Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, June 8, 2013

SoCal Nuclear Closes, Summer Energy Reserves Slim for California and Texas


SoCal Nuclear Closes, Summer Energy Reserves Slim for California and Texas
Greentech Media
As the temperature rises, so does the need for electricity, primarily to fuel the air conditioners so many of us love to crank up as the weather heats up. Most regions of the U.S. have plenty of generation capacity to meet the requirements of blasting ACs.http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/SoCal-Nuclear-Closes-Summer-Energy-Reserves-Slim-for-California-and-Texas

ANS UPDATE 6/7 SONGS to retire, decommission

SONGS to retire, decommission

By Will Davis on Jun 07, 2013 03:22 pm

This morning, Edison International, parent company of Southern California Edison, made an announcement that it had decided to permanently retire the two-unit San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California.   Later in the morning, it held a teleconference to expand upon … Continue reading
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Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

By pbowersox on Jun 07, 2013 10:40 am

Company Will Continue Its Work with State Agencies on Electric Grid Reliability A conference call with Q&A was held by management at 12PM EST Friday for media outlets only – replay will be available at 1-888-568-0503 (USA) and 1-203-369-3476 (International), … Continue reading
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Japan PM to step up nuclear export drive: report

Japan PM to step up nuclear export drive: report


http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/17529581/japan-pm-to-step-up-nuclear-export-drive-report/

California Power Reliability Top Concern for FERC Commissioner


California Power Reliability Top Concern for FERC Commissioner

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-07/california-power-reliability-top-concern-for-ferc-commissioner.html

What Happens When Our Nuclear-Power Fleet Is Older Than You Are?

What Happens When Our Nuclear-Power Fleet Is Older Than You Are?


http://news.yahoo.com/happens-nuclear-power-fleet-older-115845145.html

California is closing a huge nuclear plant. So what will replace it?


California is closing a huge nuclear plant. So what will replace it?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/07/california-is-losing-a-big-nuclear-power-plant-so-what-will-replace-it/

Nuclear Fuel To Be Stored At San Onofre As Part Of Decommissioning

Nuclear Fuel To Be Stored At San Onofre As Part Of Decommissioning


http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jun/07/nuclear-fuel-be-stored-san-onofre-part-decommissio/

Troubles at a 1960s-Era Nuclear Plant in California May Hint at the Future

 

Troubles at a 1960s-Era Nuclear Plant in California May Hint at the Future

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/us/san-onofre-could-hint-at-a-non-nuclear-future.html?_r=0

No Solar Way Around It Why Nuclear Is Essential to Combating Climate Change


No Solar Way Around It


Why Nuclear Is Essential to Combating Climate Change

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/voices/michael-shellenberger-and-ted-nordhaus/no-solar-way-around-it

In nuclear power, a better way? Here's why.

  • Article by: CRAIG BOWRON
A better kind of reactor is essentially a miracle cure in that it dramatically reduces the waste problem.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/210648751.html

San Onofre Nuclear Closure to Boost State Carbon Emissions by 8 Million Tons


San Onofre Nuclear Closure to Boost State Carbon Emissions by 8 Million Tons


Replacement Electricity Equivalent to Adding 1.6 Million Cars

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/san-onofre-nuclear-closure-to-boost-state-carbon-emissions-by-8-million-tons/

Southern California Edison To Shut Down San Onofre Nuclear Plant


Southern California Edison To Shut Down San Onofre Nuclear Plant

Southern California Edison has decided to shut down Units 2 and 3 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/06/08/southern-california-edison-to-shut-down-san-onofre-nuclear-plant/

Asia Report: Japan's Solar Market Shifts Into Overdrive

Asia Report: Japan's Solar Market Shifts Into Overdrive


http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/06/asia-report-japans-solar-market-shifts-into-overdrive?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-June8-2013

A California Nuclear Plant Is Shutting Down Permanently, And That's Bad News ...

A California Nuclear Plant Is Shutting Down Permanently, And That's Bad News ...

Houston Chronicle - ‎Jun 7, 2013‎
The San Onofre facility, located just south of Los Angeles, had been shut down for the past year after inspectors discovered a leaking tube inside a steam generator. But by April costs of the shutdown had soared to $553 million, Sky reports. In a release, SCE ...http://www.chron.com/technology/businessinsider/article/A-California-Nuclear-Plant-Is-Shutting-Down-4586899.php

San Onofre Power Plant Closing After Epic 16-Month Battle (PHOTOS)

San Onofre Power Plant Closing After Epic 16-Month Battle (PHOTOS)

Huffington Post -
LOS ANGELES — In a jolt to the nation's nuclear power industry, Southern California's San Onofre plant was shut down Friday for good after its owners surrendered in a costly and drawn-out fight over whether it was too damaged to operate safely. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/san-onofre-power-plant-closing_n_3403025.html

California nuclear plant to shut: a case of unforgiving nuclear economics

California nuclear plant to shut: a case of unforgiving nuclear economics

Southern California Edison is shutting the remaining two reactors at San Onofre, citing high repair costs and an NRC ruling that the utility says would delay reactor restarts...http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/0607/California-nuclear-plant-to-shut-a-case-of-unforgiving-nuclear-economics

News on San Onofre Closure from around the country

Nuclear Power Plant in Limbo Decides to Close
New York Times (blog)
The owners of the San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California, which has been shut since January 2012, said on Friday that they would close it permanently because of uncertainty over when it could be reopened. The two reactors at San Onofre ...http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/business/san-onofre-nuclear-plant-in-california-to-close.html?_r=0
San Onofre nuclear plant closure brings huge costs
Los Angeles Times
The closure caps a 16-month debate about San Onofre's future but leaves the utility and state regulators grappling with who will ultimately pay more than $1 billion in costs. One key question is whether Edison's ratepayers will see their bills increase ...http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-onofre-nuclear-plant-closure-brings-huge-costs-20130607,0,6049358.story
San Onofre neighbors no longer felt safe, welcome closure
Los Angeles Times
While activists praised Friday's announcement that the San Onofre nuclear power plant would be retired, those who live near the coastal facility expressed mixed emotions about the fate of what has become a familiar landmark and a nagging source of ...http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-onofre-neighbors-20130607,0,3102121.story
San Onofre nuclear power plant to shut down
Washington Post (blog)
In a new setback for the U.S. nuclear power industry, Edison International said Friday that it would permanently close its two reactors in San Onofre, Calif., ending a contentious battle over whether the units could be repaired and operated safely ...http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/san-onofre-nuclear-power-plant-to-shut-down/2013/06/07/7fe3e88c-cf8c-11e2-8f6b-67f40e176f03_story.html
San Onofre nuclear plant latest in US to close
Financial Times
At San Onofre, one unit had been shut down for maintenance, the other because of a leak from a tube in its steam generator, which transfers heat from the reactor to the turbine system. The US government's Nuclear Regulatory Commission found “unexpected ...http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/san-onofre-nuclear-power-plant-to-shut-down/2013/06/07/7fe3e88c-cf8c-11e2-8f6b-67f40e176f03_story.html
California nuclear plant to shut
BBC News
The San Onofre plant near Los Angeles halted operations in January 2012 after radioactive water tubes were damaged. Operator Southern California Edison has faced a series of regulatory inquiries. San Onofre powered 1.4 million homes but regulators say ...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22820708
San Onofre Nuke Plant is Dead!
CounterPunch
From his California beach house at San Clemente, Richard Nixon once watched three reactors rise at nearby San Onofre. As of June 7, 2013, all three are permanently shut. It's a monumental victory for grassroots activism. it marks an epic transition in ...http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/06/07/san-onofre-nuke-plant-is-dead/
San Onofre nuclear plant to shut down permanently
Christian Science Monitor
The troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant on the California coast is closing, after an epic 16-month battle over whether the twin reactors could be safely restarted with millions of people living nearby, officials announced Friday. Skip to next ...http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0607
  

Nuclear plant closures show industry's struggles

http://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2013/06/nuclear_plant_closures_show_industrys_struggles

Blog Posts on San Onofre Closure


 
SoCal Edison to Shut Down San Onofre Nuclear Plant | KTLA 5
By kellanconnorktla
SAN ONOFRE, Calif. (KTLA) -- Southern California Edison announced plans on Friday to shut down the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant. The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has been offline since January 2012. (Los Angeles ...
KTLA 5
SAN ONOFRE: Edison to close nuclear plant
By Alicia Robinson
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, a key source of power for Southern California Edison and a small provider to Riverside Public Utilities, will shut down permanently, Edison officials announced Friday, June 7. The San Onofre ...
PE Bloggers
Utility will Close San Onofre Nuclear Plant for Good | KTXL FOX40
By fox40samcohen
Southern California Edison announced Friday it would shut down the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant.
KTXL FOX40
Does closing San Onofre plant raise blackout concerns? - LA Biz ...
By Mark Lacter
Last summer, Socal Edison made up for the loss of San Onofre by bringing back two gas-fired units at the Huntington Beach Power Plant. But those units are not longer available. The decision to shut down the plant permanently was not ...
LA Biz Observed
Edison to Shut Down Troubled San Onofre Nuclear Plant Permanently
By Staff
Southern California Edison announced plans Friday to permanently shut down the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The decision was made in light of ongoing uncertainty surrounding the fate of the plant since the Unit 2 and 3 steam ...
Capistrano Dispatch

U.S. N-Plant Firm to Seek Damages from Mitsubishi Heavy

U.S. N-Plant Firm to Seek Damages from Mitsubishi Heavy

   New York, June 7 (Jiji Press)--Southern California Edison Co. said Friday it will seek damages from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. <7011> to help cover the costs of retiring two reactors at its San Onofre nuclear power station.
   The power firm decided to retire Units 2 and 3 at the power station near San Diego following a leak of water containing trace amounts of radioactive substance from a damaged tube inside a steam generator of Unit 3 made by Mitsubishi Heavy.
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
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Friday, June 7, 2013

Top 10 Utilities Succeeding with Social Media

 Top 10 Utilities Succeeding with Social Media
http://www.esource.com/Blog/ESource/6-6-13-SocialMedia

Nuclear Power, Part I: A Smaller, Safer Future


Nuclear Power, Part 1: A Smaller, Safer Future
TechNewsWorld
If ever there were a compelling lesson in the ongoing and diverse dangers of nuclear power, it would be the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster in northern Japan. Many of the 103 nuclear reactors currently operational in the United States ...http://www.technewsworld.com/story/78213.html

Japan, France to Team Up on Nuclear Exports

 

Japan, France to Team Up on Nuclear Exports

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323844804578530641200842964.html

NRDC Welcomes Southern California Edison's Decision to Retire the San Onofre Nuclear Plant

Matthew McKinzie’s Blog

NRDC Welcomes Southern California Edison's Decision to Retire the San Onofre Nuclear Plant

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mmckinzie/today_the_california_utility_c.html

Calif. utility will close troubled nuclear plant


Calif. utility will close troubled nuclear plant


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/calif-utility-says-it-will-retire-nuclear-plant

Activists hail San Onofre nuclear power plant reactor shutdown

 

Activists hail San Onofre nuclear power plant reactor shutdown

Closing of reactors at 40-year-old San Onofre power plant reflects harsh economics facing ageing fleet of US reactors
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/07/san-onofre-nuclear-reactors-shut-down

Radiation Exposure Associated with a Trip to Mars Calculated

Radiation Exposure Associated with a Trip to Mars Calculated
Boulder CO (SPX) Jun 03, 2013 - On November 26, 2011, the Mars Science Laboratory began a 253-day, 560-million-kilometer journey to deliver the Curiosity rover to the Red Planet. En route, the Southwest Research Institute-led Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) made detailed measurements of the energetic particle radiation environment inside the spacecraft, providing important insights for future human missions to Mars. ... morehttp://www.spacemart.com/reports/Radiation_Exposure_Associated_with_a_Trip_to_Mars_Calculated_999.html

Improved venting ordered at US BWRs

Improved venting ordered at US BWRs (http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Improved_venting_ordered_at_US_BWRs-0706135.html)
Operators of most of the USA's boiling water reactors (BWRs) must upgrade their emergency venting systems under a revised order from the country's nuclear regulator.

Hongyanhe 1 enters commercial operation

Hongyanhe 1 enters commercial operation (http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Hongyanhe_1_enters_commercial_operation-0706134.html)
The first of four reactors being built at the Hongyanhe plant in Liaoning province in northeast China has begun commercial operation. It becomes China's seventeenth operating nuclear power unit.

Contamination dropping in evacuation zone

Contamination dropping in evacuation zone (http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Contamination_dropping_in_evacuation_zone_0706131.html)
Analysis from Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has revealed the most contaminated areas in the Fukushima evacuation zone have reduced in size by three quarters over the last two years.

Fukushima Updates 6/7

Here's the topics for today's Fukushima Updates -
 
F. Daiichi radiation levels now below 25% of Nov. 2011...Tepco will inspect all new wastewater storage tanks... Decontamination is finished at nearly all schools not in Fukushima Prefecture...The Asahi Shimbun has posted an article clearly intended to foment uncertainty and doubt over child thyroid cancers... The Fukushima panel created to debate medical findings related to F. Daiichi has axed four members... Japan’s business lobby wants idled nukes restarted... More than 150,000 Fukushima residents have received evacuation compensation... The NRA has once again revised their emergency evacuation rules.
 

US nuclear plant operators estimate $3.6 bil in post-Fukushima costs



US nuclear plant operators estimate $3.6 bil in post-Fukushima costs


http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/21124657

NRC commissioner: Future funding levels create uncertainty for review of SMRs

 NRC commissioner: Future funding levels create uncertainty for review of SMRs
http://www.snl.com/Interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-17916349-11052

IAEA: Protecting Our Oceans Together

Protecting Our Oceans Together

Durban, South Africa
According to UN Habitat, Durban is one of several African coastal cities that will be confronted with the adverse effects of rising sea levels. (Photo: iStockphoto)
"Together we have the power to protect the ocean". That is the motto of World Oceans Day 2013. Coupled with that vision is the certainty that our prosperity and development depend upon healthy oceans.
About 40 to 50 percent of the world's population live within 200 km of a coastline. That proximity is just one example of the oceans' importance in our lives. Global trade, energy, and food security are the most visible "services" the oceans provide daily. Yet, our survival depends on the ocean's "invisible" services like oxygen production (providing 50-80% of global oxygen supply), carbon sequestration (capturing 25% of man-made CO2 emissions), and climate regulation (transferring 50% of global heat).
Similar to a living being, the oceans perform and provide their services most efficiently when healthy. The IAEA in collaboration with other international partners seeks to help Member States monitor, evaluate, and find cost-effective, sustainable solutions to the challenges confronting the health of our oceans.
The United Nations and other international bodies have identified critical pressures facing the oceans, all of which are caused or exacerbated by human activities:
  • Among global climate change effects are rising sea levels and warming waters. Coupled with ocean acidification, these pressures are deteriorating physical and biological conditions in the oceans.
  • Marine pollution is another major source of pressure on the oceans. Land-based activities account for 80% of marine pollution whose volume continues to increase.
  • Over-extraction and the unsustainable exploitation of marine resources result in an ever more damaging effect on marine environments and marine life. This impact is particularly disruptive when it occurs in combination with the destruction of habitats that are essential to many marine services.
  • In addition to the loss of healthy habitats, the introduction of invasive species through human activities reduces the populations of native species and instigates destructive ecological change.
The IAEA's Environment Laboratories are contributing to international efforts to protect the oceans by developing and using a range of nuclear and isotopic techniques to create a more precise understanding of the ocean's degradation. Using radiotracers, IAEA scientists study biological processes to understand how marine organisms react to acidification and warming. Electron beams are used in breaking down pollutants, while isotopes are used to track their sources and dispersion.
Equally important to the research conducted is the role the IAEA plays in training researchers from developing countries. These scientists return to their home countries with new nuclear methods to help monitor these pressures. The precise knowledge derived from nuclear and isotopic techniques allows developing countries to make informed decisions to conserve the oceans and guide development to sustainably use ocean resources and services.
In September 2013, the IAEA will be hosting a Scientific Forum on our oceans, titled The Blue Planet - Nuclear Applications for a Sustainable Marine Environment. The Forum will bring together scientists, experts and policy makers from different fields to initiate dialogue and build new partnerships and cooperation to protect and preserve the ecological balance that is vital for the survival of the coastal regions and marine environment.

-- By Michael Madsen, IAEA Division of Public Information

What Gets Sacrificed in a Nuclear Energy Shutdown


What Gets Sacrificed in a Nuclear Energy Shutdown

http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-gets-sacrificed-in-nuclear-energy.html?utm_source=feedly

Duke Examines 6,500 Oconee Reactor Parts in One Refueling Outage

Duke Examines 6,500 Oconee Reactor Parts in One Refueling Outage


http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2013/06/duke-examines-6500-oconee-reactor-parts.html?utm_source=feedly

Yucca Mountain still haunts nuclear waste issue


Yucca Mountain still haunts nuclear waste issue

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/yucca-mountain-still-haunts-nuclear-waste-issue-92371.html

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

U.S. regulators have completed new requirements for hardened vents at boiling water reactors in response to the Fukushima Daiichi accidents, while in Japan the plant reported another small tank leak and surveys found reduced doses in the surrounding countryside.Recent developments related to the Tokyo Electric Power Co. reactors blacked out following Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami include

Areva Signs Cooperation Agreements On Fukushima And Rokkasho


Areva Signs Cooperation Agreements On Fukushima And Rokkasho

Research & Development
http://www.nucnet.org/all-the-news/2013/06/07/areva-signs-cooperation-agreements-on-fukushima-and-rokkasho?utm_source=feedly

General presentation of the EPR: a generation III reactor model


General presentation of the EPR: a generation III reactor model

http://nuclearpowernews.blogspot.com/2013/06/general-presentation-of-epr-generation.html?utm_source=feedly

Nuclear News Round Up (3rd June – 7th June 13)

Nuclear News Round Up (3rd June – 7th June 13)
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The Role of Nuclear Power in the Energy Mix

 The Role of Nuclear Power in the Energy Mix
http://energyandnuclear.com/2013/06/07/the-role-of-nuclear-power-in-the-energy-mix/?utm_source=feedly

San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant shutdown in wake of ASLB decision

San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant shutdown in wake of ASLB decision


http://enformable.com/2013/06/san-onofre-nuclear-power-plant-shutdown-in-wake-of-aslb-decision/?utm_source=feedly

US DoI Approves SolarReserve's 100 MW Arizona Solar Power Project

Santa Monica CA (SPX) Jun 07, 2013 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the approval of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Quartzsite Solar Energy Project located in La Paz County, Ariz. With this authorization, SolarReserve, a U.S. developer of large-scale solar power projects, is proceeding with the development of its 100 megawatt project, located on Bureau of Land (BLM) man

Smart grid energy storage: European "battery parks" show a path ahead


Smart grid energy storage: European "battery parks" show a path ahead




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Quick Take: The future of grid-scale energy storage continues to come into sharper focus. I recently told you about AES and its "operating system" for storage. AES illustrates two keys to making grid-scale storage mainstream. The first is a "platform" for storage that is battery agnostic – that allows you to swap in any brand or type of battery without redoing your software. The second is multiple value streams –  putting a single stack of batteries to work in many different ways.
 
Navigant Research is now out with a story of some German battery parks that show one way to accomplish the second concept. - By Jesse Bersthttp://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Technologies_Storage/Smart-grid-energy-storage-European-battery-parks-show-a-path-ahead-5809.html#.UbHt6xmEPgo

ANS Update 6/7 Nuclear Matinee: I’m A Nuke – Tim the Sea-Roving Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear Matinee: I’m A Nuke – Tim the Sea-Roving Nuclear Engineer

By pbowersox on Jun 07, 2013 01:00 am

Meet Tim Lucas, Ph.D., a nuclear engineer who is piloting his sailboat around the world, spreading the news of nuclear technology – and many other rather amazing activities. Why is circumnavigating the globe a perfect job for a nuclear engineer? Watch and … Continue reading
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Edison Plans to Permanently Close San Onofre Nuclear Reactor (1)


Bloomberg News

Edison Plans to Permanently Close San Onofre Nuclear Reactor (1)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-06-07/edison-plans-to-permanently-close-san-onofre-nuclear-reactor-1

Flash: San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station to Be Retired

FLASH: SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION TO BE RETIRED

SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION to be retired in wake of steam generator tube damagehttp://atomicpowerreview.blogspot.com/2013/06/flash-san-onofre-nuclear-generating.html

Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

 http://regator.com/p/260655502/southern_california_edison_announces_plans_to_retire_san/

 Business & Finance / Personal Finance : WalletPop

Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Company Will Continue Its Work with State Agencies on Electric Grid Reliability ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southern California Edison (SCE) has decided to permanently retire Units 2 and 3 of its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). "SONGS has served this region for over 40 years," said Ted Craver, Chairman and CEO of Edison International, parent company of SCE, "but we have concluded that the continuing uncertainty about when or if SONGS might return to service was not good for our customers, our investors, or the need to plan for our region's long-term electricity needs.
read more

Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Company Will Continue Its Work with State Agencies on Electric Grid Reliability



Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
Company Will Continue Its Work with State Agencies on Electric Grid Reliability
 
ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern California Edison (SCE) has decided to permanently retire Units 2 and 3 of its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). 

“this is an extraordinary team of men and women. We will treat them fairly.”
 
“SONGS has served this region for over 40 years,” said Ted Craver, Chairman and CEO of Edison International, parent company of SCE, “but we have concluded that the continuing uncertainty about when or if SONGS might return to service was not good for our customers, our investors, or the need to plan for our region’s long-term electricity needs.”
Both SONGS units have been shut down safely since January 2012. Unit 2 was taken out of service January 9, 2012, for a planned routine outage. Unit 3 was safely taken offline January 31, 2012, after station operators detected a small leak in a tube inside a steam generator manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Two steam generators manufactured by MHI were installed in Unit 2 in 2009 and two more were installed in Unit 3 in 2010, one of which developed the leak.
In connection with the decision, SCE estimates that it will record a charge in the second quarter of between $450 million and $650 million before taxes ($300 million - $425 million after tax), in accordance with accounting requirements.
After months of analysis and tests, SCE submitted a restart plan to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in October 2012. SCE proposed to safely restart Unit 2 at a reduced power level (70 %) for an initial period of approximately five months. That plan was based on work done by engineering groups from three independent firms with expertise in steam generator design and manufacturing. 

The NRC has been reviewing SCE’s plans for restart of Unit 2 for the last eight months, during which several public meetings have been held. A recent ruling by an adjudicatory arm of the NRC, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, creates further uncertainty regarding when a final decision might be made on restarting Unit 2. Additional administrative processes and appeals could result in delay of more than a year. During this period, the costs of maintaining SONGS in a state of readiness to restart and the costs to replace the power SONGS previously provided would continue. Moreover, it is uneconomic for SCE and its customers to bear the long-term repair costs for returning SONGS to full power operation without restart of Unit 2. SCE has concluded that efforts are better focused on planning for the replacement generation and transmission resources which will be required for grid reliability. 

“Looking ahead,” said Ron Litzinger, SCE’s President, “we think that our decision to retire the units will eliminate uncertainty and facilitate orderly planning for California’s energy future.” 

Litzinger noted that the company has worked with the California Independent System Operator, the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission in planning for Southern California’s energy needs and will continue to do so. 

“The company is already well into a summer reliability program and has completed numerous transmission upgrades in addition to those completed last year,” Litzinger said. “Thanks to consumer conservation, energy efficiency programs and a moderate summer, the region was able to get through last summer without electricity shortages. We hope for the same positive result again this year,” Litzinger added, “although generation outages, soaring temperatures or wildfires impacting transmission lines would test the system.” 

In connection with the retirement of Units 2 and 3, San Onofre anticipates reducing staff over the next year from approximately 1,500 to approximately 400 employees, subject to applicable regulatory approvals. The majority of such reductions are expected to occur in 2013. 

“This situation is very unfortunate,” said Pete Dietrich, SCE’s Chief Nuclear Officer, noting that “this is an extraordinary team of men and women. We will treat them fairly.” SCE will work to ensure a fair process for this transition, and will work with the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) on transition plans for the employees they represent. 

SCE also recognizes its continuing safety responsibilities as it moves toward decommissioning of the units. SCE’s top priority will be to ensure a safe, orderly, and compliant retirement of these units. Full retirement of the units prior to decommissioning will take some years in accordance with customary practices. Actual decommissioning will take many years until completion. Such activities will remain subject to the continued oversight of the NRC. 

SCE intends to pursue recovery of damages from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the supplier of the replacement steam generators, as well as recovery of amounts under applicable insurance policies. 

For updates, please visit www.SONGScommunity.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SCE_SONGS and on www.facebook.com/SCE

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.

PennEnergy's Top Oil & Gas News 6/7


Top Oil & Gas News
GE signs $84 million deepwater exploration agreement in Gulf of Mexico
GE Oil & Gas has signed an $84 million agreement with PEMEX Exploration and Production to supply and to install subsea wellheads for PEMEX’s deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling projects in the Gulf of Mexico. This marks GE’s largest agreement with PEMEX for the supply of subsea high capacity wellheads.
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PennEnergy Video News Update
From India's exploration announcement, to Texas' drilling honor, to Oklahoma's pipeline expansion, all of the week's biggest headlines are in the PennEnergy Video News Update.
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Safe nuclear: Japanese utility elaborates on thorium plans

Safe nuclear: Japanese utility elaborates on thorium plans


http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/safe-nuclear-japanese-utility-elaborates-on-thorium-plans/16570

Making Sense of Government Energy Innovation Policy


Making Sense of Government Energy Innovation Policy

http://theenergycollective.com/mstepp/234271/making-sense-government-energy-innovation-policy-through-lawn-care

AGRION Takes Energy Storage Initiative Project to Washington D.C.

AGRION Takes Energy Storage Initiative Project to Washington D.C. After ... Newsday In June, AGRION, the global network for energy, cleantech & sustainability, launched its Energy Storage Initiative, convening the largest utility companies to help accelerate the application and implementation of storage technologies onto the grid ...http://www.newsday.com/business/agrion-takes-energy-storage-initiative-project-to-washington-d-c-after-successful-discussions-in-new-york-1.5419623

Bechtel Awarded EPC Contract for Nuclear Project

Bechtel Awarded EPC Contract for Nuclear Project

Company to Replace Steam Generators at Pennsylvania Nuclear Power Plant

FREDERICK, Md., June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel has been awarded a contract to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for replacing three steam generators at Unit 2 of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company's (FENOC) Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.  Bechtel replaced three steam generators at Beaver Valley Unit 1 in 2006.

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6981974&access=EH

GridWise Alliance Releases Report on Improving Electric Grid Reliability and Resilience: Lessons Learned from Superstorm Sandy and Other Extreme Events

GridWise Alliance Releases Report on Improving Electric Grid Reliability and Resilience: Lessons Learned from Superstorm Sandy and Other Extreme Events


http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6977562&access=EH

Vent Upgrades Ordered on One-Third of U.S. Nuclear Reactors (1)