Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Cleantech: Innovative Lab Partnership Reduces Emissions from Coal

Cleantech: Innovative Lab Partnership Reduces Emissions from Coal

By US Department of Energy
EPA Proposes New Limits On Emissions From Coal-Fired Plants
As the United States transitions to cleaner, greener sources of power, the Energy Department is investing in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning the fossil fuels that many areas of our country still rely upon. Recently, theNational Energy Technology Laboratory partnered with Great River Energy to increase operating efficiencies and reduce the emission of

The REAL reason some people hate nuclear energy


The REAL reason some people hate nuclear energy

Guest Post by Martin Nicholson. Martin studied mathematics, engineering and electrical sciences at Cambridge University in the UK and graduated with a Masters degree in 1974. He published a peer-reviewed book on low-carbon energy systems in 2012The Power Makers’ Challenge: and the need for Fission Energy
http://bravenewclimate.com/2014/02/02/the-real-reason-some-people-hate-nuclear-energy/

Heed the warnings in extreme weather – or risk losing Earth


Anders Levermann: Make no mistake – climate change will hit us hard. We need to clean up the mess before it is too late http://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2014/jan/31/climate-change-extreme-weather-earth

Fukushima: Why It Matters and Why We Don't Need to Panic

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-devaney/fukushima-why-it-matters-_b_4698388.html

Transatomic Power White Paper


"Transatomic power's advanced molten salt reactor consumes spent fuel cleanly and completely, unlocking vast amounts of cheap, carbon free energy. It solves four of the most pressing problems facing the nuclear industry, ecological stewardship, public safety, nonproliferation and cost-efficiency. Only an advanced reactor that meets all four goals at once can truly change the game and allow for broad adoption of nuclear power." See pdf http://transatomicpower.com/white_papers/TAP_White_Paper.pdf
transatomicpower.com

Senator slams US authorities for ‘unacceptable delay’ in Fukushima response

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_31/Senator-slams-US-authorities-for-unacceptable-delay-in-Fukushima-response-1874/

Fukushima Daiichi: Closing in on Leaks

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/newsline/201401311305.html

Debris hinders decommissioning work at Fukushima nuclear plant

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201401310216

Detailed Analysis Results in the Port of Fukushima Daiichi NPS, around Discharge Channel and Bank Protection, Jan.30, 2014

Detailed Analysis Results in the Port of Fukushima Daiichi NPS, around Discharge Channel and Bank Protection, Jan.30, 2014:http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2014/images/2tb-east_14013002-e.pdf

Fukushima Watch: New Technology to Stop Deadly Strontium

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/01/31/fukushima-watch-new-technology-to-stop-deadly-strontium/

Uncertainty Over Costs Of Ongoing Projects Fuel Hold Position For Southern Company

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1986481-uncertainty-over-costs-of-ongoing-projects-fuel-hold-position-for-southern-company?source=email_rt_article_readmore

Moniz: Just to be clear, our energy boom is struggling with a serious transport problem

The energy boom of the last decade that has boosted oil and gas production in the United States has outpaced the development of critical infrastructure to transport the raw and refined materials, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said on Thursday.
Reflecting on a spate of accidents involving freight trains pulling tank cars full of volatile crude oil in Canada and the United States, Moniz said that infrastructure development was key, even beyond a reconsideration of rail regulations now under way by U.S. authorities.
“The core approach, really, is that our infrastructure needs to build out,” Moniz said in an interview with Reuters Insider.
“Here we have a case, especially with the production in North Dakota, where the Bakken shale (output) zoomed from essentially nothing to past 1 million barrels a day,” he said.

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/31/moniz-just-to-be-clear-our-energy-boom-is-struggling-with-a-serious-transport-problem/

Senator Weighs Offering Legislation Ending Liability Limits for Nuclear Disasters

http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/senator-weighs-offering-legislation-ending-liability-limits-for-nuclear-disasters-20140131

A Global Look at SMR Power

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/npi/print/volume-7/issue-1/nucleus/a-global-look-at-smr-power.html

Polish energy Going nuclear

http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2014/01/polish-energy

Connecticut Yankee and Millstone: 46 Years of Nuclear Power

http://wnpr.org/post/connecticut-yankee-and-millstone-46-years-nuclear-power

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Begins Refueling and Maintenance Outage

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140131-912784.html

The German Experience: Seen by Environmentalists and Seen by Nuclear Opponents.


The German Experience: Seen by Environmentalists and Seen by Nuclear Opponents.

 
What was the purpose of the German energy transition? If it was to have low-carbon electricity, it was a failure. If it was to phase out nuclear, it was a success.

Paint It Black

Paint It Black

On Thursday, January 30, "the list" was out at Vermont Yankee: the list of names of people who will have a job for more than a year, and the others who will be laid off when the plant closes in a year.  Angwin describes that dark day in her blog.

"Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Undergoes A Reset"

Atomic Power Review
 
"Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Undergoes A Reset"
 

Muller influenced the BEAR to adopt the Linear No Threshold (LNT) assumption in 1956


Muller influenced the BEAR to adopt the Linear No Threshold (LNT) assumption in 1956


Hermann Muller, the 1946 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology and Medicine, insisted that there was no threshold of risk from ionizing radiation. His opinion has had a long lasting influence on standards for radiation dose. He was wrong.

Analyst predicts world’s next shale boom — and it’s not China

http://shalestuff.com/controversy-2/analyst-predicts-worlds-shale-boom-its-china/article010451

Market Disruptor: Nuclear Restarts Spells Trouble for LNG

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Market_Disruptor_Nuclear_Restarts_Spells_Trouble_for_LNG_999.html

Societal Benefits of Fossil Energy to be at Least 50 Times Greater than Perceived Costs of Carbon

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Societal_Benefits_of_Fossil_Energy_to_be_at_Least_50_Times_Greater_than_Perceived_Costs_of_Carbon_999.html

Sorry, Shale. Iraq Is The Real Oil Revolution

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2014/01/31/sorry-shale-iraq-is-the-real-oil-revolution/?ss=business%3Aenergy

Britain, France to jointly work on nuclear energy

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/01/britain-france-to-jointly-work-on-nuclear-energy.html

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2014/01/31/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-weekly-review-013102.aspx#.UuyLwRmENDQ

NRC removes "red finding" from Ala. nuclear plant

http://www.smartbrief.com/01/31/14/nrc-removes-red-finding-ala-nuclear-plant#.UuyLRBmENDQ

Mich. nuclear plant's refueling shutdown reveals defects in control rod drive housings

http://www.smartbrief.com/01/31/14/mich-nuclear-plants-refueling-shutdown-reveals-defects-control-rod-drive-housings#.UuyLCBmENDQ

SMRs could aid power generation around the world, NEI says

http://www.smartbrief.com/01/31/14/smrs-could-aid-power-generation-around-world-nei-says#.UuyK1xmENDQ

EPA Abandons Major Radiation Cleanup in Florida, Despite Cancer Concerns via National Journal

http://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/atomicage/2014/01/31/epa-abandons-major-radiation-cleanup-in-florida-despite-cancer-concerns-via-national-journal/

Sellafield partially closed after ‘above normal’ reading

Sellafield partially closed after ‘above normal’ reading


http://energyandnuclear.com/2014/01/31/sellafield-partially-closed-after-above-normal-reading/

Nuclear News Round Up (27th – 31st Jan 14)

Nuclear Matinee: Inside a Nuclear Reactor Core

Nuclear Matinee: Inside a Nuclear Reactor Core
In today’s Nuclear Matinee, take a trip inside a nuclear reactor core with Jem Stansfield and the BBC. Jem explores a never-used reactor core at the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant in Austria to explain, in the most http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2014/01/31/nuclear-matinee-inside-a-nuclear-reactor-core/

Making Nukes New Again

http://www.hewlett.org/blog/posts/making-nukes-new-again

Friday, January 31, 2014

Energy State of the Union Center for Strategic and International Studies

Energy State of the Union

Energy State of the Union

Center for Strategic and International Studies | Sarah Ladislaw and Michelle Melton | 1.28.14

2013 was another remarkable year of continued change for energy in the United States.  Generally speaking, in an otherwise rather gloomy domestic and foreign policy environment for the Unites States, energy has been a good news story.
We’re producing more of almost every type of energy:
•    Dry natural gas production is at the highest levels ever in the United States although production only grew by 1 percent between 2012 and 2013. Production has increased by over 21 percent since January 2010 —an increase even more impressive given the fact that prices in December 2013 were much lower than prices at the beginning of 2010. Drilling productivity increases in the Marcellus shale accounts for the majority of the year over year increase along with some gas production in plays that contain dry gas mixed with natural gas liquids.
•    Crude oil production has surged. By the end of last year, monthly domestic production was at a level not seen in the U.S. since 1989. Current projections indicate that production could reach the 1970 all-time high of 9.6 million barrels per day by 2015.
•    Renewable energy generated 13 percent of electricity in December 2013, up from 11 percent in December 2010. And for all renewable sources, the net summer capacity of utility scale units was up 6 percent in November 2013, compared with November 2012 (fossil fuel net capacity declined over the same period).  For January 2014, 27 of 36 planned electric generating unit additions were renewable energy.
At the same time, we’re consuming less energy:
•    Electric power demand recovered a bit after dipping significantly during the recession—but was basically flat year-on-year.
•    Gasoline demand has plateaued after a serious decline post-2008 recession. Although it is still an open question of whether this is the plateau or the beginning of a steeper decline, the U.S. Energy Information Administration does not forecast any significant gasoline consumption increases in the next two years.
•    Efficiency gains are still taking place across the economy, although there is still significant room for improvement.
The changing picture on the supply and demand sides means that we’re exporting more energy:
•    Refined petroleum products exports jumped to 2.95 million barrels per day in October, a rise of about 10 percent in just one year—and a jump of 70 percent in the last ten years.
•    Natural gas pipeline exports to our neighbors have seen dramatic growth; the early months of 2013 (when the weather is cold is demand is greatest) saw a peak of nearly 99 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in January. This compares with about 84 Bcf the year before, and only 25 Bcf in 2003. A similar trend is evident for Mexico. Summer demand peaked at just over 62 Bcf in July 2013, compared with 60 Bcf the year prior. Just ten years ago, that number was not even 29 Bcf—in other words, in the course of ten years, we have doubled our natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico, and more than tripled our pipeline exports to Canada.
The flip side of the same coin is that we are less import dependent:
•    Overall, when accounting for all energy sources (including coal, electricity, natural gas, petroleum, and biofuels), we have cut our overall level of energy imports by about 15 percent.
•    Petroleum imports (including products) are down 10 percent year on year, and down nearly 15 percent since 2011.
•    Natural gas imports are down nearly 12 percent year on year, and 23 percent since 2011.
•    In part because we are importing less energy, our trade deficit has shrunk to $34.3 billion in November 2013—down about $8 billion from November of 2012.
The good news is that our expanded production and reduced consumption, along with efficiency
gains, have actually led to declining carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions:
•    Energy-related CO2 emissions are 10 percent below 2005 levels, a perch from which some have suggested we could still be on track to meet 2020 target of 17 percent below 2005 levels within the global climate regime.
That is a lot of good news, and has resulted in economic benefits as well. The oil and gas industry has rightly touted the link between job creation, economic growth, and the resurgence of U.S. hydrocarbon production. The new U.S. energy landscape has also inspired others to start speaking about an energy renaissance, and pointed to a need for U.S. policymakers to shift their mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance.
Yet in the midst of all this energy exuberance, it would be foolish to overlook the full picture.  Some parts of the energy sector are struggling, and some are even victims of their own success.
•    Oil and gas developers are having difficulty timing investment and production with infrastructure development in order to move products to market, make a fair return on their investment, and reinvest in new projects. Production has simply come on faster than the midstream infrastructure can keep up.
•    Partially as a result of the delay in permitting and building pipeline infrastructure, the push to move ever more crude oil out of areas of rapid production increases has led to a dramatic rise in the amount of crude being moved by rail.  Consequently, serious rail accidents involving crude oil have become a more frequent occurrence. Before a recent spate of accidents there was some agreement on how to make rail transportation of crude oil safer, but nothing was likely to be implemented for several years. In recent weeks, however, high-level political interest has increased as concerns about classification, tank car integrity, and liability issues persist.
•    Communities are actively weighing the perceived risks of accidents and community disturbance that could come with oil and gas development against the economic value their communities derive from these activities. Some communities have pushed back against oil and gas development, including some towns that have placed moratoria on drilling. Others have expressed their concerns—ranging from water to earthquakes—with state and local governments and industry.
•    Cheap, abundant natural gas has challenged the economic competitiveness of some segments of the renewable energy industry. In addition, a significant downscaling of government stimulus programs and very little certitude about the future of existing tax credits have also made renewable energy’s near-term outlook uncertain.  Finally, utilities have begun pushing back against net metering in some states, threatening the viability of the solar distributed generation model in those states.
•    The nuclear energy industry is struggling to revive an economic case for its existence while continuing to be undercut by cheap natural gas, declining demand, and renewable energy mandates. This year, only five new reactors were under construction, all of which have announced delays and budget overruns. Two existing nuclear plants have gone into retirement and upcoming retirements were announced for two other nuclear plants.
•    The electric power sector in general is experiencing disruptive challenges from all directions. The utility business model is under stress in some regions. New regulations and unmet infrastructure investment needs are a challenge, new technologies, distributed generation, and consumer choices are proving difficult for utilities to adapt to, and reliability and cybersecurity issues are no closer to a long-term solution than before.
Perhaps the most significant unresolved issue in the energy sector this past year was the continuing battle over the role of policy in achieving a low-carbon future. In political terms, the energy world is divided into camps: those who want to pursue a fundamentally different energy system divorced from fossil fuels and those who either don’t believe it is possible, don’t believe it is necessary, or both (plus a third camp who thinks it’s probably desirable but too costly). Much of the underlying tension in energy policy is a fundamental difference of policy views between those in each camp.
At present, energy infrastructure projects have become a proxy battle in the larger war over climate policy.  The new rules governing new power plant emissions and the upcoming rules governing existing power plant carbon emissions will be another major venue for this ongoing dispute. The issue of energy exports has also, to a lesser extent, been part of this ongoing fight over energy priorities.  Budget battles and tax reform debates all repeatedly bear witness to the ongoing dispute over which way we are headed and how best to use energy to benefit the economy. 
Recent indications are that these battles are likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Just this past week, a group of 18 environmental organizations sent a letter to the president urging him to end his pursuit of an “all of the above” energy strategy – a position often used by the administration to illustrate middle ground between keeping the current energy system robust while supporting the transition to  a low carbon future. Several days earlier, groups representing the oil and gas industry touted the benefits of oil and gas development to the domestic economy with virtually no mention of climate change. It is difficult to see a resolution in sight.
On balance, the energy state of the union is strong, but in the midst of monumental changes. For several years now the United States has been caught up in the exuberance and anxiety that comes with the onset of new trends. We are now in a more somber position of evaluating the implications of this change and, perhaps, for policy to start tackling some of its repercussions. 

Sarah Ladislaw is a senior fellow and director of the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Michelle Melton is a research associate with the CSIS Energy and National Security Program.

Out of Control Rig Off Louisiana Coast Spewing Natural Gas

Out of Control Rig Off Louisiana Coast Spewing Natural Gas
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/01/31-1

Why Coal will Remain the Basis of Electricity Generation for Most of the World

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/Why-Coal-will-Remain-the-Basis-of-Electricity-Generation-for-Most-of-the-World.html

IAEA Events on the Topics of Safety Culture, Management and Leadership for Safety

IAEA Events on the Topics of Safety Culture, Management and Leadership for Safety


IAEA Events on the Topics of Safety Culture; Management and Leadership for Safety Welcome to the SharePoint site ‘IAEA Meetings on the Topic of Safety Culture; Management and Leadership for Safety’. On this site you will find information from...

Forecasting key for Duke Energy during recent cold

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2014/01/forecasting-key-for-duke-energy-during-recent-cold.html

Bernie Sanders: What Happens After Nuclear Power Plants Close?

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/what-happens-after-nuclear-power-plants-close

Nuclear vs. renewables: Divided they fall

http://thebulletin.org/nuclear-vs-renewables-divided-they-fall

Japanese regions transition to 100% renewable energy

http://www.wwindea.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=411&Itemid=40

TECO Energy considers buying utilities to grow

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/teco-energy-considers-buying-utilities-to-grow/222086/

Obama nominates new FERC chairman

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/obama-nominates-new-ferc-chairman/222039/

Nuclear Training at Palo Verde

Over the past four weeks, John Keeley, a media manager at NEI, attended a nuclear plant systems training course at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. John has recounted his experience in a blog post and video.

http://vimeo.com/user14666519/review/85499407/186d9659cb

http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2014/01/friendships-and-lasting-lessons-from.html

Editor's Note

Dear Readers
I am tied up in business meetings today. Will resume posting over the weekend.
Best regards.
Michele Kearney

South Korea will start building to APR1400 reactors this year and China is completing two AP 1000 nuclear reactors


http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/01/south-korea-will-start-building-to.html

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Toshiba close to owning British nuclear power joint venture

Toshiba close to owning British nuclear power joint venture Toshiba Corp. is working to increase its stake in British nuclear power company NuGen by buying a 10 percent share from GDF Suez.

A Global Look at SMR Power

A Global Look at SMR Power
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced in December that NuScale Power LLC is the second company to receive funding for the development of its small modular reactor (SMR) technology.http://www.power-eng.com/articles/npi/print/volume-7/issue-1/nucleus/a-global-look-at-smr-power.html

Addressing the Age Gap in Nuclear Power Generation

Addressing the Age Gap in Nuclear Power Generation
According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), more than 120,000 people work in the U.S. nuclear power industry, with 38 percent of them set to retire within the next few years.http://www.power-eng.com/articles/npi/print/volume-7/issue-1/nucleus/addressing-the-age-gap-in-nuclear-power-generation.html

Coal-to-gas conversion project in Wisconsin approved

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/01/coal-to-gas-conversion-project-in-wisconsin-approved.html

Consumers Energy to buy natural gas-fired power plant for $155mn

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/01/consumers-energy-to-buy-natural-gas-fired-power-plant-for-155mn.html

NTE Energy proposes gas-fired plant in Ohio

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/01/nte-energy-proposes-gas-fired-plant-in-ohio.html

The Ten Reasons Why Intermittency is a Problem for Renewable Energy

http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/The-Ten-Reasons-Why-Intermittency-is-a-Problem-for-Renewable-Energy.html

Meeting called for Tenn. nuclear violations

http://newsok.com/meeting-called-for-tenn.-nuclear-violations/article/feed/644679?custom_click=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsok%2Fbusiness+%28NewsOK.com+RSS+-+business%29

Palisades nuclear plant proposes new design for historically problematic mechanisms

http://michiganradio.org/post/palisades-nuclear-plant-proposes-new-design-historically-problematic-mechanisms

Partners sought for Poland's first nuclear plant project

http://www.smartbrief.com/01/30/14/partners-sought-polands-first-nuclear-plant-project#.Uuso1BmENDQ

A Japanese Director Takes on the ‘Nuclear Lobby’ via nuclear news


A Japanese Director Takes on the ‘Nuclear Lobby’ via nuclear news
SCRIPT: This Japanese film almost never saw the light of day. “The House of the Rising Sun” tells the story of a family torn apart by a nuclear disaster. A subject so sensitive in Japan that the director found it impossible to finance his project through conventional means. But the groundswell of anti-nuclear feeling following the Fukushima disaster persuaded Takafumi Ota to turn to the public. He

Useful online book – Radiation and Health

Useful online book – Radiation and Health
The health effects of low level radiation are a continuing topic of conversation here and in many other places around the web. The Establishment view is known as the Linear No Threshold (LNT) assumption. Using that model, which was first applied to radiation standards development in 1956, every dose is assumed to impart risk to human health, all the way down to the origin of zero dose before you

Interview on B2B communication in nuclear sector

  • Subject: Interview on B2B communication in nuclear sector
Asia Nuclear Business Platform recently spoke with Laura Hermann, Senior Vice President of Potomac Communications Group (PCG) on B-to-B communications among suppliers in the nuclear energy sector.

Key issues discussed were: What is B-to-B communications? Why is it important? What is being done in the US on this? What are some interesting experiences which PCG has had in Asia and Middle East on this?

Visit www.nuclearbusiness-platform.com/asia/interview/ to read the full interview and gain further insights on this interesting topic.

Regards,

Zaf Coelho
Project Director
Asia Nuclear Business Platform
zaf@industry-platform.com

Southern Co files documents to complete DOE nuclear loan guarantee


Southern Co files documents to complete DOE nuclear loan guarantee

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/29/utilities-nuclear-southern-idUSL2N0L31O920140129

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

30 January 2014 On 30 January 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).
This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 20 to 26 January 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The NRA also provided an update on the sea are monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.
A document released by the Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mentions the report submitted by Japan In December to the IAEA on events and highlights on the progress related to the recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS.
TEPCO has also provided a document outlining some of the robotics that are being developed to assist in decontamination of the reactor buildings and translated a document detailing their technique to measure the height of the water level in the Unit 2 suppression chamber. (Higher resolution images are available here).http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2013/japan-basic-policy-full.html

Britain needs more nuclear not fracking, says IEA

Energy forecaster says UK should not pin hopes on shale and build more nuclear plants

Britain need more nuclear not fracking, says IEA
Uk fracking won't deliver the kind of energy "revolution" seen in the UK says top IEA official Photo: Alamy

Government set to raise civilian liability to $1 billion for nuclear operators

http://lethbridgeherald.com/business/business-news/2014/01/government-set-to-raise-civilian-liability-to-1-billion-for-nuclear-operators/

TEPCO fears 3-cm hole in Fukushima reactor No.2

http://rt.com/news/fukushima-reactor-hole-tepco-430/

Boxer: Unacceptable delay in US Fukushima response

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/196987-boxer-unacceptable-delay-in-us-fukushima-response

Whatever Happened to Gregory Jaczko?

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/whatever-happened-to-gregory-jaczko-20140129

Hundreds sue makers of Fukushima nuclear plant


"The 1,415 plaintiffs, including 38 Fukushima residents and 357 people from outside Japan, said the manufacturers - Toshiba, GE and Hitachi - failed to make needed safety improvements to the four decade-old reactors at the Fukushima plant. They are seeking compensation of 100 yen ($1) each, saying their main goal is to raise awareness of the problem.
Akihiro Shima, a lawyer for the group, said the manufacturers have not been held responsible "and their names are not even mentioned." The lawsuit intends to bring attention to the system that protects the nuclear industry around the world, he said."

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268793/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=H2cH8Qtp

Fukushima town rejects hosting radioactive waste storage facility



Fukushima town rejects hosting radioactive waste storage facility
GlobalPost - Yuhei Sato on Monday that the town would not allow the construction within its borders of interim storage facilities for high-level radioactive waste ...http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140127/fukushima-town-rejects-hosting-radioactive-waste-stora

Three Permanent Disposal Sites for Radioactive Waste in Europe



Science World Report
Three Permanent Disposal Sites for Radioactive Waste in Europe by ...
Science World Report - Researchers are working on ways to place radioactive waste some four to eight hundred metres underground and seal it off with specialised plugs.
Google Plus Facebook Twitter Flag as irrelevant
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/12408/20140124/three-permanent-disposal-sites-for-radioactive-waste-in-europe-by-2025.htm

NEI Says Full Engagement in Global Nuclear Trade Vital for US

NEI's Fertel testifying on Section 123 agreements before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Continuing U.S. commercial engagement in the expanding global nuclear market -- which the Department of Commerce estimates at $500 billion to $750 billion over the next 10 years -- ensures that the highest possible levels of nuclear power plant safety and reliability are maintained worldwide. It also maintains U.S. influence over global nuclear nonproliferation policy and practices, NEI President and CEO Marvin Fertel says. Read more.http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/NEI-s-Fertel-Says-Full-Engagement-in-Global-Nuclea

EnergyChat: Unraveling the President's State of the Union Address

EnergyChat: Unraveling the President's State of the Union Address
Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:59 PM PST
Last night, the President gave his State of the Union - a unique opportunity to argue for his policy agenda for the next year in front of the entire country and all of Congress. Climate change and clean energy have been a significant part of his previous five speeches and this year was no different.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/mstepp/333996/energychat-unraveling-presidents-state-union-address?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

The Pros and Cons of Exporting US Crude Oil

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the ranking member of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, issued a white paper earlier this month calling for an end to the current ban on US crude oil exports. Her characterization of existing regulations in this area as "antiquated" is spot on.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/geoffrey-styles/333701/pros-and-cons-exporting-us-crude-oil?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Fukushima Update 1/29

Fukushima Updates today -

Woods Hole Institute says there is no detectable Fukushima Cesium in the Pacific Ocean along the American west coast... Tepco has begun work to form frozen earthen walls around the tunnels leading from turbine basements #1 through #4... Forested Hirono Town will try a new idea to reduce radiation levels... Much of Japan’s Press continues to try making nuclear energy the nation’s top issue... A nuclear emergency drill was held for Onagawa station and vicinity... Two lawsuits make headlines; one old and one new.

Costly Quest

http://online.wsj.com/news/interactive/BIGBETS0129

Congressional Research Service: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R41694.pdf

NRC Grants Ft. Calhoun License Amendment Request

NRC Grants Ft. Calhoun License Amendment Request

by Moderator
Lara Uselding
Public Affairs Officer
Region IV
 
When someone sees the words Fort Calhoun and flooding in the same document, it gets attention. So we thought we’d provide some insight into a document -- issued this week -- with that very word combination.
Ft. Calhoun Senior Resident Inspector John Kirkland provides "boots on the ground" oversight at the plant.
Ft. Calhoun Senior Resident Inspector John Kirkland provides "boots on the ground" oversight at the plant.
The Fort Calhoun Station, located north of Omaha, Neb., and operated by the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), recently restarted after a long hiatus. But months before that happened, in April 2012, OPPD asked permission to implement a license change involving actions to protect the plant at high and low river levels.
On Jan. 28, 2014, the NRC granted the request and issued a license amendment officially changing when the plant should be powered down during a flood scenario. Simply put, the change involves powering down at 1004 feet mean sea level versus the previously set level of 1009 feet. In addition to setting the river rising to a lower level, the NRC document also specifies that the plant must shutdown within six hours of river levels dropping below 976 feet 9 inches mean sea level.
This all started back in 2010 when NRC inspectors identified concerns with the plant’s flood protection strategy. So this is not a newly identified item and it does not change the plant’s design basis flood. It is an official change to the plant’s license during flood conditions and provides a more conservative level of action.
It is important to note that prior to restart, the licensee made modifications to the plant and had plans in place to protect the plant from rising river levels.
There is still ongoing and important work being done by OPPD, NRC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate flood risks at the site in accordance with the post-Fukushima actions. The current target date for OPPD providing this information to the NRC is March 12, 2014. In the meantime, the plant is safe and has measures in place to respond to flooding events.
Moderator | January 30, 2014 at 1:02 am | Tags: Ft. Calhoun, NRC, nuclear power plant | Categories: Operating Reactors | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-1iG

NEI: Latest headlines from the nuclear industry


Here are the latest headlines from the nuclear industry;   


Supply Chain  
Small Modular Reactors
New Build
Decommissioning   
Free Nuclear Networking Groups

Enjoy the rest of your week,

James Sampson
Nuclear Energy Insider
jsampson@nuclearenergyinsider.com

GE Hitachi, Feds Reach Settlement in False Claims ESBWR Lawsuit

http://www.powermag.com/ge-hitachi-feds-reach-settlement-in-false-claims-esbwr-lawsuit/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2823211&hq_l=9&hq_v=30108e0773

Idling of Two Coal-Fired Plants Will Cost Jobs

Idling of Two Coal-Fired Plants Will Cost Jobs
01.28.2014 | Aaron Larson
Big Rivers Electric Corp.—a member-owned, not-for-profit, generation and transmission cooperative serving western Kentucky—plans to idle two of its coal-fired power plants following the loss of its largest industrial load. http://www.powermag.com/idling-of-two-coal-fired-plants-will-cost-jobs/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2823211&hq_l=8&hq_v=30108e0773

Legal Deadline Set for EPA's Coal Ash Rule


Legal Deadline Set for EPA's Coal Ash Rule
01.29.2014 | Sonal Patel
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must issue a proposed revision of its Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D rules regulating coal combustion residuals no later than Dec. 19, 2014, under a consent decree reached between the agency and environmental…http://www.powermag.com/deadline-set-for-epas-coal-ash-rule/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2823211&hq_l=2&hq_v=30108e0773

Debris clearance at Fukushima

Debris clearance at Fukushima
A series of photographs showing progress in the removal of tsunami debris from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant has been released by Tokyo Electric Power Company.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Debris-clearance-at-Fukushima-3001144.html

US steam generator replacement a winner

US steam generator replacement a winner
As the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant prepares to begin work to replace its steam generators, the plant's operator is highlighting the benefits to the local economy from the operation.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-US-steam-generator-replacement-a-winner-3001147.html

Europe's Stark Renewables Lesson

Europe's Stark Renewables Lesson

Like Frankenstein, the EU has created a renewable-energy monster it does not know how to tame.


http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303553204579348470302047850

Benchmarking the Nuclear Community

In the build-up to the 5th Annual Nuclear Supply Chain Conference (5-6 May, Charlotte), we’re aiming to assess one of the major trends for 2013/14 – cost reduction strategies.
Utilities across the country are reducing costs; however one question which needs to be asked is where this deficit will be found in such a complex industry?
You can complete the five minute survey by clicking here.
The Industry Trends survey will enable you to have a clear indicator of where your operations measure against utilities from throughout the international community, and how colleagues are combatting this turbulent time.
To learn more about the 5th Annual Nuclear Supply Chain Conference, or to see this week’s featured speaker, the NRC's John Thorp, click here.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email me.
Many thanks
Jamie Davies

Senior Industry Analyst
Nuclear Energy Insider
jdavies@nuclearenergyinsider.com
+44(0)207 422 4345

European Clearinghouse: Report on External Hazard related events at NPPs


European Clearinghouse: Report on External Hazard related events at NPPs


IAEA Delivers Final Report on Remediation in Fukushima to Japan

Coal-fired Brayton Point confirmed for shut down by 2017

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Coal-fired Brayton Point confirmed for shut down by 2017
The owner of the 1,530 MW Brayton Point coal-fired power station in Massachusetts, confirmed the plant will be closed in 2017 against rejection of the plan by regional grid operator ISO New England.
Full Articlehttp://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2014/01/brayton-point-coal-fired-power-plant-confirmed-for-shut-down-by-2017.html

Nuclear Power Generation at the Crossroads

Nuclear Power Generation at the Crossroads

This IDC Energy Insights white paper examines the future of nuclear power across the globe, analyzes the role of IT in the design, permitting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants; and provides recommendations to plant owners on ensuring a secure and robust IT infrastructure. Download Now! 

http://www.pennenergy.com/whitepapers/pennenergy-white-papers/2013/nov/nuclear-power-generation-at-the-crossroads.html

You Asked, We’re Answering Your Fuel Cell Questions

You Asked, We’re Answering Your Fuel Cell Questions

By US Department of Energy
Last week, I joined a panel of experts for a live discussion about fuel cells, covering everything you needed to know about this clean energy technology. We asked you to submit questions in advance and during the event, and we received more questions than we could answer. So now I am answering some of your questions

What Utilities Can Learn from Apple, Hybrid Cars and Telephones

What Utilities Can Learn from Apple, Hybrid Cars and Telephones

By Jared Anderson
Google To Buy Smart Thermostat Maker Nest For 3.2 Billion
The changing utility business model in the face of distributed generation market acceptance is a major theme so far in 2014, and Google’s Nest acquisition is a clear signpost on this transitional landscape. It’s becoming increasingly clear that to lead the way in the new power generation and delivery space, utilities need to decide whether