Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, July 18, 2015

The Middle East, Syria, Iraq: Implications of the Iran Nuclear Deal


The Iran nuclear deal will cause no qualitative change in the dynamics of the Middle East regional crisis. The change expected will be quantitative in nature. The wars in the region will intensify, the warring parties will become even more ...View full schedule.http://mebriefing.com/?p=1808&utm_source=MEB+VOL+-+II_+Issue+86_July+18th+2015&utm_campaign=VOL+II+-+Issue+86&utm_medium=email

Friends say seven-month Middle East tour 'changed' Chattanooga terrorist as it's revealed he lost his job as a nuclear engineer for failing a background security check


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3166049/Marine-murderer-fired-FirstEnergy-Corp-nuclear-engineer-just-10-days.html

AIPAC and Its “Better” Iran Deal

http://www.lobelog.com/aipac-and-its-better-iran-deal/#more-30133

AIPAC and Its “Better” Iran Deal

by Ali Gharib
Well, it’s finally upon us. The nation’s most influential Israel lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is declaring war on the Iran nuclear deal, a signature achievement of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy. AIPAC has at long last come out directly against the deal, urging Congress to vote against it in order to scuttle the accord. (According to a recently passed law, if Obama cannot sustain a promised veto against a resolution of disapproval in either chamber, he will be barred from issuing the sanctions relief central to a deal.)
I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to go check out their objections for yourself—except to note briefly that I think their goals for talks were, from the get-go, unattainable, and remain so. I mention this because what I do want to discuss is what AIPAC wants to happen next. As I said, they hope Congress will scuttle the current deal. Here’s how their press release concludes: http://www.lobelog.com/aipac-and-its-better-iran-deal/#more-30133

ANs Update: Friday Nuclear Matinee – Nuclear Plant Safety Systems

Updates from ANS Nuclear Cafe Blog
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Friday Nuclear Matinee – Nuclear Plant Safety Systems

By Will Davis on Jul 17, 2015 01:05 pm

This week’s ANS Nuclear Cafe Friday Matinee features a video from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commmission on safety systems used in CANDU reactors. Click here to watch the video!
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Friday Nuclear Matinee – Argonne Nuclear Pioneers: Chicago Pile 1

By ansnuclearcafe on Jul 17, 2015 01:04 pm

This week’s feature is a six and a half minute video from Argonne National Laboratory. “On December 2, 1942, 49 scientists, led by Enrico Fermi, made history when Chicago Pile Continue Reading →
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Obama’s Leap of Faith on Iran

Obama’s Leap of Faith on Iran

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/15/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-deal-us.html

The Nuclear Physicist Answering Lawmakers’ Questions on Iran Deal


The Nuclear Physicist Answering Lawmakers’ Questions on Iran Deal

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, a former MIT professor, lauded in Congress as Obama administration’s most credible source of information on accord


http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-nuclear-physicist-answering-lawmakers-questions-on-iran-deal-1437084084

Iran's Nuclear Energy Rap Video Sing along: "An armed Persian Gulf is our absolute right."

Iran's Nuclear Energy Rap Video

Sing along: "An armed Persian Gulf is our absolute right."



https://reason.com/blog/2015/07/18/irans-nuclear-energy-rap-video

Friday, July 17, 2015

A Nuclear Deal with Chinese Characteristics: China’s Role in the P5+1 Talks with Iran By Emma Scott

A Nuclear Deal with Chinese Characteristics: China’s Role in the P5+1 Talks with Iran  
By Emma Scott
Beijing welcomed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed on July 14 between the members of the P5+1 group (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia plus Germany) and Iran. As a new phase in Iran’s interaction with the world is about to begin, it is worthwhile considering the role China played in its nuclear development and the possible directions of China-Iran relations.

Guest Post by Uri Avnery: The Treaty


July 18, 2015

                                                The Treaty

AND WHAT if the whole drama was only an exercise of deception?

What if the wily Persians did not even dream of building an atomic bomb, but used the threat to further their real aims?

What if Binyamin Netanyahu was duped to become unwittingly the main collaborator of Iranian ambitions?

Sounds crazy? Not really. Let's have a look at the facts.


IRAN IS one of the oldest powers in the world, with thousands of years of political experience. Once they possessed an empire that spanned the civilized world, including our little country. Their reputation for clever trade practices is unequaled.

They are much too clever to build a nuclear weapon. What for? It would devour huge amounts of money. They know that they would never be able to use it. Same as Israel, with its large stockpile.

Netanyahu's nightmare of an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel is just that – a nightmare (or daymare) of an ignorant dilettante. Israel is a nuclear power with a solid second-strike capability. As we see, the Iranian leaders are hard-boiled realists. Would they even dream of inviting an inevitable Israeli retaliation that would wipe from the face of the earth their three-millennia-old civilization?

(If this capability is defective, Netanyahu should be charged and convicted for criminal negligence.)

Even if the Iranians did deceive the whole world and build a nuclear bomb, nothing would happen except the creation of a "balance of terror", such as saved the world at the height of the cold war between America and Russia.  

The people around Netanyahu pretend to believe that, unlike the then Soviets, the Iranian mullahs are crazy people. There is absolutely no evidence for that. Since their 1979 revolution, the Iranian leadership has not made one single important step that was not absolutely rational. Compared to American missteps in the region (not to mention the Israeli ones), the Iranian leadership has been thoroughly logical.

So perhaps they traded their nonexistent nuclear designs for their very real political design: to become the hegemon of the Muslim world.

If so, they owe a lot to Netanyahu.


WHAT HAS the Islamic Republic ever done in its 45 years of existence to harm Israel?

Sure. Tehran crowds can be seen on television burning Israeli flags and shouting "Death to Israel". They call us, not flatteringly, "the Little Satan", as compared to the American "Great Satan".

Terrible. But what else?

Not much. Perhaps some support for Hezbollah and Hamas, which were not their creation. Iran's real fight is against the powers that be in the Muslim world. They want to turn the region's countries into Iranian vassals, as they were 2400 years ago.

This has very little to do with Islam. Iran uses Islam as Israel uses Zionism and the Jewish Diaspora (and as Russia in the past used communism) as a tool for its imperial ambitions.

What is happening now in this region resembles the "religious wars" in 17th century Europe. A dozen countries fought each other in the name of religion, under the flags of Catholicism and Protestantism, but in reality using religion to further their very earthly imperial designs.

The US, led by a bunch of neocon fools, destroyed Iraq, which for many centuries had served as the bulwark of the Arab world against Iranian expansion. Now, under the banner of the Shia, Iran is expanding its power all over the Region.

Shiite Iraq is now to a large extent an Iranian vassal (we'll come back to Daesh). The leaders of Syria, a Sunni country ruled by a small semi-Shiite sect, depend on Iran for their survival. In Lebanon, the Shiite Hezbollah is a close ally with growing power and prestige. So is Hamas in Gaza, which is entirely Sunni. And the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are Zaidis (a school of the Shia.)

The status quo in the Arab world is defended by a corrupt bunch of dictators and medieval sheiks, such as the rulers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Gulf oil potentates.

Clearly, Iran and its allies are the wave of the future, Saudi Arabia and its allies belong to the past.

That leaves Daesh, the Sunni "Islamic State" in Syria and Iraq. That is also a rising power. Unlike Iran, whose revolutionary élan long ago exhausted itself, Daesh is radiating revolutionary fervor, attracting adherents from all over the world.

Daesh is the real enemy of Iran – and of Israel.          


PRESIDENT OBAMA and his advisors realized this some time ago. Their new alliance with Iran is partly based on this reality.

With the advent of Daesh, realities on the ground have changed completely. The shift reaffirms the old British maxim that one's enemies in one war can well become one's allies in the next, and vice versa. Far from being naïve, Obama is building an alliance against the new and very dangerous enemy. This alliance should logically include Bashar Assad's Syria, but Obama is still afraid of saying so aloud.

Obama and his advisors also believe that with the lifting of the crippling sanctions, Iranians will concentrate on making money, lessening their nationalist and religious fervor even more. That sounds reasonable enough.

(Netanyahu thinks the American people are "naïve".  Well, for a naïve nation the US has done quite well in becoming the world's only super-power.)

One by-product of the situation is that Israel is again at loggerheads with the entire political world. The Vienna treaty was signed not just by the US, but by all leading world powers. This seems to create the situation described by a jolly popular Israeli song: "The whole world is against us / But we don't give a damn…"

Unfortunately, unlike Obama, Netanyahu is stuck in the past. He continues demonizing Iran, instead of joining it in the fight against Daesh, which is far, far more dangerous to Israel.

One does not have to go back to Cyrus the Great (6th century B.C.) to realize that Iran can be a close ally. In the relations between nations, geography trumps religion. Not so long ago, Iran was Israel's closest ally in the region. We even sent Khomeini arms to fight Iraq. The Mullahs hate Israel not so much because of their religion, but because of our alliance with the Shah.

The present Iranian regime has long since lost its revolutionary religious fervor. It is acting according to its national interests. Geography still counts. A wise Israeli government would use the next ten-or-more years of a guaranteed nuclear-free Iran in order to renew the alliance – especially against Daesh.

This could mean new relations with Assad's Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas too.


BUT SUCH far-reaching considerations are far from the mind of Netanyahu, the son of a historian, who is devoid of any historical knowledge or intuition.

The fight is now going to Washington DC, where Netanyahu will be fully committed as a mercenary of Sheldon Adelson, the owner of the Republican Party.

It is a sorry sight: the State of Israel, which has always enjoyed the full unblinking support of both American parties, has become an appendix of the reactionary Republican leadership.

One victim of this is the legend of the "invincible" pro-Israeli lobby. This crucial asset has now been lost. From now on, AIPAC will be just one of the many lobbies on Capitol Hill.


AN EVEN sorrier sight is Israel's political and media elite on the morrow of the signing of the Vienna treaty. It was almost incredible.

Almost all political parties fell in line with Netanyahu's policy, competing with each other in their demonstrations of abject loyalty. From the "leader of the opposition", the pitiful Yitzhak Herzog, to the voluble Yair Lapid, everybody rushed to support the  Prime Minister at this crucial hour.

The media were even worse. Almost all prominent commentators, left and right, ran amok against the 'disastrous" treaty and heaped their uniform disgust and contempt on poor Obama, as if reading from a prepared government "list of arguments" (as indeed they were).

Not the finest hour of Israeli democracy and the much lauded "Jewish brain". Just a despicable example of all-too-common brain-washing. Some would call it presstitution.     

One of Netanyahu's arguments is that the Iranians can and will cheat the naive Americans and build the bomb. He is sure that this is possible. Well, he should know. We did it, didn't we?

Europe Divided Along Former Iron Curtain Over Nuclear Power - ABC News

Europe Divided Along Former Iron Curtain Over Nuclear Power - ABC News

Second regulatory issue raised with UK ABWR

Second regulatory issue raised with UK ABWR

Nuclear Liability Ruling Undermines Price-Anderson - Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Liability Ruling Undermines Price-Anderson - Nuclear Energy Institute

Soapbox: Nuclear reactor could be answer to desalination | The Sacramento Bee

Soapbox: Nuclear reactor could be answer to desalination | The Sacramento Bee

No more nukes? How about another 80 years of them

No more nukes? How about another 80 years of them

How China hopes to solve nuclear waste issue with hybrid fusion-fission reactor at top secret facility | South China Morning Post

How China hopes to solve nuclear waste issue with hybrid fusion-fission reactor at top secret facility | South China Morning Post

First U.S. small modular reactor inches ahead | EnergyBiz

First U.S. small modular reactor inches ahead | EnergyBiz

Vermont Wants To Assume Regulation Of Certain Nuclear Materials | Vermont Public Radio

Vermont Wants To Assume Regulation Of Certain Nuclear Materials | Vermont Public Radio

John McLaughlin: The Iran Deal | POV | OZY

John McLaughlin: The Iran Deal | POV | OZY

Nuclear deal: Saudis signal they'll act before Iran gets the money - CSMonitor.com

Nuclear deal: Saudis signal they'll act before Iran gets the money - CSMonitor.com

President Obama’s Nuclear Surrender | The American Spectator

President Obama’s Nuclear Surrender | The American Spectator

Russian FM Lavrov Praises US 'Indisputable' Contribution to Iran Nuke Deal / Sputnik International

Russian FM Lavrov Praises US 'Indisputable' Contribution to Iran Nuke Deal / Sputnik International

Iran Nuclear Deal -- Obama’s Folly Locked In | National Review Online

Iran Nuclear Deal -- Obama’s Folly Locked In | National Review Online

Russian nuclear project in Finland stalls over Croatia investor | Reuters

Russian nuclear project in Finland stalls over Croatia investor | Reuters

Russia can fund SA’s nuclear plan


Russia can fund SA’s nuclear plan


http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/russia-can-fund-sa-s-nuclear-plan-1.1886648#.VamAd_nlxbI

Does Nuclear Agreement Strengthen Iran’s Drive To Be A Regional Power?


Does Nuclear Agreement Strengthen Iran’s Drive To Be A Regional Power?



http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/07/15/does-nuclear-agreement-strengthen-iran-s-drive-to-be-regional-power/idf6

Nuclear Extortion: Pioneered by North Korea, Perfected by Iran

Nuclear Extortion: Pioneered by North Korea, Perfected by Iran


http://canadafreepress.com/article/73813

Chattanooga gunman Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez lived, worked in Northeast Ohio

Read this carefully

Chattanooga gunman Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez lived, worked in Northeast Ohio


http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/chattanooga-gunman-mohammad-youssef-abdulazeez-may-have-ties-to-northeast-ohio

Why This Man Supports Iran Deal — Despite Bibi's Bluster

Why This Man Supports Iran Deal — Despite Bibi's Bluster

J.J. Goldberg

July 16, 2015
“There is no ideal world, and there are no ideal agreements,” says Ami Ayalon, a former director of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service. “And let me add that there is no ideal Middle East.”http://forward.com/opinion/312158/this-man-explains-why-iran-deal-is-good-for-israel/

Nugen's AP1000 nuclear reactor - is it any better than the EPR?

Nugen's AP1000 nuclear reactor - is it any better than the EPR?


http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/Blogs/2952108/moorsides_ap1000_nuclear_design_is_any_better_than_the_epr.html

The GOP's Iran Dilemma

The GOP's Iran DilemmaBy Patrick J. Buchanan
Netanyahu and AIPAC, the Saudis and Gulf Arabs, will demand that Congress kill the Iran deal that Lindsey Graham says is a "death sentence for the State of Israel." -http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article42397.htm

White House taps fifth regulator for Nuclear Regulatory Commission

White House taps fifth regulator for Nuclear Regulatory Commission



http://www.utilitydive.com/news/white-house-taps-fifth-regulator-for-nuclear-regulatory-commission/402455/

PennEnergy Power Perspectives and Top Power Headlines


Survey Report: Digital Transformation to Advance Utility Customer Service

To better understand how utilities are managing shifts toward consumer expectations for next generation customer service, Cognizant partnered with PennEnergy Research to ask utility organizations how current and emerging technologies are influencing their customer experience processes and efforts to engage Millenials as an increasingly important demographic. For this survey utilities were asked to share insights about their customer service processes in relation to key technologies and trends, such as social media, big data, customer self-service, and demographics focused initiatives. Download the survey now to view the responses!
Top Power Headlines

Study shows Northeast states benefit from power plant carbon cap program

$subtitles.get($x) Amid complaints that planned federal rules to cut carbon emissions will hurt the economy, a new study says the northeastern states that already have moved in that direction are seeing economic benefits. … Continue Reading
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Natural gas surpasses coal as biggest US electric power generation source

$subtitles.get($x) Natural gas overtook coal as the top source of U.S. electric power generation for the first time ever earlier this year, a milestone that has been in the making for years as the price of gas slides and new regulations make coal more risky for power generators. … Continue Reading
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Top Power News

NYC mayor wants to power government with renewable energy

Alpha coal company announces 292 layoffs in Virginia and Kentucky

AREVA awarded contract for nuclear energy site decommissioning

Prysmian announces subsea power transmission link between Norway and the UK

55-turbine wind power farm to be built in South Dakota

Alstom signs contracts to supply equipment to Belo Monte hydroelectric power complex

California’s first solar power desalination plant to bring freshwater to central valley

Strathy North wind power farm generates first power

Panel hears conflicting safety assessments for Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant

Eos Energy Storage announces management growth to meet demand for advanced grid-scale batteries

Solar power portfolio added to North Carolina solar project

Russian power plant saving millions of gallons of water with GE corrosion inhibitor

US South getting its first big wind power farm soon

PennEnergy Blogs & OpEds

All Energy, All the Time: IT Professionals Can Make It Big in Energy

As the role of tech and data evolves within electric power and oil and gas operations, opportunities abound for IT professionals in the energy sectors. … Continue Reading
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The Radwaste Summit September 8-11, Summerlin, Nevada



New and Improved Sessions in 2015!
This September, hundreds of radioactive waste management professionals from the commercial and federal sectors will converge on the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Summerlin, NV to attend the 2015 RadWaste Summit.
We’ve added new and improved sessions and highlighted a session below that we are very excited to announce.
  • Industry Perspective on DOE's New Approaches for Nuclear Waste Management
  • Consent-Based Siting for Interim Storage Panel
  • Storage and Transportation of Nuclear Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste
  • WIPP Restart and Long-term Outlook: States Perspective
  • WIPP Restart and Long-term Outlook: DOE Perspective
  • Los Alamos Update
  • DOE Defense Waste Opportunities and Challenges
  • Status of Domestic Decommissioning Market Today
  • Domestic Moly-99 Production
Session highlight:
Thursday, September 10, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.: Roundtable
Looming Low-Level Waste Issues/Challenges in the Federal and Commercial Sectors
Moderator: John Greeves, President, JTG Consulting
Speakers:
Greg Suber, Branch Chief, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Dan Shrum, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Rick Jacobi, Consultant, Jacobi Consulting
Scott Kirk, Vice President, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Waste Control Specialists
Register now to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from and make connections with over 300 colleagues and more than 40 confirmed speakers. If you prefer to register by phone, please call 1-888-707-5814.

Fukushima Update 7/16/15

 
 
 
 
Fukushima Update 7/16/15
 
Leslie Corrice
 
Leslie Corrice
Independent Renewables & Environment Professional
 
 
Removal of the unit #1 enclosure roof at F. Daiichi will begin later this month… The IAEA has...
 
 
Fukushima Accident Updates (Blog)
 
Fukushima Accident Updates (Blog)
Fukushima News. Summaries of the news from the Japanese Press which admits it is 94% antinuclear. The Press calls the Fukushima accident a nuclear disaster.http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html