Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, December 1, 2012

The Oil Boom Will Only Last a Decade - Then What?

The Oil Boom Will Only Last a Decade - Then What?

Oil is fundamentally a depletable resource – once a barrel is extracted from the ground and burned, it is gone. Nevertheless, world oil production has continued to increase steadily for the last century and a half. Most economists attribute this to technological progress. Each year our methods for finding oil become more sophisticated, and our extraction methods more efficient. Unquestionably this progress has been quite remarkable, with oil now being produced by wells that begin a mile below the surface of the sea and proceed for several…Read more...http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/The-Oil-Boom-Will-Only-Last-a-Decade-Then-What.html

Nuclear Companies Hope Small Is Beautiful

Nuclear Companies Hope Small Is Beautiful

You can design a reactor in a hundred ways. It is like the French cheese dilemma; because there are some 500 cheeses in France, who is to say which are the best?In the world of cheese, the decision has been made by those who have most successfully brought their cheeses to market; hence the domination by Brie, Camembert, and Roquefort.So it has been with nuclear reactors.The man who made the market decisions was the late Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, the crusty father of the nuclear navy. An autocratic visionary, Rickover feared that if too many reactor…Read more...http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Nuclear-Companies-Hope-Small-Is-Beautiful.html

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Portal (blog) - ‎Nov 30, 2012‎
A bumped valve accidentally increased the amount of water injected into unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi this week, while Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced its response center will be used as a formal reconstruction headquarters. Recent developments at the ...http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2012/11/30/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-weekly-review-113002.aspx

France love affair with nuclear cools


France love affair with nuclear cools
Power Engineering Magazine
Karachi, Dec. 1 -- For decades, the elite engineers turned out by Paris's grand Corps des Mines academy were faithful followers of the pro-atomic creed that transformed their country into the most nuclear-reliant nation in the world. But a new ...http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/11/30/france-love-affair-with-nuclear-cools.html

New View from Inside Dukushima: Chaos and Uncertainty


New View from Inside Fukushima: Chaos and Uncertainty
New York Times (blog)
Even in the early days of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March of last year, as the reactors spiraled out of control, the terse statements issued by the operator felt like an exercise in denial. Radiation readings were ...http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/new-view-from-inside-fukushima-chaos-and-uncertainty/

New N-crisis video made available

The Daily Yomiuri -
Tokyo Electric Power Co. has unveiled more footage of videoconferences held during the critical early phase of the nuclear crisis at the company's Fukushima No. 1 power plant, which was stricken by the March 2011 disaster. The 336 hours of new footage ...http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T121201003241.htm


Fukushima worst confirmed, radiated children need evacuationhttp://www.examiner.com/article/fukushima-worst-confirmed-radiated-children-need-evacuation

 

Govt plans to sell 10% Nuclear Power Corp of India LTD


Govt plans to sell 10% Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd's stake through ...
Times of India
NEW DELHI: The government plans to sell 10 per cent of its stake in Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) through an initial public offering ( IPO) that will list the company on the stock exchanges. At book value, the sale will fetch the ...http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Govt-plans-to-sell-10-Nuclear-Power-Corporation-of-India-Ltds-stake-through-initial-public-offering/articleshow/17436830.cms

China's nuclear power capacity to hit 42GW by 2015


China's nuclear power capacity to hit 42 GW by 2015
Power Engineering Magazine
Installed capacity of nuclear power plants in China will reach 42 giga Watts (GW) by 2015, accounting for around 10 per cent of the global capacity, China Nuclear Energy Association chairman Zhang Huazhu said yesterday. While speaking at a seminar on ...http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/11/30/china-s-nuclear-power-capacity-to-hit-42-gw-by-2015.html

Darlington power plant refit re-ignites nuclear debate

Darlington power plant refit re-ignites nuclear debate
Toronto Star
Starting Monday at a church in Courtice, near Oshawa, Ontario Power Generation will make the case for performing a multi-billion-dollar mid-life refit of its Darlington nuclear generating station. And the hearings by the Canadian Nuclear Safety ...http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1295815--darlington-power-plant-refit-re-ignites-nuclear-debate

Browns Ferry Nuclear plant's safety eyed

Browns Ferry Nuclear plant's safety eyedhttp://www.wrcbtv.com/story/20234721/browns-ferry-nuclear-plants-safety-eyed

Vt. regulators: No indulgence for nuclear plant


Vt. regulators: No indulgence for nuclear planthttp://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Vt-regulators-No-indulgence-for-nuclear-plant-4082027.php

Scientific American: ‘Loss of Ice, Melting Of Permafrost And Other Climate Effects Are Occurring At An Alarming Pace’

Scientific American: ‘Loss of Ice, Melting Of Permafrost And Other Climate Effects Are Occurring At An Alarming Pace’

US East Coast Hit By Historic Sea Level Rise

US East Coast Hit By Historic Sea Level Rise

Hurricane Sandy and a series of noreasters have combined with an apparently unprecedented one year jump in sea level to cause a wave of destruction on the U.S. east coast.http://theenergycollective.com/asiegel/150361/us-east-coast-hit-sea-level-rise-jump?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Massive solar flare could have caused eighth century radiation burst

Massive solar flare could have caused eighth century radiation bursthttp://blogs.nature.com/news/2012/11/mysterious-radiation-spike-could-have-been-solar-super-storm.html

Levelling the playing field of grid cost

Levelling the playing field of grid cost

The widely differing costs of supplying electricity from different generating options to the grid must play a part in future energy decisions, and must be internalised for each low-carbon generation option, according to a new report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).http://energyandnuclear.com/2012/11/30/levelling-the-playing-field-of-grid-cost/

Nuclear News Round Up (23rd Nov – 30th Nov 2012)

Nuclear News Round Up (23rd Nov – 30th Nov 2012)


23 November, 2012
24 November, 2012
25 November, 2012
26 November, 2012
27 November, 2012
29 November, 2012
30 November, 2012

The Buzz This Week about Rising Sea Levels

The Buzz This Week about Rising Sea Levels

Those attentive to science news developments--and many members of the general public--will have heard mention this week of rising sea levels. The main reason was publication yesterday by Science magazine of two major research articles, along with a news summary and commentary. The one getting most of the attention is from a team led by Andrew Shepherd of Leeds University in the UK and is called "A Reconciled Estimate of Ice-Sheet Mass Balance." A second article, by Ian Joughin and colleagues delves into the dynamics of how the great Greenland and Antarctic sheets melt and disintegrate as warm waters intrude.http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/environment/the-buzz-this-week-about-rising-sea-levels?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IeeeSpectrumEnergywiseBlog+%28Energywise+-+IEEE+Spectrum%29

Megastorms Could Drown Massive Portions of California

Megastorms Could Drown Massive Portions of California

Huge flows of vapor in the atmosphere, dubbed "atmospheric rivers," have unleashed massive floods every 200 years, and climate change could bring more of themhttp://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=megastorms-could-down-massive-portions-of-california

Latest F. Daiichi unit #4 pictures

Here's the link to the latest Fukushima Daiichi unit #4 building's pictures...inside and outside. For a structure that many antinuclear pundits call "teetering" and in danger of "collapse", it looks to be quite the opposite.

SEAB Subcommittee on SMRs report

Read the SEAB Subcommittee on SMRs report

here’s the pertinent links:
Report from SEAB Subcommittee on SMRs
The subcommittee’s original marching orders
The DOE’s web site on SMRs

What’s Next for Small Modular Reactors in the United States?

What’s Next for Small Modular Reactors in the United States?http://ixpower.com/tag/u-s-doe-assistance-for-smrs/?goback=.gde_3694212_member_190742327

Energy Storage Update 12/01


Joint Center for Energy Storage Research could make Chicago area hub for ...
ABC7Chicago.com
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu joined Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Emanuel to announce a team led by Argonne National Laboratory has been selected for an award of up to $120 million over five years to establish a new batteries and energy storage ...http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8904415

ABC7Chicago.com
Energy secretary makes PNNL part of new energy storage research hub
Mid Columbia Tri City Herald
Richland — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will be part of the nation's new Joint Center for Energy Storage Research that will conduct $120 million in research over the next five years, the Department of Energy announced today. Energy Secretary ...http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/11/30/2188274/energy-secretary-makes-pnnl-part.html
Flux Power Adds Key Functionality to its Advanced Energy Storage Systems to ...
Sacramento Bee
ESCONDIDO, Calif., Nov. 30, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Flux Power® Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: FLUX), a fully reporting company and an innovator in durable, scalable, and affordable advanced energy storage systems, today announced that they have enhanced ...http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5020875/flux-power-adds-key-functionality.html
Harvard engineers to develop flow battery for renewable energy storage
Knovel
Electrical grid operators who come under pressure from renewable energy operators to integrate their product into the system normally have a devastating riposte up their sleeves. It's not that they don't want to use wind or solar power, but the problem ...http://why.knovel.com/all-engineering-news/2084-harvard-engineers-to-develop-flow-battery-for-renewable-energy-storage.html
Purdue moving forward on thermal storage project
Journal and Courier
Purdue University officials are moving forward with plans for a thermal energy storage tank — but not in its original intended location. Last October, officials proposed a 5 million gallon, $16.8 million thermal energy storage tank to be located on ...http://www.jconline.com/article/20121130/NEWS050101/311300040/purdue-energy-tank?nclick_check=1
National battery research coming to Holland; $125 million in funding
HollandSentinel.com
The Holland area will be home to part of a major federally-funded research project aimed at improving advanced energy storage technology, building on the area's identity as a major player in the emerging field. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said in a conference ...http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1107416802/National-battery-research-coming-to-Holland-125-million-in-funding
Exide and Maxwell form alliance for ultracapacitor energy storage solutions
Equities.com
Nov 30, 2012 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- Exide Technologies, a provider of stored electrical energy solutions, and Maxwell Technologies, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of ultracapacitor products, have announced the formation of a strategic alliance ...http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-11-30&val=776792&cat=industrial
Fuel cell test lab renamed Hawaii Sustainable Energy Research Facility
Bizjournals.com (blog)
Energy storage has the potential to add more renewable energy and lower system costs, Scott Seu, vice president for energy resources at Hawaiian Electric, a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (NYSE: HE), said in a statement. The HiSERF ...http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2012/11/fuel-cell-test-lab-renamed-hawaii.html
Flow cells could provide cheaper green energy storage
The Engineer
'We think our particular approach could have advantages over other flow batteries, such as higher power density, high efficiency, inexpensive chemicals, and a safer type of energy storage,' Aziz said in a statement. This, he said, could make it ...http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/flow-cells-could-provide-cheaper-green-energy-storage/1014804.article

The Engineer
Argonne lab near Chicago chosen for battery research lab
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Advancements in energy storage are needed to help reduce reliance on imported oil and help integrate intermittent sources of electricity such as wind and solar into the power grid, according to the Energy Department. "This is a partnership between ...http://www.jsonline.com/business/argonne-lab-near-chicago-chosen-for-battery-research-lab-vt7rrqm-181554281.html

SLAC Joins Partnership to Develop Energy Storage R&D Hub
SLAC and Stanford are part of a team led by Argonne National Laboratory that will receive $120 million from the DOE to establish a new Batteries and Energy ...
www.slac.stanford.edu/news/2012-11-30-jcesr.aspx
Ofgem Gives £13.2m To Energy Storage Project | Energy Storage ...
Energy watchdog Ofgem has awarded a fund worth £13.2 million to a four-year long energy storage project. The cash from the regulator's Low Carbon Networks ...
www.energystorageforum.com/.../ofgem-energy-storage-proje...
Energy storage - EPSRC
Energy storage. As we move towards 2050, the use of low carbon energy generation is likely to increase as part of efforts to meet the UK Government's targets to ...
www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/students/centres/.../enenst.aspx
Hybrid Energy Storage Module (HESM) - Federal Business ...
Hybrid Energy Storage Module (HESM). Solicitation Number: 13-SN-0007. Agency: Department of the Navy Office: Office of Naval Research Location: ONR ...
https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode...id...
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Edison lays out case to restart San Onofre to nuclear agency

Edison lays out case to restart San Onofre to nuclear agency

Chicago Tribune - ‎7 hours ago‎
LAGUNA HILLS, California (Reuters) - Southern California Edison officials faced tough questions from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday at a packed public meeting during which the utility laid out its case to restart the damaged San Onofre ...https://news.google.com/news/story?ncl=http://www.wral.com/possible-generator-tampering-found-at-san-onofre/11829699/&hl=en&geo=us

US regulators grill Edison on bid to restart part of San Onofre

Los Angeles Times -
Federal regulators grilled Southern California Edison publicly for the first time Friday on its proposal to restart part of the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant. San Onofre has been out of service for 10 months because of unusual wear on steam generator ...http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1201-san-onofre-20121201,0,4585080.story

NUCLEAR PLANT OPERATOR MAKES CASE FOR RESTART

U-T San Diego - ‎3 hours ago‎
The operator of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station presented its case Friday for restarting one of two reactors that have been sidelined since January because of damage to steam generator tubing that serves as a crucial barrier to radiation. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/01/tp-nuclear-plant-operator-makes-case-for-restart/
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Sabotage suspect in San Onofre nuclear plant investigation


Sabotage suspected in San Onofre nuclear plant investigation
Power Engineering Magazine
An investigation into possible sabotage by an employee is underway at Southern California Edison's (NASDAQ: SCE) 2,200 MW San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) after engine coolant was found to have been poured in the oil reservoir of a ...http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2012/11/sabotage-suspected-in-san-onofre-nuclear-plant-investigation.html

Possible generator tampering found at San Onofre nuclear power plant

10News -
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Regular Photo Size. Posted: 11/30/2012. Last Updated: 3 hours ago. LOS ANGELES - Operators of the San Onofre nuclear power ...

California Nuclear Plant Operator Warns of 'Potential Tampering' With Safety ...

NASDAQ -
The operator of California's troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant has notified federal regulators about "potential tampering" with safety equipment at the plant. Southern California Edison, a unit of Edison International (EIX), said Friday that employees at ...

Sabotage Suspected at San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant – But Edison Moves ...

OB Rag -
November 30, 2012 (San Diego)—Southern California Edison has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of possible sabotage at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating facility, after finding coolant poured in the oil reservoir of an emergency backup ...

Friday, November 30, 2012

Theft Is Not the Only Threat Militants Pose to Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons

Theft Is Not the Only Threat Militants Pose to Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons

Cold Fusion and the Energy Crisis: to be or not to be?

Cold Fusion and the Energy Crisis: to be or not to be?

The search for a solution to the energy crisis today remind us of the famous phrase in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: To be, or not to be: that is the question. The answer to this question today with respect to cold fusion is not simple.http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/11/30/cold-fusion-and-the-energy-crisis-to-be-or-not-to-be/

GAO Report Released: Electricity: Significant Changes Are Expected in Coal-Fueled Generation, but Coal is Likely to Remain a Key Fuel Source

GAO Report Released: Electricity: Significant Changes Are Expected in Coal-Fueled Generation, but Coal is Likely to Remain a Key Fuel Source

Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, titled Electricity: Significant Changes Are Expected in Coal-Fueled Generation, but Coal is Likely to Remain a Key Fuel Source GAO-13-72 (Oct. 29, 2012). The details of the 54-page report, available here, are discussed below:

Why GAO Did This Study

Coal is a key domestic fuel source and an important contributor to the U.S. economy. Most coal produced in the United States is used to generate electricity. In 2011, 1,387 coal-fueled electricity generating units produced about 42 percent of the nation's electricity. After decades of growth, U.S. coal production and consumption have fallen, primarily due to declines in the use of coal to generate electricity.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), using coal to generate electricity is associated with health and environmental concerns such as emissions of sulfur dioxide, a pollutant linked to respiratory illnesses, and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change. In response to recent environmental regulations and changing market conditions, such as the recent decrease in the price of natural gas, power companies may retire some units, which could affect the coal fleet's generating capacity--the ability to generate electricity--and the amount of electricity generated from coal. Power companies may also retrofit some units by installing controls to reduce pollutants.
GAO was asked to examine (1) how the fleet of coal-fueled electricity generating units may change in the future in terms of its generating capacity and other aspects and (2) the future use of coal to generate electricity in the United States and key factors that could affect it. GAO conducted a statistical analysis of plans for retiring coal-fueled units, interviewed stakeholders, and reviewed information on industry plans and long-term forecasts by EIA and others. GAO is not making any recommendations in this report.

Reactor Operators: What it Takes To Do This Important Job

Reactor Operators: What it Takes To Do This Important Job

At first glance, the list seems surprising: Among professions that can earn $100,000 a year without a college degree are massage therapists, personal trainers, executive pastry chefs and nuclear reactor operators.
The list from PayScale.com has been touted in several NBC News reports. These reports stressed that all of the professions required extensive training and certification as well as years of experience before anyone could expect a six-figure salary. But what does that mean specifically for reactor operators?
The NRC issues two types of licenses to control room personnel qualified to operate a commercial nuclear power plant facility – i.e., the nuclear reactor. These are reactor operators (ROs), responsible for manipulating the controls of nuclear reactors, and senior reactor operators (SROs), who direct the licensed activities of ROs. Applicants for an RO license must have at least three years of power plant experience, including at least six months at the plant where they are currently employed (and seek a license) and at least six months as a non-licensed operator. SRO applicants also must have at least 18 months experience as a qualified non-licensed operator or as a plant staff engineer or manager involved in the daily activities associated with operating a commercial nuclear power plant facility.
RO candidates are not required to have a college degree, as long as they have the necessary experience and training. A college degree in engineering, engineering technology, or related sciences is typically required for anyone testing directly for an SRO license – with the exception that with at least one a year of active experience as a RO at a commercial power reactor facility they may take the SRO exam, whether or not they have a college degree.
Applicants for both licenses must complete rigorous training provided by the facility licensee (utility) before taking the NRC’s hours-long written examination and operating test. Once licensed, there are continuing training requirements per the facility’s NRC-approved requalification training program. ROs and SROs must pass a facility-administered operating test every year and a written examination every two years to maintain their license status.
Some of these experience requirements can be met through military service – in general, an applicant can receive six months credit for every year’s experience working at a military propulsion plant such as a nuclear-powered warship. It’s also important to note that reactor operators work for the commercial nuclear power plant owners, not the NRC, although it’s the NRC license that makes them eligible to do the job.
The licensing process for reactor operators is described in detail on the NRC website.
So while you don’t need a B.S. in Physics or a B.E. in Nuclear Engineering, to become a licensed nuclear reactor operator, you do have to meet extremely tough standards in experience and knowledge before being able to take the controls of a nuclear power plant as an RO or SRO.
John Munro
Senior Reactor Engineer

Why Duke CEO Jim Rogers Should Be Obama's Energy Secretary

Why Duke CEO Jim Rogers Should Be Obama's Energy Secretary


http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-30/why-duke-ceo-jim-rogers-should-be-obamas-energy-secretary

CEZ takes next step in Temelin deal

CEZ takes next step in Temelin deal



http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/30/us-cez-temelin-idUSBRE8AT0L620121130

On the pros of nuclear power

On the pros of nuclear power

We should fund nuclear energy research now – or tomorrow we may not be able to turn the lights onhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/science/occams-corner/2012/nov/27/the-pros-of-nuclear-power

Small is not beautiful in power generation

Small is not beautiful in power generation http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/52924-small-is-not-beautiful-in-power-generation.html

70 years of nuclear waste
Newstips
Seventy years after the first sustained nuclear chain reaction took place at the University of Chicago, the nuclear industry has produced up to 200,000 tons of highly toxic radioactive waste — but made no progress toward finding a way of disposing of it.http://www.newstips.org/2012/11/70-years-of-nuclear-waste/

Taking iodine before fallout hits is key: NRA

Taking iodine before fallout hits is key: NRA

The Japan Times -
The Nuclear Regulation Authority released Friday the results of a computer simulation on how the use of iodine tablets by people around nuclear plants can protect their thyroids from excessive exposure to radiation in the event of a severe catastrophe. https://news.google.com/news/story?ncl=http://www.newstips.org/2012/11/70-years-of-nuclear-waste/&hl=en&geo=us

EDG investigation at San Onofre - SCE reported to NRC


atomic power review




Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:15 PM PST
Below is a press release from Southern California Edison, courtesy Jennifer Manfre, Senior Manager, Media Relations for SCE.  This release concerns an ongoing investigation into discrepancies found with one of the EDG or Emergency Diesel Generator units at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 3. 

--------------------


Southern California Edison Reports Backup Diesel Generator Issue to Nuclear Regulatory Commission


ROSEMEAD, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2012) — During routine monitoring in late October, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) personnel detected engine coolant in an oil system on a backup emergency diesel generator in Unit 3.

SONGS personnel notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) site inspector on Oct. 30 in compliance with all regulatory reporting requirements. Since Unit 3 is safely offline, defueled and not scheduled to restart in the near term, the presence of the coolant posed no safety risk. The diesel generator was out of service for routine maintenance activities when the discovery was made.

On Nov. 27, Southern California Edison (SCE), the primary owner of SONGS, notified the NRC that an internal investigation found evidence of potential tampering as the cause of this abnormal condition. The evidence did not confirm that actual tampering occurred. The investigation of this potential security issue continues.

The comprehensive investigation has included rigorous tests, a review of station logs and employee interviews to determine the cause of the presence of the residual engine coolant. Based on the unexpected discovery of the coolant in the diesel oil system and the ongoing investigation, security at the plant has been enhanced.

“SCE is committed to the safety of the public and its employees and takes this matter very seriously,” said Pete Dietrich, senior vice president and chief nuclear officer of SONGS.

SCE submitted technical information to the NRC on Oct. 4 in support of a proposed restart of Unit 2, which is also safely offline. The unit will not be restarted until all plans have been approved by the NRC. The Unit 3 restart was not included in that regulatory filing and remains shut down.
Unit 2 remains shut down since it was taken out of service Jan. 9 for a planned outage. Unit 3 was safely taken offline Jan. 31 after station operators detected a leak in a steam generator tube.
More information is available at www.edison.com/songsupdate and at www.SONGScommunity.com. San Onofre is jointly owned by SCE (78.21 percent), San Diego Gas & Electric (20 percent) and the city of Riverside (1.79 percent).

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

--------------------

4:15 PM Eastern 11/30/2012
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW



Edison: Onofre generator tampering possible
OCRegister
Edison: Onofre generator tampering possible. A backup, emergency generator at the San Onofre nuclear plant might have been tampered with, plant operator Southern California Edison reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission this week. Tweet ...
SABOTAGE SUSPECTED AT SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
East County Magazine
November 30, 2012 (San Diego)—Southern California Edison has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of possible sabotage at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating facility, after finding coolant poured in the oil reservoir of an emergency backup ...

San Onofre nuclear plant may have been sabotaged

RT -
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating plant is seen in North San Diego County, California March 14, 2011.(Reuters / Mike Blake). Officials at the San Onofre nuclear power plant in California are investigating why they found coolant mixed with oil in their safety ...

Signs of tampering found at shut San Onofre, California nuclear plant

Reuters - ‎5 hours ago‎
LOS ANGELES | Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:02pm EST. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Southern California Edison said an emergency generator at one of its San Onofre nuclear reactors may have been tampered with, prompting the utility to beef up security at the plant, ...

Possible generator tampering found at nuke plant

San Francisco Chronicle -
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Someone may have tampered with an emergency generator at the San Onofre nuclear power plant, but there was no danger because both reactors at the California coastal facility are shut down, operators said. In late October, coolant ...

Possible generator tampering found at Calif. nuke plant

Boston Herald -
LOS ANGELES — Operators of the San Onofre nuclear power plant say someone may have tampered with an emergency generator but there's no danger because both reactors at the Southern California plant are shut down. The Orange County Register ...

San Onofre Nuclear Plant Investigating Possible Sabotage Of Safety System

Huffington Post -
A California utility said Thursday it has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of potential sabotage, possibly by an employee, of a crucial piece of safety equipment attached to one of its nuclear power reactors. Southern California Edison said the ...

Gulf of Mexico clean-up makes 2010 spill 52-times more toxic

Gulf of Mexico clean-up makes 2010 spill 52-times more toxic

http://phys.org/news/2012-11-gulf-mexico-clean-up-times-toxic.html#nwlt

Liquid Metal Batteries / Impact Battery Blog

Liquid Metal Batteries / Impact Battery Blog
The primary limitation of renewable energy sources is the storage capacity of current batteries. Conventional batteries consist of solid materials that limit the ...
www.impactbattery.com/blog/tag/liquid-metal-batteries/

Study Shows US College Students Suck At Math (Red Orbit)

Study Shows US College Students Suck At Math (Red Orbit)
When it comes to texting and updating Facebook, our U.S. culture has an edge on all other societies, but mathematics is a different story altogether. A new research paper looked at how U.S. students fared in comparison to other nations, and found that our national math IQ is lacking. In the study, U.S. college students were presented with a number line, ranging from -2 to 2, and were asked to pinpoint the location of 0.7 and 13/8. They found that just 21 percent of students answered the equation correctly.http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/1112739086/us-college-students-math-112912/

Understanding the Doha climate talks, in three easy charts

Understanding the Doha climate talks, in three easy charts



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/28/understanding-the-doha-climate-talks-in-three-charts/?goback=.gde_4270601_member_191328843

What Lessons can American Scientists Learn from Japan?

From The Hiroshima Syndrome...
 
What Lessons can American Scientists Learn from Japan? 
 
A fact-finding contingent from America’s National Academy of Sciences is in Japan hoping to realize lessons that will improve nuclear plant safety in the United States. Will the NAS team realize what other prestigious investigators have learned – the most severe health effect spawned by the government’s response to Fukushima Daiichi is unnecessary psychological damage?
 

Report of ICRP Task Group 84 on Initial Lessons Learned from the Nuclear Power Plant Accident in Japan vis-à-vis the ICRP System of Radiological Protection



Report of ICRP Task Group 84 on Initial Lessons Learned from the Nuclear Power Plant Accident in Japan vis-à-vis the ICRP System of Radiological Protection

http://www.icrp.org/docs/ICRP%20TG84%20Summary%20Report.pdf

Fukushima Updates 11/30

Here are the topic summaries of today's commentary and Fukushima updates. Please click the link for the full reports.
 
Commentary - What Lessons can American Scientists Learn from Japan? - A fact-finding contingent from America’s National Academy of Sciences is in Japan hoping to realize lessons that will improve nuclear plant safety in the United States. Will the NAS team realize what other prestigious investigators have learned – the most severe health effect spawned by the government’s response to Fukushima Daiichi is unnecessary psychological damage?
 
Other Fukushima updates - Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada’s new antinuclear party dominates the December 16 election headlines in Japan. She says "Let's debate thoroughly on the nuclear power issue. Let's sacrifice ourselves for future generations."... In parallel with the creation of the JFP, the currently-ruling DPJ party issued its official antinuclear policy platform... Tepco has released more video footage of company activities during the early weeks of the Fukushima crisis. A most disturbing revelation is Tepco/Tokyo’s continual failure to grasp the gravity of the situation at F. Daiichi weeks after the three hydrogen explosions had happened... Tepco’s latest posting of contaminated water data at F. Daiichi shows a significant reduction in Cesium levels contained in the water remaining in the plant basements... The Nuclear Regulatory Authority says they have problems with the “safety culture” embodied by The Tokyo Electric Company (Tepco)... Several municipalities in northeastern Japan say they are now willing to consider hosting temporary storage facilities for the wastes building up in numerous treatment facilities.
 

The Insourcing Boom Atlantic

The Insourcing Boom Atlantichttp://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/the-insourcing-boom/309166/?single_page=true
After years of offshore production, General Electric is moving much of its far-flung appliance-manufacturing operations back home. It is not alone. An exploration of the startling, sustainable, just-getting-started return of industry to the United States.

Online schools spend millions to attract students USA Today

Online schools spend millions to attract students USA Todayhttp://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/28/online-schools-ads-public-/1732193/

ANS Update: ANS Nuclear Cafe Matinee: DUFF Space Nuclear Reactor Prototype

ANS Nuclear Cafe Matinee: DUFF Space Nuclear Reactor Prototype

By pbowersox on Nov 30, 2012 01:00 am

A joint DOE and NASA team has demonstrated a simple, robust fission reactor prototype intended for development for future space exploration missions.  The DUFF (Demonstration Using Flattop Fissions) experiment represents the first demonstration of a space nuclear reactor system to produce electricity in … Continue reading
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