who keeps in touch with the other Agreement States. The board holds a public meeting to talk about what the team saw and assigns the overall program rating: “Satisfactory,” “Satisfactory but Needs Improvement,” or “Unsatisfactory.”
Recently it was the NRC’s turn to undergo an IMPEP review. From Dec. 8-11, a team of experts from Ohio, Tennessee, and the NRC reviewed the NRC’s Sealed Source and Device (SS&D) Evaluation Program. This program performs engineering and radiation safety evaluations of sealed radioactive sources and the devices that use them.
Sealed sources are just what the name says—radioactive sources sealed in a capsule to prevent leakage or escape of the material. The devices are used for many things, but generally they measure something, such as soil density, fluid levels, the thickness of a pipe, and whether metal and welds are sound. They can also help to map geologic formations from inside a gas or oil well. The NRC needs to do adequate technical evaluations of SS&D designs to ensure they’ll maintain their integrity and their designs are adequate to protect public health and safety.
During the four-day IMPEP review at NRC Headquarters, the team looked at the NRC program’s technical quality, staffing and training, and any defects or incidents involving SS&Ds. Most of the work was done through in-depth staff interviews and targeted document reviews. S
Since finishing the evaluation in mid-December, the team has drafted their report. They expect to recommend to the board that the NRC’s SS&D program be rated Satisfactory – the highest possible rating. Furthermore the review team commended NRC staff for performing very competent technical SS&D reviews. Although this is an excellent result so far, there is still one more important step to complete the IMPEP review process – the public meeting.
This meeting allows the review team to present its findings and formally recommend the overall program rating. While the structure of these meetings is simple, it is very common to see a spirited discussion of the strengths, weaknesses, innovations and shortcomings of the program under review.
This is where the true value of IMPEP is laid bare. If all goes right, the end result is improving a program’s ability to protect public health and safety and the environment – even if the program gets the highest rating.
The MRB’s public meeting to discuss NRC’s SS&D program will be held at NRC Headquarters in Rockville, Md., on March 5, 2015. The meeting details are available on the NRC website at http://meetings.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg. We encourage members of the public to come or listen in by phone.

Fukushima Update 2/12/15

Fukushima Update 2/12/15

The filling of contaminated equipment tunnels is further delayed… Many exclusion area homes will be torn down… It’s official - Takahama units 3&4 have passed the government’s safety review for restarts… Meanwhile, a small number of antinuclear die-hards are protesting the NRA’s decision… More info on Muon tomography at F. Daiichi.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

The Breakthrough: Senior Fellows 2015

An iconoclastic forefather of ecomodernism. A leading scholar on energy and the environment in Africa. A researcher who finds human development is “decoupling” from nature. Breakthrough is proud to announce Stewart Brand, John Asafu-Adjaye, and Iddo Wernick as Senior Fellows.

We are also proud to announce the arrival of Peter Teague to the senior leadership of Breakthrough Institute. Teague co-founded Breakthrough Institute with the two of us in 2003 while at Nathan Cummings Foundation. Teague will develop and oversee Breakthrough’s new work on universal energy access.


This is the seventh year Breakthrough has conferred Senior Fellows. Brand, Asafu-Adjaye, and Wernick join a group of 35 Senior Fellows awarded in previous years. Breakthrough Senior Fellows advise Breakthrough Institute staff, collaborate on scholarly and popular papers and reports, and attend Breakthrough Institute’s annual conference, the Breakthrough Dialogue. 

Energy access has become a high priority issue for Breakthrough and many others concerned with development and the environment. Evangelical Christians have motivated Republicans to support energy access efforts in Congress, while liberal leaders from Bono to President Obama point to electrification as a core human need. Last year, the House of Representatives passed the Electrify Africa Act, legislation to increase energy access in Africa. 

Forty years ago, and long before the current debate over a human-defined Anthropocene, Brand declared in his landmark publication Whole Earth Catalog that, “We are as gods, and might as well get good at it.” This philosophy underlies much of Brand’s varied career, from his early ideas about computers and Internet, to his praise for nuclear, to his recent work on de-extinction.  

Ghanian economist Asafu-Adjaye recently authored an important study on the economic impacts of climate change on agriculture in Africa. Concerted efforts to help Africa adapt and modernize — through agricultural intensification, irrigation, and other modern infrastructure — will be needed to keep the continent resilient and competitive.  

Decoupling resource use from the environment is a process Wernick has long studied. Due to improved yields, slowing population growth, changing consumer preferences, and growing affluence, the world has reached “peak farmland,” he recently argued.  With the land required to feed humanity at its apex, there are greater chances for land once used for agriculture to become wilderness.

Last December, Teague travelled through Rwanda and Congo visiting power plants and conducting interviews to better understand the relationship between energy access, development and conservation. “I’m excited to be joining Breakthrough in this new role, to focus on an issue I feel passionately about,” said Teague, who worked for two years in Sierra Leone as a Peace Corps volunteer. “At a young age, I saw up-close how fundamental access to modern energy is if we want people to be able to live healthy, dignified lives.”

You can read more about these remarkable individuals here: Stewart Brand, John Asafu-Adjaye, Iddo Wernick and Peter Teague.

— Michael and Ted


____________
Michael Shellenberger, President, Breakthrough Institute
436 14th St, Suite 820 :: Oakland, CA 94612

cell (best): 415-309-4200 :: office: 510.550.8800 x355 :: Skype: Shellenberger

Inside the PG&E proposal to build 25,000 EV charging stations

Inside the PG&E proposal to build 25,000 EV charging stations

California’s IOUs await regulators’ approval to get into the EV charging business


http://www.utilitydive.com/news/inside-the-pge-proposal-to-build-25000-ev-charging-stations/363553/

PwC: Power, utility sector mergers up sharply in Q4 2014

PwC: Power, utility sector mergers up sharply in Q4 2014


http://www.utilitydive.com/news/pwc-power-utility-sector-mergers-up-sharply-in-q4-2014/363590/

New Jersey regulators approve Exelon-Pepco merger

New Jersey regulators approve Exelon-Pepco merger


http://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-jersey-regulators-approve-exelon-pepco-merger/363589/

David verses Goliath: SMRs versus 1200MW plants



While nuclear still has the full backing of US policy makers, it is clear that 1200MW plants are not the future. The future is smaller, but as no SMR designs have been licensed there is uncertainty over how to identify critical short-term business development opportunities in the market for smaller reactors.

As a result, the unprecedented insight to be delivered at the 5th Annual Small Modular Reactor Summit (April 14-15) represents your very best chance to fully understand and act on the most exciting opportunities being opened this year because of SMR development.

That said, I know you will be keen to see what has prompted the senior nuclear executives of key utilities such as Exelon, PSEG, First Energy, Ameren, and Fortum to reserve their seats already.

Take a look at a snapshot of our ground-breaking program here

All of the nuclear industry’s most influential executives are already confirmed to speak, including:
  • Chief Small Modular Reactor Licensing, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Nuclear Development Manager, PSEG
  • Technical Lead for SMRs, International Atomic Energy Association
  • Deputy National Technical Director, Idaho National Lab
  • Head of Research & Development, Fortum
  • Chief Technology Officer, Terrestrial Energy
  • Executive Director-Emeritus, NGNP Alliance Ltd
  • Director Regulatory Affairs, First Energy
Attendance is already up 23% on list time last year, take a look an exclusive selection of presentation overviews here to see why!

Let me know if you have any questions, 


Kerr
Kerr Jeferies
Project Director
Nuclear Energy Insider
+44 (0) 20 7375 7565
kjeferies@nuclearenergyinsider.com