Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Court Vacates Portions of EPA’s Ozone Rule

Court Vacates Portions of EPA’s Ozone Rule

By Enerknol Research
epahearings_0
A federal appeals court has rejected portions of revisions to EPA’s 2008 ozone rule that would delay compliance deadlines and revoke transportation conformity requirements. On December 23, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated portions of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone.  The court

Three Obstacles to EPA’s O3 Rule: Industry Opposition, Implementation, and Congressional Oversight

Three Obstacles to EPA’s O3 Rule: Industry Opposition, Implementation, and Congressional Oversight

By Matthew Morrison, Bryan Stockton | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
The EPA Proposes Stricter Standards For Smog Limit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed revising the national air quality standard for ozone, the key pollutant in smog and regional haze. EPA acknowledges that the rule will cost billions of dollars each year to implement. Industry fears the additional regulatory costs, and environmentalists assert the rule does not restrict ozone enough. Select jurisdictions with high levels of background ozone, particularly Western states, will find it more difficult to reach attainment, and current mechanisms to account for naturally-occurring ozone spikes may prove inadequate. Republican leaders in the House and Senate have signaled their intention to oppose the rule in legislation. The EPA must navigate these complex issues as it prepares to finalize the rule by October 1, 2015.http://breakingenergy.com/2015/01/02/three-obstacles-to-epas-o3-rule-industry-opposition-implementation-and-congressional-oversight/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=95112c0e65-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-95112c0e65-407304281

The Year of Concentrating Solar Power: Five New Plants to Power America with Clean Energy

The Year of Concentrating Solar Power: Five New Plants to Power America with Clean Energy

By U.S. Department of Energy
solar
Solar is increasingly providing clean, sustainable energy for our nation’s homes, businesses and industries. Clocking record-breaking growth and reaching a total of more than 4,700 megawatts of new installed capacity, 2013 was a big year for solar photovoltaic systems. But we’re also excited to watch 2014, which will mark a major milestone for a different

The Pro Nuclear Twitter Directory at Neutron Bytes is now a Twitter list you can follow

The Pro Nuclear Twitter Directory at Neutron Bytes is now a Twitter list you can follow


To view Tweets from a list:
Go to your profile page.
Click on the Lists tab.
Click on the list you'd like to view.
You'll see a timeline of Tweets from the users included in that list.

Please share this link with others.

From now on when I add a pro-nuclear Twitter feed to the directory it will also go on the list.


Dan Yurman
dan.yurman@outlook.com
Twitter: @djysrv 
Blog: NeutronBytes
Mobile: 216-369-7194


Utilities Should Avoid Over-Investing When Integrating Renewable Energy Into Their Grid




Utilities Should Avoid Over-Investing When Integrating Renewable Energy Into Their Grid

By Jon Pietruszkiewicz
German Electricity Grid Insufficient For New Energy Needs
Utilities exploring ways to integrate their renewable energy sources into their existing fleet should carefully examine the costs and characteristics of the many flexibility options at their disposal. This advanced planning can greatly reduce their investment needs, according to Jon Pietruszkiewicz, Project Manager, Black & Veatch. “Our message to utilities concerning their variable energy renewable

The Nuclear Year 2014

The Nuclear Year 2014


http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-nuclear-year-2014.html

Vermont Yankee: Born of “Yankee Ingenuity,” Now No More

Vermont Yankee: Born of “Yankee Ingenuity,” Now No More


http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2015/01/02/vermont-yankee-born-of-yankee-ingenuity-now-no-more/

Friday, January 2, 2015

Regulators OK steep National Grid rate increase


Regulators OK steep National Grid rate increase

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/01/regulators-ok-steep-national-grid-rate-increase.html

Atomic Power Review: Ukraine Nuclear Plants - Resources and Information

Posted: 02 Jan 2015 01:00 PM PST
For the second time, Russian news sources have reported an incident at a Ukrainian nuclear plant as a much more serious event than it actually was.  The first time this happened is documented by a post I made for the American Nuclear Society; this time, a house load transformer at Zaporizhzhya Unit 6 was the culprit, causing the unit to reduce power to 10 percent and come off the grid.  The unit was back up quickly with no negative effects to anyone inside or outside the plant.

Since it would appear that these news outlets will continue to misrepresent events at this (and perhaps other) Ukrainian nuclear plants, I've decided to construct a post that will give quick links to resources you can use yourself to check on conditions of Ukraine's nuclear plants.

Ukraine's Nuclear Plants

The operator of Ukraine's nuclear plants, all of which date originally from the days of the former Soviet Union, is Energoatom.  Its home page in English is here

There are four nuclear power stations in Ukraine; the one in the news recently and largest in Europe is the massive Zaporizhzhya NPP; Rivne NPP, South Ukraine NPP and Khmelnytska NPP round out the fleet.

•Rivne NPP (sometimes seen as "Rivno") is the oldest of the sites.  The site was originally named the "West Ukraine" NPP and began construction in 1973 with two units of type VVER-440.  These plants were constructed using the updated (1974) V-213 plant design that had vastly improved containment as compared to the older V-230 plant design, and Units 1 and 2 came on line in 1980 and 1981.  The site was expanded by two VVER-1000 plants, units 3 and 4 which came on line in 2004 and 2006 respectively after a construction hiatus.  A planned fifth unit, also a VVER-1000 was never built.  All four units continue in operation today.

South Ukraine NPP is actually part of an enormous energy center called the "South Ukraine Power Complex," which includes not only the nuclear plant but a large pumped storage power plant and a hydro-electric station.  South Ukraine NPP is a three unit plant with Units 1, 2 and 3 being VVER-1000 type.  Originally planned as a two unit station.  The units came on line in 1982, 1985 and 1989 and work together with the Tashlyk Hydro Pumped Storage Power Plant and the Olexandrivska Hydro Power Plant in providing energy for the area.  (The combination of the nuclear plant and pumped storage plant is mentioned in this post on load following nuclear plants.)

•Zaporizhzhya NPP (sometimes seen as  "Zaporizhia" or "Zaporozhye") was ordered in 1977, began construction in 1979 and is Ukraine's (and Europe's) largest nuclear plant.  The site houses six VVER-1000 reactor plants, Units 1 through 6 which came on line between 1984 and 1995 and also houses a large, dry, above ground spent fuel facility placed in operation in 2004.  This plant has its own website

•Khmelnystska NPP (sometimes seen as "Khmelnitskaya") is presently a two unit nuclear station with two operating VVER-1000 nuclear plants, Units 1 and 2 which came on line in 1987 and 2004 - the second unit being held up by the general Ukrainian nuclear construction moratorium 1991-1993.  Two further units, Units 3 and 4 are partially complete on the site (75% and 28% respectively) and Energoatom plans to complete these plants in the future (although no completion date is given on the company's website.)

----------

-Ukrainian nuclear regulator

Ukraine's regulator is the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine; its English language website is located here.  News items are available as they're translated. 

-Ukrainian nuclear plant status

The status of Ukraine's nuclear plants is updated daily at this link.  Click on the most recent date.

----------

Energoatom's Press Center in English is here.

Energoatom has a wonderful photo gallery here that nuclear communicators may wish to access.



The above links and information should give nuclear communicators what they need to find the truth, quickly, in the case of further misleading stories about nuclear plants in the Ukraine.

I welcome the inclusion of further links readers may wish to provide.

Sources consulted include "Soviet Nuclear Power Plants," David Katsman, Delphic Associates 1986

1:15 PM Eastern 1/2/2015
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW

•••••••••••••••••••••

Additional Information for reference - updated 4 PM 1/2/2015

Zaporizhzhya NPP events at Unit 3 on November 28, 2014 and at Unit 6 on December 28, 2014 both were related to the "house power transformers" at the units -- transformers that supply power to the many electrical loads inside the nuclear plants themselves if the turbine generator is not operable or trips.  In the case of the November 28 event, Unit 3 shut down at 19:54 hours safely and was back on the grid on December 6.  In the case of the December 28 event, Unit 6 took its generator off the grid at 05:50 hours but did not experience a reactor trip (scram, or shutdown) and returned its generator to the grid at 22:35 hours the same day.

Unit 3 event press release by Energoatom

Unit 3 event press release from IAEA

Unit 6 event press release from Ukraine nuclear regulator

The event on 28 November has been rated by IAEA as INES Level 0 (zero.)  That on December 28 has not yet been rated by IAEA but is an almost identical circumstance and can be expected as 0.


Lower Oil Prices Will Not Turn Producers into Pushovers

6:03 PM (4 hours ago)


to [Salon]
Published on January 2nd, 2015 | http://www.lobelog.com/lower-oil-prices-will-not-turn-producers-into-pushovers/

Lower Oil Prices Will Not Turn Producers into Pushovers

by Paul R. Pillar
The steep drop in the price of oil during the latter half of 2014 has generated much comment about how this development has weakened major oil-producing countries and supposedly made their governments more pliable on issues that separate them from other countries. Such commentary flows partly from the tendency of media and the commentariat to over-analyze any major development and to identify winners and losers. In the current instance it also reflects how people have happily noticed that several of the significant producers whose revenues have been most adversely affected by the price decline are countries commonly identified as adversaries of the United States, including Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. Edward Luttwak remarks that the price decline “is knocking down America’s principal opponents without us even trying.”http://www.lobelog.com/lower-oil-prices-will-not-turn-producers-into-pushovers/

Interesting Facts About Saudi Arabia - Business Insider

Interesting Facts About Saudi Arabia - Business Insider

Energy Crisis As Early As 2016

Energy Crisis As Early As 2016


http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Energy-Crisis-As-Early-As-2016.html

Nuclear Industry Congratulates Burns on Selection as New NRC Chairman


Nuclear Industry Congratulates Burns on Selection as New NRC Chairman


http://www.nei.org/News-Media/Media-Room/News-Releases/Nuclear-Industry-Congratulates-Burns-on-Selection

Clemson leads radionuclide project


Clemson leads radionuclide project

http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20150102/AIK0101/150109987/1002/AIK01/clemson-leads-radionuclide-project

To test melty nuclear fuel, levitate it first

To test melty nuclear fuel, levitate it first


http://www.futurity.org/uranium-dioxide-nuclear-fuel-830052/

PM Modi to seek US President Barack Obama's help for entry in Nuclear Suppliers Group

PM Modi to seek US President Barack Obama's help for entry in Nuclear Suppliers Group


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-to-seek-us-president-barack-obamas-help-for-entry-in-nuclear-suppliers-group/articleshow/45722399.cms

Chinese authorities launch probe to help identify Korea's nuclear reactor hack


Chinese authorities launch probe to help identify Korea's nuclear reactor hack

https://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=173831

atomic power review: Ukraine Nuclear Plants - Resources and Information


First, Happy New Year!  Second....

We're seeing a trend now wherein Russian news sources (RT, ITAR-TASS) apparently have a mandate to erroneously report on events at Ukraine's nuclear plants, blowing them out of proportion.  These sources cannot be trusted, but are reposted and shared widely outside our sphere.

To help all of us combat this I've constructed a special post on my blog.  This post has brief information on Ukraine's nuclear plants and has a number of links to real time information both from the operator of Ukraine's plants and its nuclear regulator.  Using this post you should be able to quickly deduce if information you're seeing somewhere is realistic or not.

Click here to see this new post:


Even if you lost the link to that post, I've meta tagged it so that searching on the blog for 'ukraine' or some such related term would pull up the post right away.  All you need do then is remember it's there and go use the search box to look for it.  You can then get news updates immediately in English from the regulator and operator.  Of course, there is often a delay in these so you can (with just a bit more time) go to the original language page and use a translator to get more recent information.

Oh, by the way...  If and when you get time I strongly suggest looking around the photo gallery I've linked.  Beautiful photos of plant life outside the stations, of artwork and statuary and grounds at the stations, and (see if you can find it) even a tree in a planter INSIDE one of the plants' turbine buildings!  These are some beautiful and well cared for nuclear plants in the visual aspect, and the photos offered are great representations.

The gallery is just as good as that which Bulgaria has for the Kozloduy NPP - a gallery I've long pointed out as a stand-apart example of how to showcase a nuclear plant in photos for the public.
 
 
Will Davis
 
Communications Director, N.S. Savannah Association, Inc.
 
Consultant / Author:  American Nuclear Society

Contributing Author:  Fuel Cycle Week
iPhone:  216-544-3808

Ukraine signs Westinghouse nuclear fuel deal

Ukraine signs Westinghouse nuclear fuel deal
Kiev (AFP) Dec 30, 2014 - Ukraine on Tuesday sealed an additional nuclear fuel supply deal with US giant Westinghouse in order to ease its energy dependence on Russia. Westinghouse Electric Company said it signed a deal in Brussels with Ukraine's Energoatom state nuclear power provider "to significantly increase fuel deliveries to Ukrainian nuclear power plants through 2020." No figures were immediately availabl ... morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Ukraine_signs_Westinghouse_nuclear_fuel_deal_999.html

Russia Slams Kiev for Switching to US Supplies of Nuclear Fuel

Russia Slams Kiev for Switching to US Supplies of Nuclear Fuel
Moscow (Sputnik) Jan 02, 2015 - By replacing Russia with a US company as supplier of nuclear fuel, Ukraine endangers the health of its citizens and other peoples in Europe, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. Ukraine signed in Brussels earlier on Tuesday an agreement to buy nuclear fuel for its Soviet- and Russian-made reactors from the US company Westinghouse. "This dangerous experiment, attempted by Kie ... morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Russia_Slams_Kiev_for_Switching_to_US_Supplies_of_Nuclear_Fuel_999.html

Russia's Nuclear Development in 2014

Russia's Nuclear Development in 2014
Moscow (Sputnik) Jan 02, 2015 - Russia's nuclear industry has seen rapid development throughout 2014, with multiple nuclear plants coming on stream, construction of new sites underway, and the signing of a number of ambitious contracts with foreign partners. Moreover, Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom has fulfilled its state defense contract obligations for 2014. The 2014 geopolitical situation has had a negative imp ... morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Russias_Nuclear_Development_in_2014_999.html

Fukushima Radiation to Reach Peak Levels Off US West Coast in 2015

Fukushima Radiation to Reach Peak Levels Off US West Coast in 2015
Moscow (Sputnik) Jan 02, 2015 - The report, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first systematic study of the arrival of the Fukushima radioactivity signal in continental waters off North America. The US research focused on cesium-137, leaked into the Pacific following the disastrous 2011 meltdown at the Japanese power plant and carried by ocean currents to the North American c ... morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Fukushima_Radiation_to_Reach_Peak_Levels_Off_US_West_Coast_in_2015_999.html

Indian NPP's first unit begins commercial operation

Indian NPP's first unit begins commercial operation
Moscow (Sputnik) Jan 02, 2015 - The first unit of the Indian Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) built with Russian assistance has begun commercial operation under Russian guarantee, a source in Russian nuclear industry told RIA Novosti. Kudankulam's first unit is currently the most powerful nuclear unit in India, generating a full 1,000 MW of electricity. The unit was included in India's national power grid in 2013 and ... morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Indian_NPPs_First_Unit_Begins_Commercial_Operation_Under_Russian_Guarantee_999.html

Are Jordan's nuclear ambitions a mirage?


Are Jordan's nuclear ambitions a mirage?

http://thebulletin.org/are-jordans-nuclear-ambitions-mirage

When the Ayatollah Said No to Nukes

When the Ayatollah Said No to Nukes

In an exclusive interview, a top Iranian official says that Khomeini personally stopped him from building Iran's WMD program.


http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/10/16/when-the-ayatollah-said-no-to-nukes/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Flashpoints&utm_campaign=2014_FlashPoints%20RS%20bestofonline2014

US Army report calls for ‘military support’ of Israeli energy grab


US Army report calls for ‘military support’ of Israeli energy grab

http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/us-army-report-calls-military-support-israeli-energy-grab-57185571

Why Closing Vermont Yankee Won't Raise New England's Power Bills


Why Closing Vermont Yankee Won't Raise New England's Power Bills

http://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2014/12/31/why-closing-vermont-yankee-wont-raise-new-englands-power-bills/2/

Israel’s Policy Confusion on Natural Gas

Israel’s Policy Confusion on Natural Gas

By Simon Henderson
Tamar, The Natural Gas Production Platform Off The Israeli Coast, Is To Begin It's Natural Gas Production
The Israeli regulator’s decision to reopen a natural gas agreement because of a monopoly issue jeopardizes the country’s gas export potential and its ability to attract foreign capital, as well as threatening to complicate relations with Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt. Yesterday, Israel’s Antitrust Authority announced it was considering whether to cancel an agreement

New York Embraces Politics, Fear With Fracking Ban

New York Embraces Politics, Fear With Fracking Ban

By Energy Tomorrow Blog
Fracking In California Under Spotlight As Some Local Municipalities Issue Bans
Some interesting perspective on New York’s decision to ban hydraulic fracturing – from neighboring Pennsylvania, where safe fracking has lifted the state economy while directly benefiting cities and towns all across the commonwealth. Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary for Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s transition team (to the Philadelphia Business Journal): “Governor-elect Wolf opposes a ban, and he

PennEnergy's Weekly Petroleum Update 1/2

Top Oil & Gas News

US oil and gas rig count plummets 35 to 1,840

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. plunged by 35 last week to 1,840. …more>>
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PennEnergy Video Year in Review

From a pipeline attack in Egypt, to findings from offshore Cyprus drilling, to another company leaving a shale play, all of the biggest oil and gas headlines are in the PennEnergy Video News Update. …more>>
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This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News

World's first coal-seam-gas to LNG facility starts up

Algeria calls for OPEC to cut oil production

BP begins oil production at Kinnoull field in central North Sea

Judge: No proof gas drilling tainted well water

Company withdraws Lake Hefner oil drilling proposal

Libya FM: Extremists seek to capture oil and gas resources

As oil prices fall, Alaska governor halts project spending

Petrobras authorized to start early offshore production in Buzios field

PennEnergy's Daily Power Update 1/2

Top Power Headlines

Toward Carbon-Negative Power Plants With Biomass Cofiring and CCS

Cofiring of coal and various types of biomass is now a mature technology and is currently being successfully practiced globally. …more>>
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Rosatom set to build Jordan's first nuclear power plant

Jordan and Russian state-owned firm Rosatom have approved a draft agreement for construction of a 2,000 MW nuclear power station. …more>>
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Top Power News

Entergy acquires Ninemile 6 combined cycle power plan

Vermont's sole nuclear power plant ends operations

Group wants state regulators recused from coal plant case

Gila Bend solar power plant generates output

Flexibility of German Coal-Fired Power Plants Amid Increased Renewables

India may let power companies trade coal supplies

Ukraine nuclear power plant unit taken offline

NYC fields over 200 pre-suit claims from gas blast

Nigeria plans for more coal and renewable energy

3 South Korea workers die at nuclear power plant construction site

FirstEnergy to invest in infrastructure to support Marcellus shale

Alstom works with Light Energia to stabilize electricity flow to Rio de Janeiro

Utah nixes nuclear waste storage facility

Utah nixes nuclear waste storage facility


http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2012/12/utah-nixes-nuclear-waste-storage-facility.html

Harvard Law professor says Clean Power Plan is unconstitutional


Harvard Law professor says Clean Power Plan is unconstitutional


http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/12/harvard-law-school-professor-pays-clean-power-plan-is-unconstitutional.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-january-2-2015

Power Engineering's Top Stories 1/2



Top Stories
Harvard Law professor says Clean Power Plan is unconstitutional
Laurence H. Tribe, professor of constitutional law at Harvard University and former mentor to Barack Obama, said in an article last week that the EPA’s Clean Power Plan is unconstitutional.
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Steam Turbine Rehabs Improve Heat Rates
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan calls for a 6 percent improvement in heat rates at coal-fired power plants. A significant improvement in heat rate is one of several benefits of steam turbine rehabilitations. Under the proposed Clean Power Plan, each state's reduction target for carbon dioxide is based on four "building blocks." One of those building blocks centers on heat rate improvement, or the fuel efficiency, of coal-fired power plants.
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Hinkley Point C nuclear plant to break ground in 2015
The head of EDF Energy said work on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant is expected to begin in 2015.
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NRC: DOE’s Yucca Mountain R&D meet NRC requirements
The staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published Volume 4 of its safety evaluation report on a proposed underground used nuclear fuel repository in Nevada.
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Industry News
PG&E discloses more emails with state regulators
California's largest power utility released a dozen more emails Monday that it said showed improper back-channel discussions between the utility and top state regulators.
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Group wants state regulators recused from PNM case
State regulators in less than two weeks are to begin deliberating a proposal that calls for shutting down part of an aging coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico that serves more than 2 million customers in the Southwest.
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PSEG Solar to acquire Maryland solar project from juwi
PSEG Solar Source will acquire a 12.9-MW solar energy facility near Waldorf, Maryland from juwi solar (JSI). The PSEG Waldorf Solar Energy Center will increase the capacity of PSEG Solar Source's portfolio to 123-MW.
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Brown picks aide to lead troubled California utility board
Gov. Jerry Brown named a former adviser on Tuesday to be the next head of California's troubled utilities commission, replacing a regulatory chief accused of back-channel dealings with utilities. Michael Picker, a former adviser to Brown on renewable energy and a former board member of a California utility, was Brown's pick to lead the California Public Utilities Commission, the governor's office said in a statement.
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