Saturday, October 17, 2015

China-U.S. Nuclear Collaboration, Though Controversial, Moves Ahead | MIT Technology Review

Legislators Tour Millstone Nuclear Power Plant | Patch

Statement From Deputy Secretary Of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall After Visiting The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station « Breaking Energy - Energy industry news, analysis, and commentary

After Pilgrim, The Energy Future of Massachusetts | Radio Boston

How Will New England Make Up For The Closing Pilgrim Power Plant's Energy? | WGBH News

As secret talks over FitzPatrick nuclear plant near end, owner sends a warning | syracuse.com

Major oil reserve said found on Golan | The Times of Israel

Friday, October 16, 2015

The Islamic State is trying to hack American electrical power companies -- but they are terrible at it.

https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/complete?text=ISIS%20is%20attacking%20the%20U.S.%20energy%20grid%20%28and%20failing%29%20-%20Oct.%2015%2C%202015&related=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2015%2F10%2F15%2Ftechnology%2Fisis-energy-grid%2Findex.html%3Fiid%3Dob_article_topstories_pool%26iid%3Dobnetwork&latest_status_id=655167006673641472

Egypt to Build Russian Nuclear Power Plant

Egypt to Build Russian Nuclear Power Plant The North Africa Post Egyptian authorities are negotiating with Russian Company Rosatom for the construction of a nuclear power plant to enable the most populous ...http://northafricapost.com/9543-egypt-to-build-russian-nuclear-power-plant.html

China eyes 110 nuke plants by 2030

http://en.people.cn/n/2015/1016/c90000-8962736.html

American nuclear firm NuScale seeks UK partners for small reactor market

A US nuclear power company is seeking engineering and construction partners as part of plans to develop a multi-billion-pound small modular reactor (SMR) market in the UK.

http://www.cnplus.co.uk/news/sectors/infrastructure/energy/us-firm-eyes-uk-for-multi-billion-pound-reactor-market/8690470.article#.ViE51KSKI-8

US NRC says action on TVA nuclear power unit license 'couple of weeks' away

http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/washington/us-nrc-says-action-on-tva-nuclear-power-unit-21301922

Upgrades at Fermi 2 pleases regulators New NRC chief tours nuke plant

Upgrades at Fermi 2 pleases regulators

New NRC chief tours nuke plant

https://www.toledoblade.com/Energy/2015/10/15/Upgrades-at-Fermi-2-pleases-regulators.html

New York nuclear plants phase out, challengingly

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/10/8579839/new-york-nuclear-plants-phase-out-challengingly

Report: UAE might seek right to enrich uranium

Post Iran nuclear deal, UAE diplomat tells congressman his country no longer feels bound by previous agreement with US.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/report-uae-seek-enrich-uranium-151016052723467.html

Bravo - Japan Restarts A Second Nuclear Reactor

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/10/16/bravo-japan-restarts-a-second-nuclear-reactor/

US Pledges Cuts in Emissions, But Coal Exports are Set to Surge

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rweb/biz/us-exports-its-greenhouse-gas-emissions--as-coal-profitable-coal/2015/10/15/05711c92-65fc-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html?wpisrc=nl_draw2

EU nuclear trade body calls for 100 new reactors by 2050

The European Union should maintain at least the current capacity of nuclear generation up to and beyond 2050, entailing the commissioning of more than 100 nuclear power reactors over the next 35 years, Foratom said 2 October. This target would deliver 122 GWe of nuclear capacity between 2025 and 2045.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-EU-nuclear-trade-body-calls-for-100-new-reactors-by-2050-5101501.html

Research helps accelerate Sellafield clean-up

The findings of a four-year study on the corrosion behaviours of magnesium and uranium may help to significantly reduce the timescale and costs of cleaning up the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo at Sellafield, one of the UK's most hazardous buildings.
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/WR-Research-helps-accelerate-Sellafield-clean-up-1410155.html#.Vh-W87L9AOI.linkedin

Utility pondering future of aging coal-fired power plant

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/10/utility-pondering-future-of-aging-coal-fired-power-plant.html?cmpid=EnlDailyPowerOctober152015&eid=288685009&bid=1204734

Kansas utility to retire old generating units by year's end

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/10/power-news-kansas-utility-to-retire-old-generating-units-by-year-s-end.html?cmpid=EnlDailyPowerOctober152015&eid=288685009&bid=1204734&cmpid=EnlWeeklyPowerOctober162015

California’s Clean Energy Bill Could Serve As A Template For National Energy Policy

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/10/15/californias-clean-energy-bill-could-serve-as-a-template-for-u-s-energy-policy/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=22909616&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Yuj3dU9J8E217sGHGd7sDD5HacfdIePjhTJ8PRrEe6gjFqTwh6vgNFLZohsPlyAOAkYt8PGzM1ZVPG14At3POZ7lhHA&_hsmi=22909616

Energy Insights: An Update From The Third Quarter Of 2015

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/10/15/energy-insights-an-update-from-the-third-quarter-of-2015/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=22909616&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8E0lo3fQFKTyvg9pklGY2qYz3retwAVHc0xwdhMklteg2A2Z88bZcSK3kkRqabxs0ufZkOGozYmdu2IbtLfE44B90f3g&_hsmi=22909616

A Global Effort To Phase Down Hydrofluorocarbons

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/10/15/a-global-effort-to-phase-down-hydrofluorocarbons/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=22909616&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ieNSBx0LRJpB5aytLQgtieNXNAKi0lQFCRXaqqih48cucQ8L1JgTT5Nt6cUK0F-LNjbcyuW2HyTJ1446C5XjcFG-pFQ&_hsmi=22909616

Sendai No.2 reactor achieves criticality

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20151016_80.html

Letter from Glenn Schleede to Republican Governors

Dear Republican Governors:

In response to your request, Without doubt, your highest priority should be to reform the US and state tax codes to stop the massive transfer of wealth from ordinary taxpayers to the owners of "Renewable" energy facilities (including wind, solar, and ethanol. The massive special interest tax breaks, flying under the cover of "stopping climate change' have already cost ordinary citizens, taxpayers,and consumers billions of dollars -- all for the benefit of renewable facility owners** and their "tax equity partners (mostly big banks and financial firms. The participation of some Republican governors in lobbying efforts to extend federal wind and solar production tax credits is especially disgusting. Governors should also fight for repeal of state "renewable portfolio standards" that have added to the massive wealth transfer.

There has been plenty of evidence available for 5 years or more that (a) electricity from wind energy is high in cost and low in real value, (b) and (c) ethanol use forced by renewable fuel standards has environmental costs as well as costs to consumers who are forced to bear the cost of less efficient fuel for automobiles.

It's time for Governors as well as establishment politicians in Washington and state capitals to stop crony capitalism masquerading as something to stop "global warming.

In case you haven't noticed, grassroots voters are fed up with the whole Washington establishment and there is a good possibility that the growing voter anger will spread to state political leaders.

** some. such as Spain-based Iberdrola and US-based NextEra, and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway have reaped Billions and Billions from these programs and special interest tax breaks -- often at the expense of our children and grandchildren who will inherit the massive national debt and electric customers who are paying higher monthly electric bills and finding that they have less money to spend for food, clothing, shelter, health care and education..

Glenn Schleede

Ashburn, VA

Power Engineering's E Newsletter Top Stories

Top Stories

Entergy: 'Difficult Decision' to Close Pilgrim Nuclear Plant
The 680-MW Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts will shut down in 2019 due to poor market conditions, a decline in revenues and an increase in operational costs.
Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/10/pilgrim-nuclear-power-plant-to-shut-down-by-2019.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-october-16-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1206387
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3 New Utility-Scale Solar Projects Planned for New Mexico
Two utility-scale projects near Roswell and a third near Deming have been announced by Southwest Public Service Co. and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, respectively.
Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/10/3-new-utility-scale-solar-projects-planned-for-new-mexico.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-october-16-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1206387
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Bechtel Selected for EPC Services on 1,000-MW New York Gas Project
Advanced Power affiliate Cricket Valley Energy LLC has chosen Bechtel as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for Cricket Valley Energy Center, a 1,000-MW combined-cycle project in Dover, New York.
Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/10/advanced-power-affiliate-selects-bechtel-for-epc-services-on-new-york-gas-project.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-october-16-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1206387
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LG&E and KU Solar Facility to Begin Construction in November
Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities Company have begun progress on their new E.W. Brown Generating Station, a utility-scale solar facility in Mercer County, Kentucky.
Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/10/lg-e-and-ku-solar-facility-to-begin-construction-in-november.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-october-16-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1206387
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More Headlines
• PennWell Corp. Announces POWER-GEN 2015 Woman of the Year Finalists
• NRG Energy Completes Sustainable Energy Installations at NFL Stadium
• 2 Nuclear Power Plants in Sweden to Close Early
• Florida PSC Approves Crystal River 3 Cost Recovery Settlement
• Surry Nuclear Unit 1 Automatically Trips Offline
• Sendai Nuclear Unit 2 to Generate Power Oct. 21
• NRC Begins Inspection at Millstone Nuclear Power Unit
• Stion Announces Completion of Mississippi's 1st Utility-Scale Solar Project
• Apex Clean Energy Seeks FAA Approval for Virginia Wind Farm

Industry News

North Dakota Plans Suit Over Clean Power Plan
North Dakota is among 16 states that will have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions the most under Environmental Protection Agency rules President Barack Obama unveiled in August.
Read More
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Michigan's Largest Utility Breaks Ground on State's Largest Community Solar Project
The 3-MW project is part of the larger Solar Gardens program and will occupy 17 acres of the campus. The facility will utilize high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells manufactured by Atlanta’s Suniva, Inc.
Read More
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Calpine Buying Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant for $500 Million
Calpine Corp. (NYSE: CPN) acquired a 745-MW combined-cycle natural gas-fired power plant in New Hampshire for $500 million, or $671 per kilowatt.
Read More
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194-MW Texas Wind Project Reaches Commercial Operation Ahead of Schedule
EDF Renewable Energy’s Spinning Spur 3 reached commercial operation Sept. 28 – three months ahead of schedule. Construction began in October 2014.
Read More

Power Engineering's Weekly Video Highlights

Video Highlights

Thursday, October 15, 2015

ANS Winter Meeting

ANS Winter Meeting registration is underway and attached is a press release with details and registration information.

Please post and promote for early registration ending on Oct. 17 and final registration ending Oct. 31.

Meeting highlights include:

- Susan Eisenhower presents the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award to George Schultz, former Secretary of State for Ronald Reagan and Dr. Sidney Drell, Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institute.

- ANS President Gene Grecheck’s session on long-term operation of the U.S. commercial nuclear fleet – sustaining a national asset

- Climate Change and nuclear nonproliferation sessions heading into ANS attendance at COP21 in December.
- Technical sessions on MOX Fuel, SMR’s, new nuclear construction in the world and much more.

1 of 32 Nuclear Going Forward in Pennsylvania

Nuclear Matters has taken the conversation about the importance of our existing nuclear fleet to states around the country through our national event series, Nuclear Going Forward [ http://nuclear-going-forward.bna.com/ ]. We were most recently in Pittsburgh, where we hosted a discussion on nuclear's reliability and carbon-free benefits for the state of Pennsylvania, the region and the nation.

Dr. Larry Lindsey, who formerly served as Director of the National Economic Council for President George W. Bush, kicked-off the event with a keynote [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbef-zd3xwQ ]. Dr. Lindsey focused his remarks on the importance of a diverse energy portfolio – with nuclear being a key part of that mix.

Two panels of industry and energy experts followed the keynote. The first [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qorsUoUyu0 ] reflected on how PJM - the energy transmission system serving Pennsylvania - impacts its existing fleet. The conversation featured Maria Korsnick of the Nuclear Energy Institute, Michael Bryson of PJM and Sam Belcher of FirstEnergy. During a second panel [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUB72jS49E4 ], the audience heard about the local impact of the existing nuclear fleet from Gene Barr of the Pennsylvania Chamber, David Howell of Westinghouse and Dr. Arthur Motta of Penn State University.

Our thanks go to all of our partners and event co-host Bloomberg for their collaboration in making this event such a success.

- The Nuclear Matters Team

P.S. Check out the Brattle Group's recently-released economic study [ http://www.nuclearmatters.com/resources/reports-studies/value-of-nuclear-pennsylvania ] for more on the Pennsylvania nuclear fleet and stay up-todate on the Nuclear Going Forward series at [ http://nuclear-going-forward.bna.com/ ]

A change in climate needed for nuclear power

http://thebulletin.org/change-climate-needed-nuclear-power8802

Is Entergy Moving Out of Nukes?

http://www.powermag.com/blog/is-entergy-moving-out-of-nukes/

Another Nuclear Power Station Closing

http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/pilgrim-nuclear-power-em5130/

What Pilgrim decision says about energy market

Entergy says natural gas prices undermined its Plymouth nuke

http://commonwealthmagazine.org/environment/what-pilgrim-decision-says-about-energy-market/

Entergy Sees Big Gain on Sale of RI Gas Plant to Carlyle

SurfPaducah - ‎Oct 13, 2015‎

The plant's parent company said it will be closing do to poor market conditions, reduced revenues and increased operational costs. The plant was relicensed in 2012 for 20 years. The Pilgrim nuclear decommissioning trust had a balance of approximately ... http://isurfpaducah.com/2015/10/14/entergy-sees-big-gain-on-sale-of-ri-gas-plant-to-carlyle27140/

Fossil fuel plants more dangerous than nukes

Cape Cod Times (subscription) - ‎Oct 13, 2015‎

The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth is in trouble. It is in poor condition and the owner, Entergy, announced yesterday that it plans to shut it down in 2019. Like anyone on Cape Cod, I worry about being downwind from a nuclear power plant ...http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20151014/OPINION/151019799

Little hope for FitzPatrick nuke plant without state intervention

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/10/8579703/little-hope-fitzpatrick-nuke-plant-without-state-intervention

ANS Update: Climate Change and Nonproliferation Topics Lead Nuclear Energy Meeting

Climate Change and Nonproliferation Topics Lead Nuclear Energy Meeting

By ansnuclearcafe on Oct 15, 2015 11:40 am

ANS Members from Around the World to Gather in D.C. for Winter Meeting Nuclear professionals from the U.S. and around the world will meet to discuss climate change, nuclear nonproliferation Continue Reading →
Read in browser »

Europe to US: Stop storing our data on your servers (or else) | ZDNet

NFPA 805 and Improving Fire Safety at Nuclear Power Plants

http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2015/10/nfpa-805-and-improving-fire-safety-at.html

SCANA’s Byrne: Nuclear Vital for Fuel and Energy Diversity

http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/SCANA-s-Byrne-Nuclear-Vital-for-Fuel-and-Energy-Di

High court seems troubled over energy pricing rule

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/politics/high-court-seems-troubled-over-energy-pricing-rule/article_79d2e736-d775-5612-a71d-4abe65e2340d.html

How Do You Decommission A Nuclear Power Plant?

https://radioboston.wbur.org/2015/10/14/decommission-nuclear-plant

DOE to proceed with $123.9M waste contract

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local-news/doe-to-proceed-with-1239m-waste-contract_63159554

Nuclear plant owner: It's gov's fault

Says planned closing  due to energy policies

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2015/10/nuclear_plant_owner_its_govs_fault

'Revived' Atommash completes RPV for Belarus

'Revived' Atommash completes RPV for Belarus
Russian heavy machine-building company Atommash said yesterday it had completed production of the reactor pressure vessel for the Ostrovets nuclear power plant in Belarus. It is the first RPV manufactured at Atommash's production site after a nearly 30-year hiatus and the first since it became part of Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, in 2012.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Revived-Atommash-completes-RPV-for-Belarus-15101501.html

Second Japanese reactor restarted

Second Japanese reactor restarted
Unit 2 of the Sendai nuclear power plant in Japan's Kagoshima prefecture was restarted today, plant owner Kyushu Electric Power Company announced. It becomes the second Japanese reactor to resume operation after the country idled its entire fleet following the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Second-Japanese-reactor-restarted-1510154.html

Fukushima Update 10/15/15

Fukushima Update 10/15/15 –

Sendai unit #2 is restarted… Japanese lack of knowledge about radiation is on the rise… Tokyo discloses a five-point plan for used fuel disposal.

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

NRC Blog Update: Throwback Thursday – Save the Date for the RIC

Throwback Thursday – Save the Date for the RIC

Leave a comment Posted by Moderator on October 15, 2015

The NRC’s 28th Annual Regulatory Information Conference is scheduled for March 8-10, 2016, at the Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center just off of Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, Md. So mark your calendars! Pre-registration will be available online beginning in early January 2016.
In this photo, Commissioner Edward McGaffigan, Jr., gives a presentation during the 2004 RIC. This Boston native and self-described John Kennedy Democrat was first appointed to the Commission by President Clinton in 1996. Commissioner McGaffigan died Sept. 7, 2007, after a long battle with melanoma. He holds what distinction among former and present Commission members?