Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Monday, June 6, 2011

Top 10 stories for NEI SmartBrief

As promised, here are the 10 most-clicked NEI SmartBrief stories from the past 30 days. Feel free to share these greatest hits with your colleagues and tell them about SmartBrief.
Also, if you enjoy NEI SmartBrief , we'd appreciate you recommending it to others who might find it useful. It's FREE and open to everyone. Thanks for subscribing!
   
 
1) Editorial: German nuclear shutdown plan a mistake
Germany made a mistake in deciding to shut down its nuclear plants when the world should be reducing its carbon emissions, according to The Washington Post editorial board. "The Breakthrough Institute, a think tank, points out that renewables would have to generate an incredible 42.4 percent of the country's electricity in 2020 to displace nuclear," the board writes. Washington Post, The (06/01)
 
2) Duke Energy goes digital on South Carolina reactor
The installation of digital controls for the operating reactor and safety systems of Duke Energy's Oconee Nuclear Station will be completed within the next few weeks. Should the utility succeed in the conversion, other nuclear operators could follow suit, said David Lochbaum, director of the Nuclear Safety Project for the Union of Concerned Scientists. "There are a lot of eyes on that. If it goes well, you'll probably see many people in the queue making it happen," he added. Associated Press, The (05/30)
 
3) Mitsubishi to spend $4.1 million on North Carolina engineering center
Over the next five years, Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems plans to direct about $4.1 million to an engineering hub in Charlotte, N.C., and employ 135 engineers. "Establishing our engineering center in North Carolina is a further expansion of our U.S. operations to meet the growing needs of our U.S. utility customers for safe and efficient nuclear power-plant technology," said CEO Kiyoshi Yamauchi. American City Business Journals (05/31)
 
4) Florida nuclear projects are moving forward
Florida utilities could start building new reactors in the state in as early as 2013. Progress Energy Florida could secure all the necessary clearances for its two reactors in Levy County, Fla., by then, while Florida Power & Light could begin the expansion of its Turkey Point plant in 2014. The plants would provide reliable, clean and cost-effective power that would help expand the state's supplies, supporters say. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (05/27)
 
5) TVA chief to request completion of Alabama facility
The president and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority intends to request the utility's board to approve a proposal to finish the construction of the Bellefonte nuclear facility in Alabama. The plant is a "good asset" that needs to be completed, said Tom Kilgore. "We're going to refurbish every single valve and make this a state-of-the-art plant. We submitted a plan to the [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] earlier this year," he said. Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tenn.) (06/03)
 
6) Cooling system at Fukushima Daiichi reactor back online
The cooling system of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's Unit 5 reactor has been restored, according to Tokyo Electric Power, the facility's operator. The system could now help bring down temperatures at the fuel pool and the reactor, TEPCO said. RIA Novosti (Russia) (05/29)
 
7) NRC clears Exelon's waste plan for Pennsylvania nuclear plant
Exelon Nuclear can transfer low-level radioactive waste from its Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County, Pa., to its Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in York County, Pa., according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. "We did a very thorough evaluation," NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said. "We were satisfied that it could be safely carried out." York Daily Record (Pa.) (06/01)
 
8) TEPCO: Fukushima Daiichi not ready for a typhoon
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant isn't completely prepared to handle strong winds and rain from a typhoon that is expected to hit Japan this week, Tokyo Electric Power officials said. Some reactor buildings were exposed, TEPCO said. "We apologize for the lack of significant measures against wind and rain," a TEPCO official said. BBC (05/28)
 
9) Nuclear energy is too important to ignore
Germany's decision to shut down its nuclear plants by 2022 should not be echoed by other countries, the Financial Times said in an editorial. "Nuclear power has an important role to play in the world's energy mix. It is clean, which is important as the world seeks to reduce its carbon emissions. It is steadier than renewable energies such as solar, wind and wave power, which also require a more sophisticated and expensive power grid," the editorial said. Financial Times (tiered subscription model) (06/02)
 
10) TEPCO reports oil spill, small explosion at damaged nuclear plant
Tokyo Electric Power reported a small explosion and an oil spill at its stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Tuesday. The oil spill was found in the sea close to the plant's Unit 5 and 6 reactors. The blast from the Unit 4 reactor could have come from a gas tank and did not lead to further radiation leaks, said Taichi Okazaki, a spokesman for TEPCO. FuelFix.com (05/31)

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