Saturday, February 16, 2013

House Energy Committee presses DOE on nuclear security

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/283531-house-energy-committee-presses-doe-on-nuclear-security

Hanford Nuclear Tank in Wash. Is Leaking Liquids

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tank-hanford-nuclear-site-wash-leaking-18515755

F. Daiichi #4 building stability check

The link is to the 17-page handout concerning the latest F. Daiichi unit #4 reactor building structural integrity (soundness) inspection. This is the fourth since the "tilting" issue emerged. It's fairly detailed with some good graphics.

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2013/images/handouts_130213_02-e.pdf

New Google Solve for X - Lockheed Skunkworks Working on Compact 100 MW Nuclear Fusion and targets 2018 for full scale prototype and 2023 for Commercial system

Lockheed Skunkworks is working on a high beat nuclear fusion reactor that they think they can get a full scale prototype up in 5 years and a commercial system in 10 years

A 100MW compact fusion reactor that runs on plentiful and cheap deuterium and tritium (isotopes of hydrogen).

Instead of the large tokomaks which will take until the mid-2040s or 2050s for the first one and which will be large (30,000 tons) and expensive have one that fit on a truck. Build on a production line like jet engines.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/02/new-google-solve-for-x-lockheed.html

"Mix uranium from Russian nuclear weapons with Norwegian rock

"Mix uranium from Russian nuclear weapons with Norwegian rock ...
If the weapon-grade uranium is mixed with the Norwegian element thorium, the waste becomes 95 per cent less radioactive. NORWEGIAN ROCK: The ...
www.apollon.uio.no/english/articles/2013/thorium.html

Friday, February 15, 2013

‘No Clinically Observable Effects’ From Fukushima Radiation: UN

by BreakthroughInstitut

A very big report came out last month with very little fanfare. It concluded what we in nuclear science have been saying for decades – radiation doses less than about 10 rem (0.1 Sv) are no big deal. The linear no-threshold dose hypothesis (LNT) does not apply to doses less than 10 rem (0.1 Sv), which is the region encompassing background levels around the world, and is the region of most importance to nuclear energy, most medical procedures and most areas affected by accidents like Fukushima.http://theenergycollective.com/breakthroughinstitut/186436/no-clinically-observable-effects-fukushima-radiation-un?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Nuclear News Round Up – (11th Feb – 15th Feb)

by assystem admin

11th February 2013

12th February 2013

14th February 2013

15th February 2013

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

by Nuclear Street News Team

The last week at Fukushima Daiichi brought an inspection of dislodged debris that fell deeper into unit 3's spent fuel pool, as well as a promise by Japan's nuclear regulator to reopen an investigation into damaged isolation condensers at unit 1.

Recent developments in Japan related to the Tokyo Electric Power Co. nuclear plant blacked out following the 2011 earthquake include ...http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2013/02/15/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-weekly-review-021502.aspx

CRS Report Released: Energy Policy: 113th Congress Issues

by Taryn Rucinski

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the public policy research arm of Congress, recently issued the report Energy Policy: 113th Congress Issues (Jan. 3, 2013). The 12-page report authored by Carl E. Behrens discusses the following:

Summary

Energy policy in the United States has focused on three major goals: assuring a secure supply of energy, keeping energy costs low, and protecting the environment. In pursuit of those goals, government programs have been developed to improve the efficiency with which energy is utilized, to promote the domestic production of conventional energy sources, and to develop new energy sources, particularly renewable sources.

Implementing these programs has been controversial because of varying importance given to different aspects of energy policy. For some, dependence on imports of foreign oil, particularly from the Persian Gulf, is the primary concern; for others, the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels, whatever their origin, is most important. The contribution of burning fossil fuels to global climate change is particularly controversial. Another dichotomy is between those who see government intervention as a positive force and those who view it as a necessary evil at best.

Energy policy was an important issue in the 2012 presidential campaign, and there were sharp differences between the positions of President Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney, and between most Republicans and Democrats in Congress. The Obama Administration has vigorously pushed energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, at the same time claiming to encourage development of oil and natural gas resources. President Obama has declared global climate change a major issue. The Romney campaign argued that the Obama Administration has blocked oil and gas development, and declared that so-called green technologies are too expensive to compete in the market. Alternative energy funding, according to Romney, should be concentrated on basic research. On global climate change, Romney acknowledged that human activity contributes to global warming, but claimed there is no consensus on its extent or severity. He opposed unilateral measures that do not include actions by developing countries.

The 112th Congress did not take up comprehensive energy legislation, but numerous bills were considered on specific energy issues. Several notable bills that passed the House but were not taken up by the Senate were H.R. 4480, aimed at increasing leasing of federal land for oil and gas production; H.R. 2401 and H.R. 3409, which would have limited EPA’s issuance of new emissions restrictions for coal-fired power plants; and H.R. 6213, which would have prohibited the Department of Energy from granting loan guarantees for innovative and renewable energy projects.

CRS Report Released: Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues

by Taryn Rucinski

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the public policy research arm of Congress, recently issued the report Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues (Jan. 24, 2013). The 42-page report authored by Paul W. Parfomak, Robert Pirog, Linda Luther, and Adam Vann discusses the following:

Summary

In May 2012, Canadian pipeline company TransCanada reapplied to the U.S. Department of State for a Presidential Permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would transport crude oil from the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada, to the existing Keystone Pipeline System in Nebraska. It also could accept U.S. crude from the Bakken oil fields in Montana and North Dakota. A second segment of the Keystone XL pipeline system, the Gulf Coast Project, is proceeding separately to connect existing pipeline facilities in Oklahoma to refineries in Texas. When completed, the entire Keystone XL pipeline system would ultimately have capacity to transport 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day to U.S. market hubs. TransCanada submitted the May 2012 permit application after its 2008 Keystone XL permit application was denied.

The State Department has jurisdiction over the Keystone XL pipeline’s approval because it would cross the U.S. border. Before it can approve such a permit, the department must determine that the project is in the “national interest,” accounting for potential effects on the environment, economy, energy security, and foreign policy, among other factors. Environmental impacts are considered under the National Environmental Policy Act, as documented in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). For the 2008 permit application, a final EIS was issued in August 2011, followed by a public review period. Largely in response to public comments and efforts by the state of Nebraska, the State Department determined that it needed to examine alternative pipeline routes that would avoid the environmentally sensitive Sand Hills region of Nebraska, a sand dune formation with highly porous soil and shallow groundwater that recharges the Ogallala aquifer.

The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-78) required the Secretary of State to approve or deny the original 2008 project application within 60 days. On January 18, 2012, citing insufficient time under this deadline to properly assess the reconfigured project, the State Department denied the Keystone XL permit. Since then, TransCanada has worked with Nebraska officials to identify a pipeline route avoiding the Sand Hills. Its May 2012 permit application reflects that effort. The State Department has begun the NEPA process anew, but will largely supplement the August 2011 final EIS to include analysis of the new route in Nebraska, as well as analysis of any significant environmental issues or information that has become available since August 2011. The department estimates that it will determine whether to approve or deny the new Presidential Permit by early 2013.

The 112th Congress debated numerous legislative options addressing the Keystone XL pipeline. The North American Energy Access Act (H.R. 3548) would have transferred permitting authority for the Keystone XL pipeline project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, requiring issuance of a permit within 30 days of enactment. Several other bills (H.R. 3811, H.R. 4000, H.R. 4301, S. 2041, and S. 2199) would have approved immediately the 2008 permit application filed by TransCanada. A House bill (H.R. 6164), the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act (S. 3445), and S.Amdt. 2789 would have eliminated the Presidential Permit requirement for the reconfigured Keystone XL pipeline as proposed in TransCanada’s permit application filed on May 4, 2012. S. 2100 and H.R. 4211 would have suspended sales of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until issuance of a Presidential Permit for the Keystone XL project. H.R. 3900 sought to ensure that crude oil transported by the Keystone XL pipeline, or resulting refined petroleum products, would be sold only into U.S. markets. To date, no Keystone XL legislation has been proposed in the 113th Congress but the issues surrounding the Presidential Permit remain largely the same.

Fracking in the West: Big Reserves, Big Reservations

by The Economist

The Economist
SHALE exploitation in North Dakota has lifted incomes and brought unemployment down to 3.2% of the workforce, the lowest level in the country. Californians are rarely found looking longingly towards the Midwest. But the revelation that their state, with unemployment at 9.8% and America's highest poverty rate, may be sitting on the largest deposit of shale oil in the continental United States has led some to wonder if their salvation lies 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) beneath them.http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21571899-california-tries-decide-if-it-wants-join-shale-revolution-big-reserves-big

Naval nuclear contracts awarded

by Warwick Pipe

Separate contracts for naval nuclear power systems have been signed by engineering companies Rolls-Royce and Babcock & Wilcox. Both firms also have a significant presence in the civil nuclear industry.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Naval_nuclear_contracts_awarded.html

Funding Nuclear MOX Project Achieves US Strategies

by AREVA North America Blog

The U.S. mixed-oxide fuel (MOX) fabrication facility achieves key strategic milestones for America’s nonproliferation and economic goals. Unfortunately, the nation’s pending budget pressures place these accomplishments at risk with proposed insubstantial funding and workforce layoffs.http://us.arevablog.com/2013/02/15/funding-nuclear-mox-project-achieves-us-strategies/

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves License for Transnuclear Long Cask

by AREVA North America Bloghttp://us.arevablog.com/2013/01/28/nuclear-regulatory-commission-approves-license-for-transnuclear-long-cask/

Friday Nuclear Matinee: Low Energy Nuclear Reactions

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2013/02/15/nuclear-matinee-low-energy-nuclear-reactions/

Why Japan Can't Quit Nuclear Power

Since the Fukushima meltdown, the country has tried to reduce its reliance on nuclear reactors. But with nearly a third of its energy needs powered by the atom, change is difficult.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/why-japan-can-t-quit-nuclear-power-20130214

Most read on The Energy Collective

How Does Green Energy Push Impact Nuclear?

February 14, 2013

How Does Green Energy Push Impact Nuclear?

Westinghouse Electric Company CEO Daniel Roderick on the outlook for nuclear energy.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/money-with-melissa-francis/index.html#/v/2165895926001/how-does-green-energy-push-impact-nuclear/?playlist_id=1671716501001

The Growth Agenda The Democratic agenda is regressive — and it should be labeled as such.

The Growth Agenda
The Democratic agenda is regressive — and it should be labeled as such.

By Robert Zubrin

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/340661/growth-agenda-robert-zubrin?pg=1

Fukushima Updates

Here are the topics for today's Fukushima updates. Click the link for the full reports.

The Japanese government has finally approved the Nuclear Regulatory Authority Commissioners... Controversy over who makes the final decision on nuke restarts has re-surfaced... The structural stability of Fukushima Daiichi unit #4 has been verified by an outside expert... Fukushima Prefecture says they have found 3 child thyroid cancer cases, but none were caused by the nuke accident... Tohoku Electric Company has applied to the Tokyo government to raise their household electric rates... The NRA says they will inspect F. Daiichi unit #1’s controversial isolation condensers... Fukushima Brewers say their Sake is safe because their radiation limits are lower than the national standard for drinking water... Toshiba announced they have developed a robotic “dry ice vacuum” for removal of radioactive contamination.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

ANS Update 2/16

Responding to System Demand

By Will Davis on Feb 14, 2013 09:30 am

by Will Davis Significant discussions have occurred recently on various internet venues about “load following”—that is, the capability of a generating source to adjust its power output to match variable demands. There is a myth spreading that nuclear power plants cannot … Continue reading →
Read in browser »

Obama Shows Natural Gas Industry Some Love

http://trackingchange.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/obama-shows-natural-gas-industry-some-love/

Congress Urged To Revamp FERC's Transmission Power To Aid Renewables

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), a Washington think tank, is urging Congress to revamp the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) “backstop” transmission siting authority, saying the step is necessary to help meet state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and more broadly bring more renewable energy onto the grid.

http://cleanenergyreport.com/201302142424661/Clean-Energy-General/Public-Stories/congress-urged-to-revamp-fercs-transmission-power-to-aid-renewables/menu-id-487.html?S=LI&goback=.gde_78238_member_214310715

US NRC Blog Update: Licensing Project managers - The NRC's Expert Generalists

U.S. NRC Blog

Licensing Project Managers – The NRC’s Expert Generalists

by Moderator

Lauren Gibson

Licensing Project Manager

A licensing project manager for an operating reactor has a lot of responsibilities. We coordinate technical reviews, interface with the licensee, support the regional staff and the resident inspectors, respond during any incidents, and serve as the headquarters point of contact for anything related to the plant. We’re basically expert generalists who need a solid understanding of all the operational and licensing situations for each plant– and, importantly – the ability to communicate about it all.

I’ve been a licensing project manager for about three years, currently for the Palo Verde nuclear facility in Arizona and Columbia Generating Station in Washington State. The majority of my time is spent coordinating the review of license amendment requests. A plant’s license is much more complicated than your driver’s license. It does far more than just grant permission to operate a nuclear facility. The license also specifies how it is to be run.

Imagine having a driver’s license that required you to keep the gas tank more than half full and all four tires inflated to a certain pressure. If you wanted to wait until only a quarter of a tank remained to get more gas or you wanted to change the pressure level in your tires, you’d have to apply to amend your license. I am the person who receives those equivalent requests for my particular sites.

Those requests are then reviewed by a team of appropriate scientists, engineers, and experts, with the project manager responsible for engaging those experts and keeping an eye on the entire review. The project manager is in charge of coordinating schedules, interfacing with the licensee (the operator of the plant), ensuring that public documents are written in plain English, and packaging the final approval or denial of the request with a clear justification. In my experience, licensees have four to12 such requests at the NRC at a time. The project manager needs to understand the technical aspects of each one.

The project manager also needs to be aware of conditions at the site. The project manager serves as the headquarters point of contact for all matters related to the site, so it’s very important to know what’s going on. Every workday, I participate in a conference call with the resident inspectors and the region to discuss plant status and concerns. If the region or the residents need any headquarters support, I am there to provide it directly or to arrange it.

One of the most important and, thankfully, infrequent duties of the project manager is to respond in case of an incident at the site. If the headquarters operations center is activated, I will report there and provide site specific information. Having someone there who is familiar with the site, the conditions at the site, and any licensing and operational issues is important.

We also have the pleasure and responsibility of ensuring that the NRC is being open and transparent to the public. Licensing project managers run many of the site-specific headquarters public meetings.

So, while licensing project managers need to understand the highly technical aspects of a review or a performance issue, we also need to see the big picture, and how one issue may relate to other issues or actions at the plant. And we have to communicate it to all stakeholders – both inside and outside the NRC. It’s a great job, and one I’m happy to be doing. But it’s not easy being an expert generalist.

Moderator | February 15, 2013 at 8:13 am | Tags: Columbia Generating Station, NRC, nuclear power plants, Palo Verde | Categories: Operating Reactors | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-Zi

Natural Gas Exports: 'Whats the Rush?' Asks Dow

http://energy.aol.com/2013/02/06/natural-gas-exports-whats-the-rush-asks-dow

Natural Gas Market Transparency: What does FERC Want?

Regulation

Natural Gas Market Transparency: What does FERC Want?

http://energy.aol.com/2013/02/15/natural-gas-market-transparency-what-does-ferc-want

Businesses balk at dealing with ocean threat

They say the first-in-the-nation effort to reduce ocean acidification is premature. Environmental groups want to move forward.

http://crosscut.com/2013/02/14/olympia-2013/112955/businesses-balk-costs-dealing-ocean-threat/

Taxpayers Steaming Over Florida Nuclear Plant's Shuttering by Greg Allen

Taxpayers Steaming Over Florida Nuclear Plant's Shuttering

by Greg Allen

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/172020709/taxpayers-steaming-over-florida-nuclear-plants-shuttering

Why, Despite the Boom in Oil Production, are Gasoline Prices Still High? OilPrice

Why, Despite the Boom in Oil Production, are Gasoline Prices Still High? OilPricehttp://oilprice.com/Energy/Gas-Prices/Why-Despite-the-Boom-in-Oil-Production-are-Gasoline-Prices-Still-High.html

A Lasting Legacy of the Fukushima Rescue Mission: The Navy Life -- Into the Abyss

A Lasting Legacy of the Fukushima Rescue Mission: The Navy Life -- Into the Abyss http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roger-witherspoon/fukushima-rescue-mission_b_2671853.html

PennEnergy's Top Oil & Gas News 2/16

Top Oil & Gas News

PennEnergy Video News Update
From the President's pledge on permitting, to Exxon Mobil's announcement from Nigeria, to the new exploration rules in Colorado, all of the week's biggest headlines are in the PennEnergy Video News Update.
Full Article
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President pledges to speed up drilling approval permitting
During his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama told Americans he would speed up approvals of new oil and natural gas federal drilling permits.
Full Article
Share:

This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News
• Exxon issues production warning for Nigerian oil
• New rules for oil & gas exploration in Colorado
• Offshore oil exploration stopped in Gulf of Mexico
• U.S. files lawsuit against oil and gas company for illegal dumping
• North America shale highlighted in new report
• EIA reports falling gas prices through 2014
• Marcellus Shale Coalition responds to SOTU
• ANGA responds to State of the Union Address
• Arctic license additions for Rosneft/ExxonMobil partnership
• Statoil planning oil terminal at Veidnes
• Freeport LNG signs liquefaction tolling agreement with BP
• Offshore Israel Gabriella well operations suspended
• 494 barrel average 30-day production announced by Osage Exploration
• South Stream pipeline progressing in Serbia

Financial Times - Energy 2/16

T.com - Energy

Talks over price threaten nuclear aims

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/3CYQ1F/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Norway bank chief warns on oil reliance

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/7Z9RBO/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Centrica names British Gas chief

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/DX31C8/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Nuclear reactors: from waste to fuel

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/VT74SE/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Nuclear energy: Flexible fission

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/A5R366/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Utilities company and industry news with expert analysis from the Financial Times

EDF moves to rein in capital spending

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/GY1HAZ/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Spanish woes weigh on Iberdrola

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/FDUT27/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Mining company and industry news from the Financial Times

Barrick Gold hit by $900m pre-tax loss

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/1OKIPS/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Rio’s new chief to focus on shareholders

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/YG4KFR/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Rio Tinto vow after its biggest loss ever

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/CWNU0V/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

IAG takes off on transatlantic hopes

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/IETG7A/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Rio Tinto: discipline drill

http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/1OZK0Q/A7ZW81/MSWBWM/A5R362/82/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Exxon Mobil, Russia's Rosneft sign Arctic deals

gulfnews.com - ‎Feb 14, 2013‎

Anchorage, Alaska: Exxon Mobil Corp. and Russian partner Rosneft have signed an agreement that will give the US company exploration access to an additional 606,000 sq. kilometres in the Russian Arctic. A separate agreement will give Rosneft the ...http://gulfnews.com/business/oil-gas/exxon-mobil-russia-s-rosneft-sign-arctic-deals-1.1146209

Russia signs deal for stake in Alaska's natural-gas wealth

The Seattle Times - ‎Feb 13, 2013‎

The agreement with Exxon Mobil gives Russian oil company Rosneft the option to buy a 25 percent interest in the Point Thomson field, which is estimated to contain about one-fourth of the storehouse of recoverable natural gas on Alaska's North Slope. http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2020352603_arcticgasxml.html

Exxon Mobil reaches deeper into Russia's Arctic

Houston Chronicle - ‎Feb 13, 2013‎

Exxon Mobil Corp. vastly extended its reach in Russia's Arctic region on Wednesday, announcing it had signed an agreement to increase its exploration territory there by more than five-fold. The world's largest non-state oil company said Wednesday it had ...http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Exxon-Mobil-reaches-deeper-into-Russia-s-Arctic-4276569.php

Rosneft plans $30bn loan deal with China

Independent Online - ‎

Rosneft is seeking to borrow up to $30 billion (R265bn) from China in exchange for possibly doubling oil supplies, making Beijing the largest consumer of Russian oil and further diverting supplies away from Europe. Four industry sources familiar with the ...http://www.iol.co.za/business/international/rosneft-plans-30bn-loan-deal-with-china-1.1470580#.UR4lCRjy9Ak

Rosneft could double oil supplies to China

RT - ‎

Russia's oil major Rosneft is seeking to borrow another $30 billion, this time from China, possibly in exchange for doubling its oil supplies to the country. That would make Beijing the largest consumer of Russian oil. Just a day after agreeing on a $30 billion ...http://rt.com/business/news/rosneft-double-oil-supplies-china-237/

Russia could double oil supply to China

MarketWatch - ‎Feb 13, 2013‎

Russia's Rosneft could possibly double oil supplies to China in exchange for a loan of up to $30 billion and is in talks with state-owned China National Petroleum Corp., Reuters news agency reported Wednesday on its website, citing four unnamed industry ...http://www.marketwatch.com/story/russia-could-double-oil-supply-to-china-2013-02-13-224854320

Nuclear Fusion: An Answer to China's Energy Problems? | ChinaFile

Nuclear Fusion: An Answer to China's Energy Problems? | ChinaFile
Nuclear Fusion: An Answer to China's Energy Problems? CHINADIALOGUE; 02.13.13. The global nuclear sector has been through something of an apocalyptic ...
www.chinafile.com/nuclear-fusion-answer-china-s-energy-pro...

Cumbria nuclear waste storage plan 'dead'

Cumbria nuclear waste storage plan 'dead' | Online News | Building
Following a meeting with ministers local council leader that backed plan concedes current process to find a site has ended.
www.building.co.uk/news/sectors/...waste.../5050290.article

Move over shale gas – shale oil could boost world GDP by $2.7tn

Move over shale gas – shale oil could boost world GDP by $2.7tn energyandnuclear.com

Move over shale gas - shale oil could boost world GDP by $2.7tn Shale gas has been hailed as a game-changer after it’s gushing success in the United States – but it’s lesser known sister could have...http://energyandnuclear.com/2013/02/14/move-over-shale-gas-shale-oil-could-boost-world-gdp-by-2-7tn/?goback=.gde_2437005_member_214097610

CPUC Requiring 50 MW Of Energy Storage In 'Landmark Decision'

CPUC Requiring 50 MW Of Energy Storage In 'Landmark Decision'
Solar Industry
Of this amount, at least 50 MW is required by the CPUC to be procured by SCE from energy storage resources, as well as up to an additional total of 600 MW of capacity required to be procured from preferred resources - including energy storage resources.http://solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.12106#.UR4i_xjy-pI

GE and Southern California Edison Proving Smart Grid Technologies Can Pass ...

Utility Products -

New Delhi, Feb. 13 -- Smart grid technologies are going online across some California neighborhoods as Southern California Edison (SCE) demonstrates smart grid solutions in the real world. From automation and communications in the substation and ...http://www.utilityproducts.com/news/2013/02/14/ge-and-southern-california-edison-proving-smart-grid-technologies-can-pass-the-test-from-power-stati.html

CPUC Cuts Plans for New Power Plants in Half in Southern California

Natural Resources Defense Council (blog) - ‎

The California Public Utilities Commission this week unanimously voted to look first to energy efficiency and other clean energy resources to meet electric needs in Southern California. As a result, the CPUC reduced its authorization of new fossil generation by ...http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dwang/post_1.html

California PUC approves addition of up to 1800 MW of energy capacity

Electric Light & Power - ‎

The California Public Utilities Commission approved a long-term procurement decision February 13 ordering Southern California Edison (SCE) to procure between 1,400 and 1,800 MW of energy resource capacity in the Los Angeles basin by 2021. http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/01/california-puc-approves-addition-of-up-to-1-800-mw-of-energy-cap.html

The Future of Energy Storage and Clean Energy

http://www.nwcouncil.org/blog/index.php/2013/02/1115/

NRC asks Mitsubishi for report on San Onofre equipment issues

NRC asks Mitsubishi for report on San Onofre equipment issues
Los Angeles Times
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has asked Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to hand over a redacted version of a report on equipment issues at the now-shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant. The commission, which has already reviewed the full report, said ...http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0215-san-onofre-20130215,0,2417800.story

Nuclear reactors: from waste to fuel

A start-up backed by Bill Gates is working to eliminate the unwanted byproduct by using it to generate power, writes Sylvia Pfeifer
http://link.ft.com/r/BLH300/06AWQH/D45D0H/B5OJOP/OFO2S8/QR/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Nuclear energy: Flexible fission

FT.com - Analysis

Nuclear energy: Flexible fission

The atomic industry is shifting its focus to smaller reactors to meet surging demand from emerging economies undeterred by the Fukushima disaster. By Sylvia Pfeifer
http://link.ft.com/r/BLH300/06AWQH/D45D0H/B5OJOP/WHMX17/QR/h?a1=2013&a2=2&a3=15

Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Department of Energy to release new uranium leasing program study

House Energy Committee presses DOE on nuclear security

Hanford Nuclear Tank in Wash. Is Leaking Liquids

F. Daiichi #4 building stability check

Friday, February 15, 2013

Summary

Summary

Friday Nuclear Matinee: Low Energy Nuclear Reactions

Why Japan Can't Quit Nuclear Power

Since the Fukushima meltdown, the country has tried to reduce its reliance on nuclear reactors. But with nearly a third of its energy needs powered by the atom, change is difficult.

How Does Green Energy Push Impact Nuclear?

Responding to System Demand

More to read:

Congress Urged To Revamp FERC's Transmission Power To Aid Renewables

U.S. NRC Blog

Natural Gas Exports: 'Whats the Rush?' Asks Dow

Natural Gas Market Transparency: What does FERC Want?

Businesses balk at dealing with ocean threat

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