Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, August 27, 2011
PRESS STATEMENT: CONSTELLATION ENERGY NUCLEAR GROUP (CENG) MARK SULLIVAN
PRESS STATEMENT:
CONSTELLATION ENERGY NUCLEAR GROUP (CENG)
MARK SULLIVAN
Baltimore, MD
Another update will be sent to the media later tonight.
As of 4 PM EDT, the CENG Calvert Cliffs nuclear power facility in Lusby, Maryland remains at 100 percent power on both units. We expect to remain at full power. Two representatives from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are on-site. There is a large incident response team on-site closely monitoring the storm. We remain aligned with local, state and federal officials. Safety is our number one concern for our employees and their families, the plant and our surrounding communities.
Special thanks to our outstanding employees for the extraordinary job they have done preparing the facility for the storm.
Nuclear power plants are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Our facilities at Calvert Cliffs, R.E. Ginna and Nine Mile Point have emergency safety procedures and back-up systems in place, which include early and extensive preparation for storms. We practice the plan routinely. As the storm progresses, we will comply with the NRC’s rigorous safety requirements in evaluating plant conditions as the storm progresses.
At this time, we are not expecting hurricane force winds at our Calvert site.
To prepare for the storm, our employees worked diligently by…
ü Removing on-site trailers
ü Conducting additional safety walk-downs of all outside areas to ensure equipment that could become airborne due to high winds is tied-down or removed and placed indoors.
ü Preparing waterfront equipment to withstand high winds and heavy rains.
ü Evaluating our roof conditions.
We will continue monitor Hurricane Irene throughout the night and into Sunday.
CENG (a joint venture of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: CEG) and EDF Group, SA) is based in Baltimore, Maryland. CEG owns 50.01% of CENG and is a leading supplier of energy products and services to wholesale and retail electric and natural gas customers. EDF owns 49.99% of CENG and is developing strategies in North America in nuclear, renewables and trading. CENG is a leading producer of safe and reliable nuclear power. The company owns and operates five nuclear reactors at three sites in New York and Maryland. CENG’s core values are nuclear and personal safety. Nuclear energy – America’s largest source of clean-air, carbon-free, reliable electricity, producing no greenhouse gases--accounts for more than 20 percent of U.S. produced electricity, powering one in five homes and businesses across the United States.
Hurricane's & US Nuclear Plants by Rod Adams
Who can forget Andrew's hit on Turkey Point? That was a devastating Category 4 storm that essentially wiped Homestead off of the map, and did extensive damage to the site.
"Hurricane Andrew is historic because this is the first time that a hurricane
significantly affected a commercial nuclear power plant. The eye of the
storm, with sustained winds of up to 233 kilometers per hour (km/h) [145 miles
per hour (mph)] and gusts of 282 km/h (175 mph), passed over the Turkey Point
site and caused extensive onsite and offsite damage.
The onsite damage included loss of all offsite power for more than 5 days,
complete loss of communication systems, closing of the access road, and damage
to the fire protection and security systems and warehouse facilities.
However, despite the intensity of the hurricane and the age of the plant,
onsite damage was limited to fire protection, security, and several non-
safety-related systems and structures. There was no damage to the safety-
related systems except for minor water intrusion and some damage to insulation
and paint, and there was no radioactive release to the environment. The units
remained in a stable condition and functioned as designed. "
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
"Hurricane Andrew is historic because this is the first time that a hurricane
significantly affected a commercial nuclear power plant. The eye of the
storm, with sustained winds of up to 233 kilometers per hour (km/h) [145 miles
per hour (mph)] and gusts of 282 km/h (175 mph), passed over the Turkey Point
site and caused extensive onsite and offsite damage.
The onsite damage included loss of all offsite power for more than 5 days,
complete loss of communication systems, closing of the access road, and damage
to the fire protection and security systems and warehouse facilities.
However, despite the intensity of the hurricane and the age of the plant,
onsite damage was limited to fire protection, security, and several non-
safety-related systems and structures. There was no damage to the safety-
related systems except for minor water intrusion and some damage to insulation
and paint, and there was no radioactive release to the environment. The units
remained in a stable condition and functioned as designed. "
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
Top contenders for Japan premier post face nuclear issues
Top contenders for Japan premier post face nuclear issues
Japan's next premier set to be burdened with low public confidence and party problems
Small Modular Reactors Presentation to Secretary of Energy Advisory Board - Deputy Assistant Secretary John Kelly
Small Modular Reactors Presentation to Secretary of Energy Advisory Board - Deputy Assistant Secretary John Kelly
DOE Small Modular Reactor Program (SMR)
- Research, Development & Deployment (RD&D) to enable the deployment of a fleet of SMRs in the United States
- SMR Program is a new program for FY 2011
- Structured to address the need to enable the deployment of mature, near-term SMR designs based on known LWR technology
- Conduct needed R&D activities to advance the understanding and demonstration of innovative reactor technologies and concepts
FACTBOX-Status of US nuclear plants in Hurricane Irene's path
FACTBOX-Status of US nuclear plants in Hurricane Irene's path
Indian Point Prepares for Shut Down in Case of 100 MPH Winds
Indian Point Prepares for Shut Down in Case of 100 MPH Winds
Patch.com
By Liz Giegerich The Indian Point nuclear power station in Buchanan. Rockland County In the midst of reports that Hurricane Irene will bring winds as strong as 74 miles per hour in New York and 46 miles per hour in Buchanan, where Indian Point Energy ...
http://ossining.patch.com/articles/indian-prepares-for-shut-down-in-case-of-100-mph-winds
Patch.com
By Liz Giegerich The Indian Point nuclear power station in Buchanan. Rockland County In the midst of reports that Hurricane Irene will bring winds as strong as 74 miles per hour in New York and 46 miles per hour in Buchanan, where Indian Point Energy ...
http://ossining.patch.com/articles/indian-prepares-for-shut-down-in-case-of-100-mph-winds
Dominion Energy says Millstone power plant's hurricane safety procedures in place
Dominion Energy says Millstone power plant's hurricane safety procedures in place
Dominion's Surry nuclear plant unaffected by Irene
Dominion's Surry nuclear plant unaffected by Irene
NEW YORK |
NEW YORK Aug 27 (Reuters) - The two-unit 1,600-megawatt Surry nuclear power generation station in Virginia is operating at full power and is not expected to be affected by Hurricane Irene, said a spokesman for plant operator Dominion Resources (D.N).Oyster Creek Reduces Power In Preparation For Hurricane Irene
Oyster Creek Reduces Power In Preparation For Hurricane Irene
The station will be operating at 30 percent and may shut down if winds are greater than 85 mph
Oyster Creek powers down as precaution to Irene
Oyster Creek powers down as precaution to Irene
Plant operators say facility is prepared for the hurricane
A still-open nuclear file
A still-open nuclear file
Syria's violations would be grave enough if al-Kibar reflected a Syrian attempt to build nuclear weapons for itself. They would be graver if Syria did it to share plutonium with Iran.
By Emanuele OttolenghiGovernment, Private Sector Go Long On Biofuels
Posted: 26 Aug 2011 07:18 AM PDT
On 16 August President Obama announced that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest up to $510 million by 2014 in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced “drop-in” aviation and maritime biofuels for military and commercial use. This builds on a directive Obama issued five months ago as part of his “Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future,” his administration’s policy for reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil imports, which now cost more than $300 billion.
The Queensway syndicate and the Africa trade
The Queensway syndicate and the Africa trade
China’s oil trade with Africa is dominated by an opaque syndicate. Ordinary Africans appear to do badly out of its hugely lucrative deals.
China International Fund
Irene, Climate Change, Flooding and Public Health
Posted: 26 Aug 2011 02:24 PM PDT
NRDC’s “Climate Change Threatens Health” webpages map five major climate-health vulnerabilities across the US. One of these is Flooding, which much of the East Coast is now bracing for because of the approach of Hurricane Irene.
ANS Nuclear Café publishes Hurricane Irene
With Storm Near, 370,000 in City Get Evacuation Order
With Storm Near, 370,000 in City Get Evacuation Order
Nuclear Reactors on East Coast Brace for Hurricane Irene’s Wrath
Nuclear Reactors on East Coast Brace for Hurricane Irene’s Wrath
At Dominion Resources Inc.’s Millstone nuclear station, which sits on a narrow peninsula in the Long Island Sound near Waterford, Connecticut, workers were examining flood barriers and submarine doors designed to keep reactors dry from a hurricane’s storm surge.
How Fracking Causes Earthquakes, But Not the One in Virginia
How Fracking Causes Earthquakes, But Not the One in Virginia
Friday, August 26, 2011
atomic power review
atomic power review |
Posted: 26 Aug 2011 01:57 PM PDT
The American Nuclear Society's blog, the ANS Nuclear Cafe, has a very good update on the situation regarding preparations for Hurricane Irene. They've requested the wide circulation of the following link, which after having read the article I can say I'd have circulated anyway even without the request because it contains good solid information. ANS NUCLEAR CAFE UPDATE FRI AUG 26 5PM
5:00 PM Eastern Friday August 26, 2011
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW
US says Libya's yellowcake, mustard agent secure
US says Libya's yellowcake, mustard agent secure
Washington (AFP) Aug 25, 2011 - The United States said Thursday that Libya's stockpiles of mustard agent and uranium yellowcake - potential ingredients for chemical and nuclear weapons - are secure. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said US envoy Chris Stevens was speaking with Libyan rebels about their plans to assume control of a site in Tajjura where yellowcake is kept and a mustard agent storage site in Wa ... more
Washington (AFP) Aug 25, 2011 - The United States said Thursday that Libya's stockpiles of mustard agent and uranium yellowcake - potential ingredients for chemical and nuclear weapons - are secure. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said US envoy Chris Stevens was speaking with Libyan rebels about their plans to assume control of a site in Tajjura where yellowcake is kept and a mustard agent storage site in Wa ... more
Risk perception - of fans and fission reactors Barry Brook
 | Risk perception - of fans and fission reactors |
'E' In SEC Doesn't Stand For Environment -- Why Is It Probing Fracking?
'E' In SEC Doesn't Stand For Environment -- Why Is It Probing Fracking?
Natural-gas data fuels ‘fracking’ battle
Natural-gas data fuels ‘fracking’ battle
- 08/25/11 01:15 PM ET
New federal estimates of the natural-gas resources beneath Eastern states are quickly touching off fresh battles over the controversial hydraulic fracturing drilling method.
Concern Grows Over Prospects for Middle East Disarmament Meeting By Elizabeth Whitman
Concern Grows Over Prospects for Middle East Disarmament Meeting
By Elizabeth Whitman
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 25, 2011 (IPS) - Four months before 2012 - the year a conference is slated to be held on freeing the Middle East region of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) - no date, facilitator, or host country has been named.
By Elizabeth Whitman
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 25, 2011 (IPS) - Four months before 2012 - the year a conference is slated to be held on freeing the Middle East region of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) - no date, facilitator, or host country has been named.
Waterford 3 Nuclear Plant Weathers Hurricane Katrina
Waterford 3 Nuclear Plant Weathers Hurricane Katrina
Argentina keen for more nuclear power
Argentina keen for more nuclear power
Buenos Aires (UPI) Aug 25, 2011 - Argentina is keen to increase its capacity for nuclear power production, a major part of the national electricity grid, and has signed deals with Canadian supplier Candu Energy Inc. to help reach that target. Argentina has been developing nuclear technology since the 1950s but has been ham-strung by a succession of military dictatorships, economic crises and shifting priorities. ... more
Buenos Aires (UPI) Aug 25, 2011 - Argentina is keen to increase its capacity for nuclear power production, a major part of the national electricity grid, and has signed deals with Canadian supplier Candu Energy Inc. to help reach that target. Argentina has been developing nuclear technology since the 1950s but has been ham-strung by a succession of military dictatorships, economic crises and shifting priorities. ... more
New probe to uncover mechanisms key to fusion reactor walls
New probe to uncover mechanisms key to fusion reactor walls
West Lafayette, IN (SPX) Aug 26, 2011 - A new tool developed by nuclear engineers at Purdue University will be hitched to an experimental fusion reactor at Princeton University to learn precisely what happens when extremely hot plasmas touch and interact with the inner surface of the reactor. The work is aimed at understanding plasma-wall interactions to help develop coatings or materials capable of withstanding the grueling con ... more
West Lafayette, IN (SPX) Aug 26, 2011 - A new tool developed by nuclear engineers at Purdue University will be hitched to an experimental fusion reactor at Princeton University to learn precisely what happens when extremely hot plasmas touch and interact with the inner surface of the reactor. The work is aimed at understanding plasma-wall interactions to help develop coatings or materials capable of withstanding the grueling con ... more
German energy Shock to the system An industry struggles to cope with a change in government policy
German energy
Shock to the system
An industry struggles to cope with a change in government policy
Indian Point is ready for the storm, Entergy says
Indian Point is ready for the storm, Entergy says
BUCHANAN – Entergy company officials say their Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan is “designed and built to withstand extreme weather.” Staff has worked “diligently this past week to ensure our plants are prepared for any impacts resulting from this storm,” according to Entergy Nuclear President John Herron.
He said the company is coordinating and verifying emergency communications systems with the NRC, FEMA and state agencies and backup diesel-powered generators are available to provide electricity to plant safety systems if power is lost. If offsite power goes down, Indian Point is designed to safely shut down if its needs to, Herron said.
He said under severe weather procedures, plant operators monitoring area wind speeds may actually take precautionary actions to begin shutting the plants down prior to those winds reaching the site.
BUCHANAN – Entergy company officials say their Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan is “designed and built to withstand extreme weather.” Staff has worked “diligently this past week to ensure our plants are prepared for any impacts resulting from this storm,” according to Entergy Nuclear President John Herron.
He said the company is coordinating and verifying emergency communications systems with the NRC, FEMA and state agencies and backup diesel-powered generators are available to provide electricity to plant safety systems if power is lost. If offsite power goes down, Indian Point is designed to safely shut down if its needs to, Herron said.
He said under severe weather procedures, plant operators monitoring area wind speeds may actually take precautionary actions to begin shutting the plants down prior to those winds reaching the site.
NRC faults Entergy for radioactivity leak inside Waterford 3 plant in 2009
NRC faults Entergy for radioactivity leak inside Waterford 3 plant in 2009
Nuclear Power Plants Are Getting Ready To Shut Down If Irene Gets Too Bad
Nuclear Power Plants Are Getting Ready To Shut Down If Irene Gets Too Bad
Gaston College collaborates with Duke Energy on nuclear technology
Gaston College collaborates with Duke Energy on nuclear technology
Research center opens in Bedford County
Research center opens in Bedford County
The ribbon was cut Thursday to open the acclaimed Center for Advanced Engineering and Research in Bedford County amid an atmosphere of enthusiasm.
The project, anchored by years of regional collaboration, has come to fruition and a crowd of more than 100 with many public officials and business leaders in attendance came to marvel at the new 30,000-square-foot facility.
“This ribbon cutting holds the promise of jobs and opportunity for people in our region for years to come,” said Del. Kathy Bryon, R-Campbell County, adding the opening was not a typical event.
“It’s meant to be an economic engine for the region,” said Bill Guzek of the CAER board of directors. “This is just the beginning.”
A nonprofit organization within Virginia’s Region 2000 Partnership, the center is set to create relationships with high-tech industries, major research and development centers and university researchers. It will also provide professional development for scientists and engineers.
Babcock & Wilcox, Areva, Innovative Wireless Technologies and University of Virginia have secured space there for research.
Saskatchewan government partners with Hitachi to fund nuclear research
Saskatchewan government partners with Hitachi to fund nuclear research
$142M award upheld for San Onofre nuclear fuel disposal
$142M award upheld for San Onofre nuclear fuel disposal
Draft study finds nothing to stop Energy Northwest license renewal
Draft study finds nothing to stop Energy Northwest license renewal
UPDATE 1-US nuclear regulator wants new earthquake reviews
UPDATE 1-US nuclear regulator wants new earthquake reviews
NRC Updates Meeting Information for Next Week
 | NRC Updates Meeting Information for Next Week Moderator | August 26, 2011 at 3:38 pm | Tags: nuclear | Categories: General | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-q8 |
Due to the expected effects of Hurricane Irene, the National Academy of Sciences has canceled its Aug. 29 meeting on the NRC-sponsored cancer risk study. The NAS will reschedule the meeting and provide updates on its website.
The NRC staff have updated the notice for a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31, where stakeholders and the public will comment on a staff proposal to act “without unnecessary delay” on several Japan Task Force recommendations. The new schedule has a revised agenda and a notice for the opportunity for written comments.
According to the updated notice, members of the public may submit written comments on the Near Term Task Force recommendations 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 through Friday, Sept. 2, 2011. Comments can be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov/und
Stay tuned for other public meetings or Commission meetings that may be affected by weather events.
Scott BurnellHQ Public Affairs Officer
Entergy Nuclear Facilities Continue Preparations for Hurricane Irene
Entergy Nuclear Facilities Continue Preparations for Hurricane Irene
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Entergy Nuclear's Indian Point Energy Center in New York, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts and Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vermont are continuing to track Hurricane Irene's path and potential for high winds and rainfall as the storm approaches New York and New England.
"Our nuclear plants are designed and built to withstand extreme weather," said John Herron, president and CEO of Entergy Nuclear. "Our team of expert personnel worked diligently this past week to ensure our plants are prepared for any impacts resulting from this storm."
NRC inspectors head to nuclear power plants in path of Irene
NRC inspectors head to nuclear power plants in path of Irene
Nuclear Safety and the East Coast Earthquake
GET UPDATES FROM Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Nuclear Safety and the East Coast Earthquake
Nuclear regulator wants new earthquake reviews
Nuclear regulator wants new earthquake reviews
WASHINGTON |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nuclear regulator said on Thursday that it will require operators of the nation's 104 nuclear reactors to review their earthquake risks as part of an ongoing update of seismic hazards for power plants.Earthquake Triggers Reactor-Design Review
Earthquake Triggers Reactor-Design Review
Automatic Disconnect From the Grid Didn't Need to Occur, Experts Say, Noting Safeguards Tailored for Western Temblors
13 Plants Felt Earthquake, but Reactors Were Spared By MATTHEW L. WALD
13 Plants Felt Earthquake, but Reactors Were Spared
By MATTHEW L. WALD
Risk to nuclear plants in hurricane's path may not be what you think
Risk to nuclear plants in hurricane's path may not be what you think
Oyster Creek Prepared for Hurricane Irene
Oyster Creek Prepared for Hurricane Irene
FORKED RIVER, N.J. (Friday, August 26, 2011) – The Oyster Creek Generating Station is well prepared for Hurricane Irene and its effects as it travels up the Eastern Seaboard.
Oyster Creek is designed to remain in a safe condition, even with the harsh winds and flooding projected for this hurricane. Once it was determined that the plant could be in the path of this storm, formal procedures and preparations were enacted to assure the safety of the plant, personnel and the public.
Those preparations include ensuring that all plant safety systems are operational; that all outside equipment, materials and other items are properly secured and stowed, and that plant procedures related to the affects of a hurricane are reviewed and ready for use if needed.
In addition, a team of highly trained and qualified plant personnel will be staffed at the plant to take actions, beyond their usual duties, to assure the plant, personnel and the public remain safe.
“Preparation is paramount to safety. Just as every individual should personally prepare themselves and their property for the impact of Hurricane Irene, the team at Oyster Creek, too, has been working for several days to make sure the station is prepared,” said Oyster Creek Site Vice President Michael Massaro.
Should hurricane conditions warrant, site procedures to safely shut the plant down will be followed. Exelon will make all appropriate notifications to state, county and local government officials will keep the public informed through news updates.
All nuclear generating stations are all required to be designed to withstand natural occurrences greater than those ever historically encountered in the regions where they are situated. They are built to withstand floods, high winds and have numerous safety systems that will operate and/or safely shut the reactor down in the event of a loss of offsite power. These designs are routinely reviewed and modifications are made to assure their integrity and safety.
Oyster Creek is about 60 miles east of Philadelphia in Ocean County, New Jersey. The plant produces 636 net megawatts of electricity at full power, enough electricity to supply 600,000 typical homes, the equivalent to all homes in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined. In addition, plant workers, through their payrolls, are responsible for more $96 million injected directly into New Jersey’s economy.
###
Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with approximately $19 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of the industry’s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois and Pennsylvania and natural gas to approximately 480,000 customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC.
Virginia Earthquake Sent Warning About Nuclear Power Plants
Virginia Earthquake Sent Warning About Nuclear Power Plants
NRC: Technical Basis for Regulatory Guidance on Design-Basis ...
NRC: Technical Basis for Regulatory Guidance on Design-Basis ...
www.nrc.gov › ... › Publications Prepared by NRC Contractors - Cached
Technical Basis for Regulatory Guidance on Design-Basis Hurricane Wind Speeds for Nuclear Power Plants — Draft (NUREG/CR-7005). On this page: ...
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/contract/cr7005/
Millstone, NRC have backup plan in place By Patricia Daddona
Millstone, NRC have backup plan in place
By Patricia DaddonaNuclear Reactors and Hurricanes
[PDF]
Sep 22, 2005 – Nuclear Reactors and Hurricanes. When faced with a hurricane or other foreseeable severe weather event, nuclear reactors are required to ...
Nuclear Reactors and Hurricanes
www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/natureandnukes/nukesandhurricanes092205.pdf
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick ViewSep 22, 2005 – Nuclear Reactors and Hurricanes. When faced with a hurricane or other foreseeable severe weather event, nuclear reactors are required to ...
Crystal River nuclear plant says they can handle cat 5 hurricane
Crystal River nuclear plant says they can handle cat 5 hurricane
Nuclear power plants prepare for expected hurricane
Nuclear power plants prepare for expected hurricane
East Coast Nuclear Plants Prepare for Hurricane Irene
East Coast Nuclear Plants Prepare for Hurricane Irene
FACTBOX-U.S. East Coast energy sites brace for Irene
FACTBOX-U.S. East Coast energy sites brace for Irene
Oyster Creek prepares
Oyster Creek prepares
Staff at nuclear plant secures equipment in preparation for storm
http://www.app.com/article/20110825/NJNEWS/308250093/Oyster-Creek-prepares
Staff at nuclear plant secures equipment in preparation for storm
http://www.app.com/article/20110825/NJNEWS/308250093/Oyster-Creek-prepares
Are U.S. nuclear power plants ready for earthquakes?
Are U.S. nuclear power plants ready for earthquakes?
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/08/earthquake-readiness-us-nuclear-power-plants-unclear/1
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/08/earthquake-readiness-us-nuclear-power-plants-unclear/1
Dominion Prepares for Hurricane Irene
Dominion Prepares for Hurricane Irene
-- Customers urged to take precautions, update contact information
-- Updated information to be available via www.dom.com and social media
PR Newswire
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 25, 2011
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With Hurricane Irene
approaching, Dominion Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power
are readying repair crews and preparing equipment for emergency
restoration work over the next several days. The company is asking
its customers, especially those in coastal areas, to take steps to
brace for the storm.
"This storm has serious potential to cause widespread damage," said
Rodney Blevins, vice president-Distribution Operations for Dominion
Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power. "We are geared up to
handle any situation as quickly and safely as possible. We are
treating Hurricane Irene seriously, and we urge our customers to
monitor local weather forecasts for changing conditions in order to
remain safe."
Dominion reminds its customers to call toll free 1-866-DOM-HELP
(1-866-366-4357) in the event of outages or downed lines. The
company's outage reporting system, which consists of call-center
representatives as well as an automated voice response unit, can
handle up to 100,000 calls an hour. Using the voice response unit is
the quickest way to report an outage or downed power line.
Dominion will update its website, www.dom.com, with information about
the storm. A Twitter feed (@domvapower) and Facebook page (Dominion
Virginia Power) also are available.
Dominion urges its customers to pay attention to weather reports and
to take these common-sense steps to prepare for possible outages:
* Before a storm arrives, establish an online account with
Dominion at www.dom.com (keyword: MYA) so you can easily report an
outage if it occurs and obtain outage updates online without having to
call in (keyword: reporting outages).
* Also be sure the telephone number and other information related
to your account are up to date. This includes providing a cell phone
number if that is the phone you would use to report an outage or other
problem. This simple step will ensure immediate access of your account
for faster reporting without having to speak to someone. Phone
numbers can be updated online or by calling our special phone number
update line at 1-800-222-0401.
* Have emergency supplies such as water, flashlights, radios,
extra batteries, medicine, cash and other critical items stashed away
beforehand.
* Have a plan for how you and your family will stay safe, how you
will evacuate if necessary and where you might go. Also consider who
else you might need to check on during an emergency.
* Stay informed during the emergency through news reports and
official information.
A video showing how Dominion prepares for severe storms and outage
restoration is available online at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Information specific on how to prepare for storms and potential power
outages is available at Dominion's website at
http://www.dom.com/storm-
Since hurricanes are a threat in Virginia and North Carolina, the
company suggests customers pay attention to weather reports including
those provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
If severe weather is expected, take these steps to prepare for possible outages:
Preparing for the storm
* Read the hurricane evacuation guidelines available at the
Virginia Department of Transportation's website:
http://www.virginiadot.org/
North Carolina Department of Transportation website:
http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/
* Develop an emergency plan that addresses any special medical
needs you have. Information is available on the Virginia Department
of Emergency Management's website at:
http://www.vaemergency.gov/
* Make sure you have a battery-operated radio, multiple
flashlights and a battery-operated clock and fan, along with extra
batteries.
* Have at least three gallons of fresh water per person on hand.
This is especially important for those who rely on well water.
* Have a good supply of canned and other non-refrigerated foods available.
* If you have pets, make sure you have provided for them, as well.
During the storm, if electricity is interrupted
* Turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and
stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and
computers. This will prevent damage to appliances and possible
overloads to the company's system when power is restored.
* Post a list of contents on your freezer door to minimize the
number of times you open it.
* Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when
power is restored.
* If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking
and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.
After the storm
* Listen to your local radio station on your car or
battery-powered radio for regular news and weather updates. Don't rely
on your neighbors to report your outage. Call Dominion at
1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
* Stay away from fallen wires, flooded areas and debris. Treat
all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are
energized.
* Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate
one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
* Do not connect portable generators directly to the electrical
system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion's
power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician
perform the work or plug appliances directly into the generator using
the proper-sized extension cords.
* Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so run
your generator outside with proper ventilation. Store the fuel for
your generator safely.
* Visually inspect the area around your electricity meter. If you
detect or suspect any damage, call us at 1-866-DOM-HELP.
Some useful links for the public and media during the summer storm season:
* Dominion Virginia Power Storm Center:
http://www.dom.com/storm-
* Virginia Department of Emergency Management: http://www.vaemergency.com/
* Federal Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
* National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Dominion (NYSE:D) is one of the nation's largest producers and
transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 28,200
megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest
natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 15
states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's
website at www.dom.com.
Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/
on our Facebook page by searching, keyword: Dominion Virginia Power.
SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power
CONTACT: Karl R. Neddenien, (804) 771-6115, Karl.R.Neddenien@dom.com,
Le-Ha Anderson, +1-703-796-9308, Le-Ha.Anderson@dom.com, or Bonita B.
Harris, +1-757-857-2700, Bonita.B.Harris@dom.com
Web Site: http://www.dom.com
http://media.prnewswire.com/
-- Customers urged to take precautions, update contact information
-- Updated information to be available via www.dom.com and social media
PR Newswire
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 25, 2011
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With Hurricane Irene
approaching, Dominion Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power
are readying repair crews and preparing equipment for emergency
restoration work over the next several days. The company is asking
its customers, especially those in coastal areas, to take steps to
brace for the storm.
"This storm has serious potential to cause widespread damage," said
Rodney Blevins, vice president-Distribution Operations for Dominion
Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power. "We are geared up to
handle any situation as quickly and safely as possible. We are
treating Hurricane Irene seriously, and we urge our customers to
monitor local weather forecasts for changing conditions in order to
remain safe."
Dominion reminds its customers to call toll free 1-866-DOM-HELP
(1-866-366-4357) in the event of outages or downed lines. The
company's outage reporting system, which consists of call-center
representatives as well as an automated voice response unit, can
handle up to 100,000 calls an hour. Using the voice response unit is
the quickest way to report an outage or downed power line.
Dominion will update its website, www.dom.com, with information about
the storm. A Twitter feed (@domvapower) and Facebook page (Dominion
Virginia Power) also are available.
Dominion urges its customers to pay attention to weather reports and
to take these common-sense steps to prepare for possible outages:
* Before a storm arrives, establish an online account with
Dominion at www.dom.com (keyword: MYA) so you can easily report an
outage if it occurs and obtain outage updates online without having to
call in (keyword: reporting outages).
* Also be sure the telephone number and other information related
to your account are up to date. This includes providing a cell phone
number if that is the phone you would use to report an outage or other
problem. This simple step will ensure immediate access of your account
for faster reporting without having to speak to someone. Phone
numbers can be updated online or by calling our special phone number
update line at 1-800-222-0401.
* Have emergency supplies such as water, flashlights, radios,
extra batteries, medicine, cash and other critical items stashed away
beforehand.
* Have a plan for how you and your family will stay safe, how you
will evacuate if necessary and where you might go. Also consider who
else you might need to check on during an emergency.
* Stay informed during the emergency through news reports and
official information.
A video showing how Dominion prepares for severe storms and outage
restoration is available online at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Information specific on how to prepare for storms and potential power
outages is available at Dominion's website at
http://www.dom.com/storm-
Since hurricanes are a threat in Virginia and North Carolina, the
company suggests customers pay attention to weather reports including
those provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
If severe weather is expected, take these steps to prepare for possible outages:
Preparing for the storm
* Read the hurricane evacuation guidelines available at the
Virginia Department of Transportation's website:
http://www.virginiadot.org/
North Carolina Department of Transportation website:
http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/
* Develop an emergency plan that addresses any special medical
needs you have. Information is available on the Virginia Department
of Emergency Management's website at:
http://www.vaemergency.gov/
* Make sure you have a battery-operated radio, multiple
flashlights and a battery-operated clock and fan, along with extra
batteries.
* Have at least three gallons of fresh water per person on hand.
This is especially important for those who rely on well water.
* Have a good supply of canned and other non-refrigerated foods available.
* If you have pets, make sure you have provided for them, as well.
During the storm, if electricity is interrupted
* Turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and
stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and
computers. This will prevent damage to appliances and possible
overloads to the company's system when power is restored.
* Post a list of contents on your freezer door to minimize the
number of times you open it.
* Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when
power is restored.
* If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking
and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.
After the storm
* Listen to your local radio station on your car or
battery-powered radio for regular news and weather updates. Don't rely
on your neighbors to report your outage. Call Dominion at
1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
* Stay away from fallen wires, flooded areas and debris. Treat
all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are
energized.
* Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate
one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
* Do not connect portable generators directly to the electrical
system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion's
power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician
perform the work or plug appliances directly into the generator using
the proper-sized extension cords.
* Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so run
your generator outside with proper ventilation. Store the fuel for
your generator safely.
* Visually inspect the area around your electricity meter. If you
detect or suspect any damage, call us at 1-866-DOM-HELP.
Some useful links for the public and media during the summer storm season:
* Dominion Virginia Power Storm Center:
http://www.dom.com/storm-
* Virginia Department of Emergency Management: http://www.vaemergency.com/
* Federal Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
* National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Dominion (NYSE:D) is one of the nation's largest producers and
transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 28,200
megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest
natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 15
states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's
website at www.dom.com.
Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/
on our Facebook page by searching, keyword: Dominion Virginia Power.
SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power
CONTACT: Karl R. Neddenien, (804) 771-6115, Karl.R.Neddenien@dom.com,
Le-Ha Anderson, +1-703-796-9308, Le-Ha.Anderson@dom.com, or Bonita B.
Harris, +1-757-857-2700, Bonita.B.Harris@dom.com
Web Site: http://www.dom.com
http://media.prnewswire.com/
- Show quoted text -
NRC Preparations for Hurricane Season Enable Agency to Respond Quickly
| | NRC Preparations for Hurricane Season Enable Agency to Respond Quickly |
As Hurricane Irene roars up the East Coast, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has prepared for the challenge and awaits landfall.The annual hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 and the NRC staff routinely tracks each storm from formation until dissipation, constantly evaluating whether it could pose a threat to U.S. nuclear plants and other NRC-licensed facilities.
As Irene approaches the mainland, Region II in Atlanta and Region I outside Philadelphia are providing regular updates to the NRC's Headquarters Operations Center in Rockville, Md. These briefings include information about staffing of the regional Incident Response Centers, assignment of additional staff to supplement the NRC resident inspectors at the potentially affected plants, and actions underway to ensure continuous communications with NRC-licensed facilities along the projected path of the storm.
The NRC’s regional offices have already made sure that appropriate equipment, including satellite phones, are available and operational. Before hurricane season even begins, the staff ensures that hurricane response training, computer programs and emergency contact information are all up to date. NRC inspectors also confirm that nuclear power plants in hurricane-prone areas have completed their extensive hurricane preparations.
When a storm such as Irene forms and its projected path shows possible impact on a coastline, one or more of the NRC's regional offices begins continuous hurricane tracking using the resources of all federal agencies and commercial weather forecasting services.
Within 48 hours of expected hurricane force winds, NRC officials are dispatched to the State Emergency Operations Centers. NRC regional and headquarters personnel are identified and placed "on-call" to respond if needed to any storm-induced emergency. Normal and back-up communications channels are routinely tested.
About 12 hours before the arrival of hurricane force winds, the agency will begin receiving continuous status updates from all of the NRC-licensed facilities in the hurricane's path. Communications links will also be established with state emergency response officials and other federal response agencies.
During the storm’s landfall, NRC staff maintains close contact with the licensee staff and with NRC resident inspectors on site. If normal communications are lost, back-up communications systems are used.
Following the hurricane, the NRC inspectors will help assess the extent of any damage to the facility and, if necessary, respond to any storm-induced problems. The agency also works closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine when evacuation routes are passable and offsite emergency response organizations will be sufficiently recovered from the hurricane response to resume normal activities.
We all hope Hurricane Irene and all storms have little effect on NRC-regulated facilities and all other U.S. interests, but in any case, our advance preparation allows our staff to respond quickly and effectively.
Joey LedfordRoger Hannah Office of Public AffairsRegion 2
Thorium for Energy - YouTube
thorium for energy - YouTubehttp://kennblanchard.com presents thorium for energy. I create this for ThoriumForEnergy.com.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Doing Mankind a Favor – Part 2/2
Some critics say the reason the US government and a few European countries such as Germany stopped developing Thorium as a source of power was because it is thought to be almost impossible to use thorium to make nuclear bombs.
China, on the other hand, has more than 1.3 billion people expecting a better lifestyle and to deliver that modern lifestyle takes electricity, which means China cannot afford to ignore safer and cheaper sources of energy.
Currently, the Chinese are building two radically different uranium power plants (in addition to the thorium research) called “pebble-bed reactors“, which use hundreds of thousands of uranium billiard-ball sized elements cloaked in a protective layer of graphite that will be cooled by non-explosive helium gas instead of water.
Unlike power plants such as Japan’s Fukushima Daiichy power plant, these new Chinese “pebble-bed reactors” are designed to gradually dissipate heat on their own — even if the coolant is lost as it was in Japan.
If the first “pebble-bed reactors” work, China will build dozen more.
China, on the other hand, has more than 1.3 billion people expecting a better lifestyle and to deliver that modern lifestyle takes electricity, which means China cannot afford to ignore safer and cheaper sources of energy.
Currently, the Chinese are building two radically different uranium power plants (in addition to the thorium research) called “pebble-bed reactors“, which use hundreds of thousands of uranium billiard-ball sized elements cloaked in a protective layer of graphite that will be cooled by non-explosive helium gas instead of water.
Unlike power plants such as Japan’s Fukushima Daiichy power plant, these new Chinese “pebble-bed reactors” are designed to gradually dissipate heat on their own — even if the coolant is lost as it was in Japan.
If the first “pebble-bed reactors” work, China will build dozen more.
Revealed: British government's plan to play down Fukushima
Revealed: British government's plan to play down Fukushima
Internal emails seen by Guardian show PR campaign was launched to protect UK nuclear plans after tsunami in JapanNEI Comments on Draft Recommendations From Blue Ribbon Commision on America's Future
NEI Comments on Draft Recommendations From Blue Ribbon Commision on America's Future
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 29, 2011—The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future today released its draft report of recommendations on future management of used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. Following is a statement by the Nuclear Energy Institute’s senior vice president for governmental affairs, Alex Flint.
“It is important that Americans have access to cost-efficient, U.S.-based energy resources like nuclear energy. The proper stewardship of our environment demands that we effectively manage the byproducts associated with the use of these resources. The Blue Ribbon Commission has rightly recognized that the national nuclear waste management system must be truly integrated and that the United States should remain at the forefront of technology developments and international efforts to responsibly manage nuclear materials.
“A number of recommendations in the report strike the nuclear energy industry as sensible, desirable and, given time, achievable. The industry is particularly gratified to see the recommendations calling for the establishment of one or more consolidated interim storage facilities for used nuclear fuel; development of a permanent underground repository for commercial used fuel and high-level radioactive waste from U.S. defense programs; creation of a new management organization that will assume the U.S. Department of Energy’s role in managing this material; and legislation providing full access to nuclear waste fee revenues and the federal Nuclear Waste Fund. These should be among the nation’s top energy policy priorities.
“The industry concurs with the Blue Ribbon Commission’s assertion that the availability of consolidated interim storage will provide ‘valuable flexibility’ in the nuclear waste management system. While repository site selection is not within the scope of the BRC’s work, the nuclear energy industry continues to believe that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s review of the Department of Energy’s license application for the proposed Yucca Mountain, Nevada, repository should continue.
“The nuclear energy industry also sees merit in the commission’s call for sustained public- and private-sector support for research and development of advanced reactor and fuel cycle technologies that can help address the energy challenges facing future generations.
“The nuclear energy industry stands ready to work with the administration and Congress in shaping policies that will help implement these recommendations to advance the nation’s economic, energy and environmental, as well as its national security imperatives.”
“It is important that Americans have access to cost-efficient, U.S.-based energy resources like nuclear energy. The proper stewardship of our environment demands that we effectively manage the byproducts associated with the use of these resources. The Blue Ribbon Commission has rightly recognized that the national nuclear waste management system must be truly integrated and that the United States should remain at the forefront of technology developments and international efforts to responsibly manage nuclear materials.
“A number of recommendations in the report strike the nuclear energy industry as sensible, desirable and, given time, achievable. The industry is particularly gratified to see the recommendations calling for the establishment of one or more consolidated interim storage facilities for used nuclear fuel; development of a permanent underground repository for commercial used fuel and high-level radioactive waste from U.S. defense programs; creation of a new management organization that will assume the U.S. Department of Energy’s role in managing this material; and legislation providing full access to nuclear waste fee revenues and the federal Nuclear Waste Fund. These should be among the nation’s top energy policy priorities.
“The industry concurs with the Blue Ribbon Commission’s assertion that the availability of consolidated interim storage will provide ‘valuable flexibility’ in the nuclear waste management system. While repository site selection is not within the scope of the BRC’s work, the nuclear energy industry continues to believe that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s review of the Department of Energy’s license application for the proposed Yucca Mountain, Nevada, repository should continue.
“The nuclear energy industry also sees merit in the commission’s call for sustained public- and private-sector support for research and development of advanced reactor and fuel cycle technologies that can help address the energy challenges facing future generations.
“The nuclear energy industry stands ready to work with the administration and Congress in shaping policies that will help implement these recommendations to advance the nation’s economic, energy and environmental, as well as its national security imperatives.”
U.S. Nuclear Energy Industry Intensifies Efforts to Solidify Readiness for Extreme Events
U.S. Nuclear Energy Industry Intensifies Efforts to Solidify Readiness for Extreme Events
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers possible regulatory changes to reflect lessons learned from the events at Fukushima Daichii, the U.S. nuclear energy industry continues to take independent action to ensure the safety and security of nuclear power plants across the country.
US energy research agency oversight criticized in audit
US energy research agency oversight criticized in audit
With a proposed cut of 45% hanging in the balance in the US Congress, it’s a tense season for officials at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the arm of the US Department of Energy (DOE) that specializes in funding high-risk high-payoff research on energy. Now an audit report from the DOE’s Inspector-General (IG) has added to their woes by criticizing ARPA-E over what it says is unsufficient oversight and monitoring of awards made using the $400 million the agency received under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the stimulus bill). The IG says ARPA-E lacked policies on monitoring and oversight of its awardees, including on which costs were allowable, and on termination of awards that weren’t performing well. The audit uncovered a total of about $280,000 in charges by ARPA-E awardees that were paid but not allowable. The IG also complains that ARPA-E had no system to ensure technology transfer goals set by Congress were met.
Video Tour of North Anna Nuclear Plant
Video Tour of North Anna Nuclear Plant
We really like this video tour of the North Anna plant and the visual means of explaining to the CNN viewers (and Internet video viewers) how the North Anna plant’s back up generators, and safety systems performed during and after the Virginia 5.9 quake this week.Safety upgrades and and the attention to multiple redundant back up systems made over the last 30 years can be hard to get across to users in non-abstract ways, and we think this video does a really good job. Do share it around.
Spotlight: Nuclear Industry Works Together to Support Japan
Spotlight: Nuclear Industry Works Together to Support Japan
While the media focus of the March 11 Japanese earthquake and events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy facility has subsided, there are still dedicated and highly-skilled teams working at the site for the best possible outcome. AREVA has been an active and engaged party helping to mitigate the situation and provide solutions for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and the reactors at the Fukushima site.But, this is only one part of the story.
James Hansen: Renewable Energies are Grossly Inadequate for Our Energy Needs
James Hansen: Renewable Energies are Grossly Inadequate for Our Energy Needs
“Suggesting that renewables will let us phase rapidly off fossil fuels in the United States, China, India, or the world as a whole is almost the equivalent of believing in the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy.”Climate and energy alarmists war with reality. And now and again, the incentives line up for a particular alarmist to blow the whistle on some aspect of the governmental ‘cure’ to their problem. The incendiary Joe Romm, for example, trots out free-market-type arguments against carbon sequestration and nuclear (both too expensive).
Hansen on Cap-and-Trade
NASA scientist and uber-climate-alarmist James Hansen informed the climate policy debate in 2009/2010
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Obama Shocks Oil Industry by Cancelling Exxon Mobil and Statoil Leases
Obama Shocks Oil Industry by Cancelling Exxon Mobil and Statoil Leases
Whatever one might think of the Obama presidency and the progress of the country or the direction the country is headed, the question is coming up more and more on whether the President has the best interests of the country in mind or serves his ideology first – a way to describe one kind of disruptive governing.
The administration has cancelled oil leases held by an Exxon Mobil and Statoil partnership. The Interior Department, which regulates offshore drilling, says three of partnership’s five leases have expired and the companies haven’t met the requirements for an extension. The confusion begins where
Read more...
The administration has cancelled oil leases held by an Exxon Mobil and Statoil partnership. The Interior Department, which regulates offshore drilling, says three of partnership’s five leases have expired and the companies haven’t met the requirements for an extension. The confusion begins where
Read more...
Investor Interest in U.S. Biofuel Production Set to Soar
Investor Interest in U.S. Biofuel Production Set to Soar
On 16 August President Obama announced that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest up to $510 million by 2014 in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced “drop-in” aviation and maritime biofuels for military and commercial use. This builds on a directive Obama issued five months ago as part of his “Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future,” his administration’s policy for reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil imports, which now cost more than $300 billion.
The plan envisages the three federal departments to invest a total of up to $510 million, which will require
Read more...
The plan envisages the three federal departments to invest a total of up to $510 million, which will require
Read more...
Mongolia's Energy Sector Booming
Mongolia's Energy Sector Booming
Mongolia’s rising mineral and fuel production is transforming the nation’s economy. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) predicted last month that the economy will grow by 9 percent in 2011, with this rate accelerating to 12 percent in 2012 due to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country’s mining sector, which the EBRD says made up 26 percent of Mongolia’s GDP in 2010.
Mongolian governmental policy has not made all foreign investors happy, however. Earlier this year the U.S. Department of State wrote in a review of Mongolia’s investment climate, “Specific governmental acts regarding foreign involvement in Mongolia’s
Read more...
Mongolian governmental policy has not made all foreign investors happy, however. Earlier this year the U.S. Department of State wrote in a review of Mongolia’s investment climate, “Specific governmental acts regarding foreign involvement in Mongolia’s
Read more...
South Korea Investing in Kazakhstan Energy Projects
South Korea Investing in Kazakhstan Energy Projects
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is currently visiting Kazakhstan. In one result of Lee’s visit, South Korea and Kazakhstan have signed agreements for two $4 billion projects to build a thermal power plant and a petrochemical complex in the Central Asian nation.
Under the terms of an inter-government agreement signed during President Lee's state visit, South Korea is guaranteed 70 percent stake in a $4 billion project to build a coal-fired power plant in the southern city of Balkhash, the United Arab Emirates Wakalat Anba’a al-Emarat news agency reported.
South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and Samsung C&T currently hold a
Read more...
Under the terms of an inter-government agreement signed during President Lee's state visit, South Korea is guaranteed 70 percent stake in a $4 billion project to build a coal-fired power plant in the southern city of Balkhash, the United Arab Emirates Wakalat Anba’a al-Emarat news agency reported.
South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and Samsung C&T currently hold a
Read more...
Iran's Energy Sector Beset by Problems
Iran's Energy Sector Beset by Problems
Iran Petrochemical Industries Company executive director Abdel Hoseyn Bayat has criticized shortcomings in the country’s energy sector, telling journalists, "Currently the installed capacity at the petrochemical units has come close to 54.5 million tons per year, while the production program is 46 million tons per year. Four factors have created this unused capacity. Twenty-five percent of this unused capacity is due to a shortage of feed, twenty-five percent is due to technological failures, thirty percent is due to defective equipment manufacture and twenty percent is related to other factors."
Bayat’s statements have raised serious issues, such as how will Iran’s petrochemical
Read more...
Bayat’s statements have raised serious issues, such as how will Iran’s petrochemical
Read more...
Israeli PM Saw Iranian Nuke Readiness in 2009
Israeli PM Saw Iranian Nuke Readiness in 2009
A leaked U.S. diplomatic dispatch states that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in 2009 that Iran had achieved the capacity to produce a nuclear bomb, the Washington Times reported on Wednesday (see GSN, Aug. 24).Cheney Wanted Bush to Destroy Suspected Syrian Nuke Site
Cheney Wanted Bush to Destroy Suspected Syrian Nuke Site
Ex-U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in his new autobiography wrote that in June 2007 he lobbied then-President Bush to order an airstrike on a Syrian facility believed to hold an unfinished nuclear reactor, the New York Times reported on Wednesday (see GSN, May, 26, 2009).U.S. Nuclear Site Faces Safety Issues, Panel Says
U.S. Nuclear Site Faces Safety Issues, Panel Says
The U.S. Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has expressed concerns about the effects of "changes in the safety philosophy" in tritium operations at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, the Augusta, Ga., Chronicle reported on Wednesday (see GSN, Aug. 4).Global Natural Gas Potential
Global Natural Gas Potential
Interest in natural gas is growing for political, environmental, and economic reasons. But the industry faces challenges to adding pipelines, increasing international LNG trade, and exploiting newly found shale gas reserves.Another Megatons to Megawatts milestone
Another Megatons to Megawatts milestone
The Megatons to Megawatts program has now downblended 425 tonnes of high-enriched uranium (HEU), equivalent to 17,000 nuclear warheads, US uranium enrichment company USEC has announced. The 20-year program to downblend 500 tonnes of surplus weapons-grade Russian HEU into nuclear fuel for civil nuclear reactors will eliminate the equivalent of 20,0000 warheads by the time it comes to an end in 2013. The scheme is implemented by USEC and Russia's Techsnabexport (Tenex). According to USEC, Russian enriched uranium currently accounts for about half of its supply source. A new contract signed in March 2011 will see Tenex continue to supply low-enriched uranium (LEU) from Russian commercial enrichment activities to USEC after the Megatons to Megawatts program finishes.
Moving to passive designs
Moving to passive designs
For months, and perhaps years, lessons will be learned from the events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, which will serve as both a laboratory and a classroom. As the sequence of events leading to the accident continued through the accident response, at least one concept was made clear: When operating reactors, defense-in-depth -- the technical concept of multiple layers of safety backup systems -- must incorporate a series of active backup systems (meaning that they require human intervention) that must be operable to forestall single-point catastrophic failures.
Nuclear power: Between faith and fear
Nuclear power: Between faith and fear
Roundtable Topic: Is nuclear energy different than other energy sources?Several years ago, an American utility executive said, "Nuclear energy is a business, not a religion." This was a refreshing change from the usual ardent support or criticism of nuclear energy. To most people, the nuclear landscape looks quite different. Nuclear energy is not seen as just another way to boil water, and that is precisely why it usually evokes an almost religious faith or fear.
It's Official: Human Activity Can Cause Earthquakes
It's Official: Human Activity Can Cause Earthquakes
Human Activity Is Officially Acknowledged to Cause Earthquakes
The United States Geological Survey is America's official expert on earthquakes. It's the Federal agency charged with monitoring, reporting on, researching and stressing preparedness for earthquakes.So I was surprised to read the following statement by the USGS:
Earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented in a few locations in the United States, Japan, and Canada. The cause was injection of fluids into deep wells for waste disposal and secondary recovery of oil, and the use of reservoirs for water supplies. Most of these earthquakes were minor. The largest and most widely known resulted from fluid injection at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, Colorado. In 1967, an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 followed a series of smaller earthquakes. Injection had been discontinued at the site in the previous year once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established. (Nicholson, Craig and Wesson, R.L., 1990, Earthquake Hazard Associated with Deep Well Injection--A Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1951, 74 p.)
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