Saturday, September 7, 2013

Japan Informs IAEA of Situation and Policy on Addressing the Contaminated Water Issue at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi:

Japan Informs IAEA of Situation and Policy on Addressing the Contaminated Water Issue at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi: http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2013/japan-basic-policy.html

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2013/japan-basic-policy.html

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) IAEA Home iaea.org

The IAEA received on 6 September 2013 an information note by the Japanese Nuclear Regularity Authority (NRA) on issues at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The note, dated 5 September 2013, includes an overview of the current situation...

Japan Fishermen Reject Release of Fukushima Water to Ocean

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-06/tepco-irradiated-water-find-may-signal-problem-for-bypass-plan.html

Nuclear Power’s Renaissance in Reverse

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-global-decline-of-nuclear-energy-by-mycle-schneider-and-antony-froggatt

Suzuki's Fukushima updates

Update: As of today, the highest radiation level detected near the tanks is now 2,200 millisieverts per hour, up from the 1,800 millisieverts per hour that I reported yesterday.

Tatsujiro Suzuki

suzuki0 copy.png

Tatsujiro Suzuki

Suzuki is the vice chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and a member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and...

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013—I have received encouraging feedback and questions to the first column, and would like to express my sincere thanks for your kind support; please excuse me for not responding to those directly through email, Twitter, or Facebook. I will try to respond to your questions in my updates.

Update: As of today, the highest radiation level detected near the tanks is now 2,200 millisieverts per hour, up from the 1,800 millisieverts per hour that I reported yesterday.

On September 3, 2013, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced the following three principle countermeasures against the ongoing contaminated water crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: removing the source of contamination, isolating ground water from the contamination, and preventing any leaks of the contaminated water. But there are major challenges to the countermeasures that are currently employed or that planned to be employed. These issues are as follows:

Removing the source of contamination. On August 22, Tepco started pumping contaminated water from the trench and will have this water isolated by the end of

October. The multi-nuclide removal equipment—known as the Advanced Liquid Processing System, or ALPS—has three lines and a daily capacity of 750 tons; currently, it is undergoing a “hot test,” which means that the facility uses radioactive materials during the test run. However, two of its three lines are currently shutdown due to technical problems. While ALPS was planned to begin full-scale operation by the end of September, it remains uncertain if this will happen; this is why the government decided to provide financial support for a second and improved facility, which will have a similar function as ALPS, but has not yet been named.

Isolating groundwater from the contamination. On July 8, Tepco started injecting sodium silicate into the ground; the company completed enclosing the soil between units 1 and 2 on August 10. Tepco also started enclosing the soil between units 2 and 3 as well as units 3 and 4—the completion date is planned for October. Tepco will examine a freezing method to block the water flow between the turbine buildings and the trenches. This is an expensive operation (first suggested by the government's accident response office in April of 2011, but rejected by Tepco due to high costs); therefore, the government has decided to provide financial support for the effort.

Preventing leakage of the contaminated water. Tepco has installed wells—located near the reactor building that faces the mountains—to pump up groundwater so that the water will not flow into the reactor buildings. The company is currently negotiating with local residents and the fishing industry on the details surrounding the startup of these wells. On September 5, Tepco found that the underground water taken from the wells was contaminated—650 becquerel per liter—which implies that contaminated water may have leached into the underground water; heavy rainfalls this summer likely influenced this. Bypassing the underground water may not be effective if it already has been contaminated. Exact routes and the scale of contamination are still not known.

###

SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—Given the increased concern over the contaminated water leak at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, I will resume my online column to provide frequent updates of the situation at Fukushima.
As the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) summarizes, the events at the Fukushima Daiichi station picked up again on June 19, 2013, when Tepco announced that groundwater was contaminated with radioactive materials in the area between the turbine buildings and the plant port. The next month, on July 22, some of this contaminated water seeped into the plant port, though the radioactive materials that were found there and in the ocean were below the detection limit. Nevertheless, the Ministry announced that countermeasures be imposed, including the removal of the contamination source; isolation of the ground water from the contamination source; and overall leak prevention of the contaminated water.
Tepco responded, agreeing, within two years, to enclose the contaminated soil with sodium silicate walls, pump out the contaminated water from the trenches and isolate them, and bypass groundwater.
But last month, on August 18, Tepco discovered that contaminated water has leaked from above-ground storage tanks into the surrounding soil, which prompted the Nuclear Regulation Authority to rate this event as a three on the International Nuclear Event Scale—an action that made headlines around the world.
On August 26, the Ministry directed Tepco to enhance management of the tanks and the surrounding area; reinforce patrols; accelerate replacement from bolted joint tanks to welded joint tanks; accelerate the highly-contaminated water treatment and decrease the radiation dose of the surrounding area by collecting the contaminated soil; and identify the risks of storing highly-contaminated water and take actions against the risks.
Today, there are three important issues to consider and follow:

1) Highly contaminated water—containing tritium, strontium 90, and cesium 137—was detected leaking from the plant, possibly from the trench. Over the past two years, it is estimated that strontium 90 and cesium 137 discharged from the plant at about 100 times their annual levels, whereas tritium discharged at about two times its annual rate.

2) About 1,000 tons of underground water is estimated to flow into the site on a daily basis, out of which 400 tons flows daily into the reactor and turbine buildings, i.e. mixed with contaminated water. Water is circulated for core cooling, and contaminated excess water has been stored in tanks. The water decontamination facility has not been functioning due to operational issues. Leaks have been found in various tanks that store about 340,000 tons of contaminated water; the current storage capacity is about 400,000 tons. Replacing these tanks with welded tanks instead of bolted tanks currently employed will take time, and monitoring efforts have been intensified. The highest level of radioactive materials leaked is 1,800 millisieverts per hour (mostly beta ray, only 1 millisievert per hour for gamma ray, as of September 3). It cannot be denied that contaminated water from these tanks might have leaked into the sea; though this has not yet been confirmed.

3) So far, the sea near the site and outside the port do not show a significant increase in radioactivity. Nevertheless, on September 1, the local fishing industry decided to stop test fishing—that is, fishing on a limited, not commercial, scale and testing the fish for radioactivity; test fishing had been conducted since June 2012.

Last month, the Japanese government announced it would involve itself in the events at Fukushima, and announced on September 3 the various measures it would pursue to deal with this ongoing crisis, such as: establish an inter-minister level council; establish an inter-governmental liaison office near Tepco’s Fukushima site; establish an inter-governmental council for coordination near the Fukushima site; provide $470 million in financial support (to install a frozen soil wall, estimated at $320 million and provide multi-nuclide removal equipment, priced at $150 million); enhance monitoring and risk management efforts
The total cost of decontaminating the Fukushima Daiichi site is currently estimated to be around $10 billion.

http://thebulletin.org/suzukis-fukushima-updates

Looking Back Toward Decommissioning

http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2013/09/looking-back-toward-decommissioning.html

Nuclear opponents in Vermont are protesting against Entergy's announced choice of SAFSTOR for Vermont Yankee decommissioning. Opponents also claim that prompt decommissioning would keep Vermont Yankee workers employed for a long time. Looking Back Toward Decommissioning shows that Entergy can legally choose either type of decommissioning. Neither type is good for plant workers; they mostly lose their jobs within a period of a few months to a year in either case. The post has many references: the references are the "looking back" part of the post.

Friday, September 6, 2013

UPDATE 2-Britain opens doors to Russia on nuclear power

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/05/fortum-britain-idUSL6N0H119U20130905

Nevada considering seeking rehearing in Yucca licensing case: official

http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/washington/nevada-considering-seeking-rehearing-in-yucca-21519192

Penn Energy's Coal Industry Reports and Market Analysis

Coal Industry Reports and Market Analysis Asia Pacific Coal Mining Regulatory and Fiscal Regime Report - Regulatory Framework, Rights and Obligations and Key Fiscal Terms Summary This report provides an understanding of the regulatory framework and fiscal regime of the Asia-Pacific coal mining industry, comprising Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam. The report includes information about the governing authorities, governing laws and key fiscal terms pertaining to the coal mining industry in the respective countries, with a brief overview of the relevant coal mining industries. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis by a team of industry experts. Scope Comprehensive information about the governing bodies, laws and taxation structure concerning the coal mining industries in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam Information on the key fiscal terms applicable to the coal mining industry in the respective countries Information on licensing and permits requirements for operating coal mines in the region Rights and obligations of the coal mining companies operating in the respective countries Brief overview of reserves, production and consumption trends Coal-bed Methane Power Generation Gaining Momentum Globally Summary A number of countries around the world are considering adopting Coal-Bed Methane (CBM) as an alternative resource for power generation. The issue of climate change and burgeoning power demand are driving nations to include CBM in their power mix. Countries that have large CBM reserves and are active in its production include Russia, China, Australia, Canada, and the US. Australia in particular has the highest number of CBM-fired power stations in the world. The market is driven by limited natural gas reserves coupled with rising fossil fuel prices. Scope Identifies the key drivers for CBM market Focuses on Global CBM market development Coal Bed Methane in North America - Market Analysis, Competitive Landscape and Production Forecasts to 2020 Summary This report is the latest report from industry analysis specialists offering comprehensive information on the North American Coal Bed Methane (CBM) market, covering the US, Canada and Mexico. CBM is a key source of unconventional gas. Naturally occurring methane gas in coal seams has characteristics similar to those of conventional natural gas, and can therefore be used for similar applications. The report is compiled using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis, carried out by a team of industry experts. Scope Key growth drivers and challenges for the development of CBM resources in the North American market CBM exploration basins and major companies engaged in CBM exploration and production in several US states Projected CBM production by 2020 for the US and Canada Overview of CBM scenario in the US including reserves, production and major basins with brief coverage of regulations Overview of CBM scenario in Canada including reserves, production, CBM activities in different states and projected production Discussion of coal industry in Mexico including major CBM basins and coal mine methane projects

Report scrutinizes nuclear vs. solar subsidies

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/report-scrutinizes-nuclear-vs-solar-subsidies/2013-08-28?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Japan's Fukushima Ice Wall and Other Crazy Measures to Fight Disasters

TIME -

There have been some decidedly extreme environmental disasters in the last two decades. Here are some extreme measures adopted to cope with them. Share. Read Later. prev. 1 of 7. nextView All ...http://world.time.com/2013/09/06/five-environmental-disasters-and-the-desperate-measures-to-fix-them/

Germany's Energy Poverty: How Electricity Became a Luxury Good By SPIEGEL Staff

Germany's Energy Poverty: How Electricity Became a Luxury Good

By SPIEGEL Staff

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/high-costs-and-errors-of-german-transition-to-renewable-energy-a-920288.html

Germans Revolt Against Germany's Green Energy Revolution

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/09/05/germans-revolt-against-germanys-green-energy-revolution/?ss=business%3Aenergy

EIA.gov Electricity Analysis & Projections Wholesale Market Data

http://www.eia.gov/electricity/wholesale/

Why Don't We "Mothball" Shutdown Nuclear Energy Plants?

http://theenergycollective.com/ansorg/268086/why-don-t-we-mothball-shutdown-nuclear-plants

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant closure in 2014 will challenge New England energy markets

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=12851

The IAEA PRIS (Power Reactor Information System) database

The IAEA PRIS (Power Reactor Information System) database

See http://www.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/CountryDetails.aspx?current=BE

China back to drawing board as shale gas fails to flow

China back to drawing board as shale gas fails to flow Reuters

Beijing may go back to reliance on state energy giants. * Shale gas development likely to be long, slow haul. By Chen Aizhu. BEIJING, Sept 6 (Reuters) - China ...http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/05/china-shale-idUSL4N0GY23420130905

China's President Pursues Energy Deals in Russia, Central Asia

China's President Pursues Energy Deals in Russia, Central Asia Voice of America

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA — China's president came to St. Petersburg for the G-20 meeting, and while most leaders were distracted by Syria, he was pushing ...

Proof That Fracking's Aftermath Led to 109 Ohio Earthquakes

Proof That Fracking's Aftermath Led to 109 Ohio Earthquakes Slate Magazine (blog)

A new investigation published in Geophysical Research Letters confirms that the project in Pennsylvania and Ohio led to seismological instability. Want more of ...http://www.slate.com/blogs/trending/2013/09/05/fracking_causes_earthquakes_scientists_offer_proof_in_new_study_of_ohio.html

Going nowhere on U.S. nuclear waste


Going nowhere on U.S. nuclear waste Statesman Journal A federal court delivered a much-deserved rebuke of the Obama administration this week for its handling of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump ...http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130906/OPINION/309060002/Going-nowhere-U-S-nuclear-waste?nclick_check=1

“Fighting for the Next Inch”

“Fighting for the Next Inch”

Working in the nuclear industry can be a tough call to action. But
here is a passionate exposition on the importance of the industry and
the nuclear safety culture -- straight from the Vogtle nuclear
construction site

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2013/09/05/its-all-about-the-inches/

“Fighting for the Next Inch”

Senators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Defense Cash Than Lawmakers Voting No

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/09/syria-war-authorization-money/

Senators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Defense Cash Than Lawmakers Voting No
By David Kravets
09.05.13

Senators voting Wednesday to authorize a Syria strike received, on average, 83 percent more campaign financing from defense contractors than lawmakers voting against war.

ANS Update 9/6 Nuclear Matinee: Ask Dr. Dave Grabaskas, Argonne Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear Matinee: Ask Dr. Dave Grabaskas, Argonne Nuclear Engineer

By ansnuclearcafe on Sep 06, 2013 01:00 am

At the birthplace of nuclear energy, one man dares to answer all questions nuclear – Dr. Dave Grabaskas of Argonne National Laboratory. Have a question for nuclear engineer Dr. Dave Grabaskas? Leave it in the video’s comment section for a … Continue reading →
Read in browser »

Oceanus Magazine 海洋生物への影響 Originally published online May 2, 2013

海洋生物への影響

Originally published online May 2, 2013

http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/fukushima-marine-life

Crawler Bot Could Inspect Nuclear Power Stations By Eliza Strickland

Crawler Bot Could Inspect Nuclear Power Stations

By Eliza Strickland
http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/robotics/industrial-robots/a-concrete-crawler-bot-to-inspect-nuclear-power-stations

S. Korea bans fishery imports from 8 Japan prefs. including Fukushima

http://enenews.com/kyodo-urgent-s-korea-bans-all-fishery-products-from-8-japan-prefectures-govt-its-unclear-how-fukushima-incident-will-progress-in-future

24/7 Oil and Gas News Coverage

September 06, 2013

China and Turkmenistan pledge energy cooperation
Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan (UPI) Sep 4, 2013 - China and Turkmenistan have agreed to promote bilateral energy cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, told reporters Tuesday that the two countries "will be long-term, stable and reliable energy partners," China Daily newspaper reports. Turkmenistan was the first stop of Xi's four-nation Central Asian tour - his ... more

Philippines says it finds more Chinese blocks on reef
Manila (AFP) Sept 04, 2013 - The Philippines said Wednesday it had spotted more concrete blocks allegedly installed by China within Filipino territory in the South China Sea, raising concerns Beijing is planning to build in the disputed waters. Aerial surveillance has discovered about 75 blocks scattered on a section of the Scarborough Shoal, said defence department spokesman Peter Galvez. "These can be used for pla ... more

Libya in crisis as armed groups throttle oil supplies
Tripoli, Libya (UPI) Sep 4, 2013 - Lawless Libya, these days seen as a major haven for al-Qaida, is facing its greatest crisis since Moammar Gadhafi was toppled and killed in October 2011, as armed groups besiege oil fields and terminals, cutting production to a trickle and threatening economic meltdown. Output has fallen from 1.4 million barrels per day in January to just 250,000 bpd, the government says, as militias, s ... more

India tells firms to be more adventurous in oil quest
New Delhi (AFP) Sept 03, 2013 - India's foreign minister told energy firms Tuesday to be more adventurous in searching for global oil supplies as a report warned of a likely large rise in the country's fuel import needs. Oil imports already make up 75 percent of consumption, a dependence which has caused India's current account deficit to soar and prompted a crash in the value of the rupee. Import dependence is set to ... more

India's new LNG import terminal receives first delivery
New Delhi (UPI) Aug 26, 2013 - Petronet says its new import terminal in India for liquefied natural gas has received its first shipment of about 123,000 cubic meters of LNG from Qatar. The Kochi terminal in Kerala is expected to promote a shift in India from conventional fuels such as petrol, diesel and naphtha to LNG. Petronet is India's largest importer of liquid gas. About 123,000 cubic meters of LNG had ar ... more

Iraq oil exports rebound in August: ministry
Baghdad (AFP) Sept 01, 2013 - Iraq's oil exports rebounded in August from a 16-month low, as increased sales and rising prices lifted revenues to their highest level this year, a spokesman said on Sunday. Daily exports averaged 2.579 million barrels per day (bpd) in August and raised revenues of $8.3 billion, oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said in a text message, representing the highest level of income from oil expo ... more

Japan's Abe visits gas-rich Qatar
Doha (AFP) Aug 28, 2013 - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed strengthening cooperation with gas-rich Qatar as he met emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday as part of a regional tour. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the political and security fields, they said in a joint statement. Abe's tour of the Gulf is seen as his latest push to promote nuclear technology exports. ... more

Thousands protest in Romania against shale gas, gold mine
Bucharest (AFP) Sept 01, 2013 - Thousands of people took to the streets of Romania on Sunday to protest against shale gas exploration and a controversial Canadian gold mine project using cyanide. Protesters also lashed out at the government and the president for supporting these controversial projects. In Bucharest, between 4,000, according to the police, and 7,000 people, according to organisers walked between the cen ... more

China halts environmental approvals for oil giants
Shanghai (AFP) Aug 29, 2013 - China's environment ministry has suspended approvals of new projects by the country's two biggest oil firms for failing to achieve pollution reduction goals, it said Thursday. The ministry said it had temporarily halted approval of new refining projects, and renovation or expansion of existing facilities, for China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec ... more

Row between Portugal, Spain over Savage Islands
Lisbon (AFP) Sept 02, 2013 - Portugal said Monday it will press the United Nations to let it expand its control over the waters around the uninhabited Savage Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a move opposed by Spain. The tiny archipelago, made up of two major islands and several islets of volcanic origin that house a nature reserve, is located nearly midway between Portugal's Madeira Islands and Spain's Canary Islands. ... more

Poll finds 70% of oil-rich Norwegians against EU membership
Oslo, Norway (UPI) Aug 29, 2013 - A new poll finds more than two-thirds of Norwegians opposed to the country's membership in the European Union. Sentio market research, which conducted the survey, found that opposition to EU membership is consistent across all age-groups, regions and education levels, reporting that seven out of ten Norwegians would vote no in any referendum on the country joining the EU. The fin ... more

Pakistan hoping that U.S. govt. figures on shale gas reserves accurate
Islamabad, Pakistan (UPI) Aug 30, 2013 - Severe energy shortages have left Pakistan's private power companies with about 50 percent less electricity generation capability than normal demand, leading to blackouts. The companies - ramshackle and starved for investment - are blacking out both urban and rural areas, with some blackouts lasting 20 hours per day. The National Grid faces a shortfall of more than 5,000 megawa ... more

China graft probe to focus on oil firm: media
Beijing (AFP) Sept 02, 2013 - China's corruption inquiry into Jiang Jiemin, the highest-ranking official to be caught in a crackdown under the new leadership, will focus on a giant state oil firm, state media said Monday. An earlier Hong Kong report had highlighted an even more senior figure linked to China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country's biggest oil producer. Jiang worked for decades in China's petrole ... more

New fracking touted as Quebec eyes energy boom
Port-Menier, Canada / Quebec (AFP) Sept 01, 2013 - Fresh moose tracks dot the ground where plans are afoot to dig for oil. Quebec's largest energy firm, Petrolia, is eyeing an estimated 40 billion barrels of oil beneath the surface of Anticosti Island, an ecological gem at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence. But it has caused a rift among the island's few inhabitants and sparked a broader debate about the economic benefits and environmenta ... more

Indian oil tanker still being detained by Iran
New Delhi (UPI) Aug 22, 2013 - India said Thursday there have been "intensive discussions" but no progress toward gaining the release of an Indian oil tanker detained by Iran for the past week. The vessel, belonging to Shipping Corp. of India, was carrying crude oil from Iraq to India. Iranian naval authorities detained the ship Aug. 13 in the Persian Gulf, saying it was polluting Iranian waters. India, the wo ... more

Technip to lay world's deepest gas pipeline in Gulf of Mexico
Paris (AFP) Aug 23, 2013 - French firm Technip will lay the world's deepest gas pipeline for energy giant Shell in the US Gulf of Mexico, the oil services company said in a statement on Friday. This was the second big announcement by Technip in 10 days concerning deep-sea pipelaying. In the latest statement, the company said it was awarded "an important engineering, procurement and installation contract for the de ... more

India's OVL may block Chinese bid to buy into Brazil oilfield
New Delhi (UPI) Aug 20, 2013 - Both China and India have both been scouring the globe for reliable energy resources. One of the latest battlegrounds between the two Asian competing energy giants is Latin America. Competing interests have collided in Brazil, Latin America's biggest nation. India's state company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. subsidiary Videsh Ltd. is considering exercising its pre-emption ... more

Belarus, Ukraine begin joint geological surveys for oil and gas
Minsk, Belarus (UPI) Aug 21, 2013 - The USSR collapse in 1991, left many post-Soviet states, including Belarus and Ukraine, bereft of energy supplies. Accordingly, energy poor Belarus and Ukraine have begun joint oil and natural gas prospecting. According to Belarus Oil and Gas at the Scientific and Production Center for Geology State Enterprise chief geologist Iaroslav Gribik, the survey is part of the Belarusian- ... more

PetroChina says H1 profit up 5.6 percent
Hong Kong (AFP) Aug 22, 2013 - PetroChina on Thursday said first-half net profit increased 5.6 percent for 2013, citing a boost from policy reforms, which helped narrow losses for its refining and chemical businesses. China, one of the world's largest oil consumers, brought in fuel pricing mechanisms in March that are more in line with international market standards, giving more room for oil companies to set prices close ... more

Since 25 July, Libya loses nearly $1.6 billion in oil ports shutdown
Tripoli, Libya (UPI) Aug 18, 2013 - Libya's oil and gas minister says the closure of the country's oil ports has resulted in massive economic losses. During a press conference Saturday in the Libyan capital Tripoli, Oil and Gas Minister Abdel-Barri Arrousi told reporters that since July 25 the nation had lost nearly $1.6 billion in oil revenues as a result of the shutdown, adding that a further consequence would be a loss ... more

NREL, MIT: Chinese Solar PV Manufacturing Advantages Not Set in Stone

The real factors behind China's low-cost solar dominance are not intrinsically country-specific -- which means they can be replicated in other countries.

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/09/nrel-mit-heres-how-to-rebalance-the-solar-pv-playing-field?cmpid=WNL-Friday-September6-2013

Willacy’s Fukushima Posted on 6 September 2013 by Barry Brook

Willacy’s Fukushima

Posted on 6 September 2013 by Barry Brook

http://bravenewclimate.com/2013/09/06/willacys-fukushima/

Is Keystone Superfluous? Not So Fast. By Peter Gardett

Is Keystone Superfluous? Not So Fast.

By Peter Gardett
http://breakingenergy.com/2013/09/05/is-keystone-superfluous-not-so-fast/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=d01ed21752-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-d01ed21752-407304281

US Natural Gas Storage Trends by Region By Jared Anderson

US Natural Gas Storage Trends by Region

By Jared Anderson
http://breakingenergy.com/2013/09/05/us-natural-gas-storage-trends-by-region/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=d01ed21752-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-d01ed21752-407304281

Is There A Next Big US Oil Play? By Conway Irwin

Is There A Next Big US Oil Play?

By Conway Irwin
http://breakingenergy.com/2013/09/05/is-there-a-next-big-us-oil-play/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=d01ed21752-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-d01ed21752-407304281

"Jobs and livelihoods destroyed, lives disrupted, increasing carbon emissions: an anti-nuke’s life’s work”

Jobs and livelihoods destroyed, lives disrupted, increasing carbon emissions: an anti-nuke’s life’s work”

“Anti-nuclear activists are joyfully celebrating Entergy’s decision to shut down Vermont Yankee. Steve Aplin of Canadian Energy Issues wonders how this can possibly be good news, given that current Yankee employees will soon be losing their jobs and that the fossil-fired generators replacing Yankee will soon be dumping millions more tons of pollution into the air, at precisely the time when drastic reductions are urgently required. He reflects that callousness toward other people’s unemployment, and indifference to actual environmental problems, is a familiar and perennial theme in mainstream environmental activism.”

Post URL: http://canadianenergyissues.com/2013/09/04/jobs-and-livelihoods-destroyed-lives-disrupted-increasing-carbon-emissions-an-anti-nukes-lifes-work/

Energy security: Strength in reserve

By Ed Crooks and Geoff Dyer

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/916a6744-0f14-11e3-8e58-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2e7RHfDYU

Thursday, September 5, 2013

SCE seeks $2.4B from ratepayers for San Onofre


SCE seeks $2.4B from ratepayers for San Onofre Sacramento Bee SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Southern California Edison says it needs at least $2.4 billion from ratepayers over the next seven years for the shuttered San Onofre ...http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/05/5710162/sce-seeks-24b-from-ratepayers.html

MIT Study: 200,000 Premature Deaths Caused by Emissions

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/09/05/mit-study-200000-premature-deaths-caused-by-emissions/?utm_source=Cleantechnica+News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8dab63ef02-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-8dab63ef02-331974829

Holtec Nuclear Waste Cask Survives Direct Hit By Missile in Test

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2013/09/05/holtec-nuclear-waste-cask-survives-direct-hit-by-missile-in-test-090502.aspx#.UikQZBmEPgr

Japanese Government plan for better nuclear communication

Government plan for better nuclear communication

05 September 2013

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will set up an international group concerning water issues at Fukushima Daiichi, with one priority being enhanced global communication.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_Government_plan_for_better_nuclear_communication_0509131.html

US Nuclear Energy Foundation "Evangelizing Nuclear Advocacy by Bringing Science to Citizens"

US Nuclear Energy Foundation

"Evangelizing Nuclear Advocacy by Bringing Science to Citizens"

A Non-Profit 501 (C)(3) Nevada Foundation

PO Box 2867, Sparks, NV 89432 (775) 224-2089

www.usnuclearenergy.org / Email: comments@usnuclearenergy.org

"Yucca Educational Symposium" YES!

Yucca is not as Yucca as you have been told!

Learn about the Yucca Reprocessing Repository

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, take notice that the rest of the country is taking part in nuclear repository educational meetings but they are mute in Nevada . . . Why, Think about that? Do you have an inquiring mind and want to know the FACTS?

The June 2013 Issue of ECA (Energy Community Alliance a DOE Publication):

In June, representatives from 15 energy communities, states the nuclear industry, U.S. Department of Energy, national laboratories, the Shoshone-Bannock tribe and economic development entities met to discuss the role for local communities in advancing new nuclear waste storage and disposal plans. Participants at ECA's Shaping a Nuclear Future Peer Exchange, held in Idaho Falls, ID, with support from DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, focused on defining a consent-based process for siting nuclear facilities, and identifying what communities need as potential hosts.

* Energy communities support a consent-based process for siting and several communities are interested in potentially hosting interim storage facilities.

* Potential host communities need resources to begin public education campaigns now on nuclear energy and waste issues in order to achieve consent for future nuclear storage and disposal facilities.

* Local governments should identify the kinds of incentives they want to include in a consent agreement.

* Local governments must have oversight and be represented on any oversight board that is established in new legislation.

* To the extent possible, political factors must be limited in a consent-based siting process and balanced with scientific factors.

At the outset of the meeting, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Dr. Pete Lyons, joined meeting participants in an interactive discussion of community priorities and the implementation of DOE's nuclear waste management strategy.

We have teamed up with two other organizations to produce a FACTUAL educational program in November the "Yucca Educational Symposium" YES, "Yucca is not as Yucca as you have been told". It's time to learn a factual presentation about Yucca from the scientists vs. the bureaucrats.

CURRENT HEADLINES:

COURT GRANTS PETITION TO COMPLETE NRC'S YUCCA LICENSING PROCESS
YES WE CAN DISPOSE OF NUCLEAR WASTE
NRC SEEKS INPUT ON RESUMPTION OF YUCCA LICENSING REVIEW

The TRUTH is Yucca is not as Yucca as you have been told!

A vital read:

The Administration's Blue Ribbon Commission by its very charter did not examine the suitability of Yucca Mountain as a permanent repository-is estimated at $5,600,000,000 over the next ten years. . . . A committee is making it clear that any activities funded from the Nuclear Waste Fund must be in support of Yucca Mountain and no other purpose.

Another recommendation provides $25,000,000 to support the Yucca Mountain Repository including bill language allowing fund appropriations to the NRC in support of Yucca Mountain. The recommendation also expresses support to local communities who have formally consented to host and support Yucca. This includes Nye County, the county that encompasses the Yucca Mountain area, has given its formal consent to host Yucca Mountain, yet the Administration blithely ignores this consent. The Administration's Blue Ribbon Commission . . . did not examine the suitability of Yucca Mountain nor review its official application.

Link to OUR "YES" EVENT

YES Symposium Will have congressional representation, scientists, engineers and stakeholders from around the country. Our Breakout sessions will include an overview of the "Nuclear Waste Policy Act", "Economic Assessment of Used Nuclear Fuel Management in the United States". "How an educational program can transform public opinion", "The economic impact to the grassroots public", The symposium will provide a viable economic perspective for Yucca Mountain inclusive of a reprocessing facility. Events such as this symposium have not been exposed to Nevada's public and our citizens are the element required for "community acceptance" Our mission is to correct this factor.

"YES" will provide more detail for the BUSINESS COMMUNITY

We are in dire need for funding assistance for this program. PLEASE contribute slightly more than watching with interest and mail a donation to USNEF PO Box 2867, Sparks, Nevada, 89432-2867 or online at our website via credit card or PayPal.

Until our next visit, thanks for being there!

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Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire