Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, February 6, 2016
China’s stance stalls U.N. resolution on N. Korea
China’s stance stalls U.N. resolution on N. Korea
http://www.the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002732469
Nuclear Instability in the Asia-Pacific Region?
Nuclear Instability in the Asia-Pacific Region?
http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/nuclear-instability-in-the-asia-pacific-region/
U.S. Move to Expand Nuclear Sanctions on North Korea Angers China
U.S. Move to Expand Nuclear Sanctions on North Korea Angers China
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/us-move-to-expand-nuclear-sanctions-on-north-korea-angers-china-20160205-00738
Egypt's top prosecutor imposes gag order on investigation into Dabaa nuclear project
Egypt's top prosecutor imposes gag order on investigation into Dabaa nuclear project
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/186870/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-top-prosecutor-imposes-gag-order-on-investi.aspx
India Presents IAEA With Ratified CSC Agreement
India Presents IAEA With Ratified CSC Agreement
In a move that could open up India as a major market for the U.S. nuclear power industry, India presented its instrument of ratification Thursday of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) for Nuclear Damage with international regulators in Vienna.http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2016/02/05/india-presents-iaea-with-ratified-csc-agreement-020502#.VrZDyCmGhRk
Radioactive waste dogs Germany despite abandoning nuclear power
Radioactive waste dogs Germany despite abandoning nuclear power
Major problems at a salt mine where 126,000 drums of
radioactive debris are stored are fuelling public distrust of long-term
waste disposal plans, reports Fred Pearce from Asse, Germany
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2075615-radioactive-waste-dogs-germany-despite-abandoning-nuclear-power/
Oil market spiral threatens to prick global debt bubble, warns BIS
Oil market spiral threatens to prick global debt bubble, warns BIS
An 'illusion of sustainability' has blinded borrowers and debtors, lulling them into a false of security. The BIS says liquidity is now drying up
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/oilprices/12143304/Oil-market-spiral-threatens-to-prick-global-debt-bubble-warns-BIS.html
Speeches That Earned Clinton Millions Remain a Mystery
Speeches That Earned Clinton Millions Remain a Mystery
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/speeches-earned-clinton-millions-remain-mystery-36754881If you thought solar was going to hurt utilities, get a load of solar+storage
If you thought solar was going to hurt utilities, get a load of solar+storage
http://www.vox.com/2016/2/5/10919082/solar-storage-economics
Renewables Account for Two-thirds of New US Generating Capacity in 2015; 3,500 Times More Than Coal
Renewables Account for Two-thirds of New US Generating Capacity in 2015; 3,500 Times More Than Coal | |
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Kenneth Bossong
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February 3, 2016 | Post Your Comment
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Setting a new annual record, renewable sources (i.e.,
biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) accounted for almost
two-thirds (63.85 percent) of the 16,485 MW of new electrical generation
placed in service in the US during calendar year 2015.
Full Article
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/02/renewables-provides-two-thirds-of-new-us-generating-capacity-in-2015-3-500-times-more-than-coal.html?cmpid=renewablesolar0262016&eid=288118515&bid=1302218
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US lawmakers ask to visit Iran to see 'democracy in action'
US lawmakers ask to visit Iran to see 'democracy in action'
Washington (AFP) Feb 5, 2016 -
Seeking to keep tabs on what they called a "fanatical regime," three US lawmakers applied Thursday
for visas to Iran to observe this month's elections, visit nuclear
sites and meet with Revolutionary Guards.
The unlikely approval of the visas would mark a startling development in
Washington-Tehran ties, following completion of a landmark nuclear deal
last year which saw sanctions lifted agai ...
morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_lawmakers_ask_to_visit_Iran_to_see_democracy_in_action_999.html
Washington (AFP) Feb 5, 2016 -
Seeking to keep tabs on what they called a "fanatical regime," three US lawmakers applied Thursday
for visas to Iran to observe this month's elections, visit nuclear
sites and meet with Revolutionary Guards.
The unlikely approval of the visas would mark a startling development in
Washington-Tehran ties, following completion of a landmark nuclear deal
last year which saw sanctions lifted agai ...
morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_lawmakers_ask_to_visit_Iran_to_see_democracy_in_action_999.html
US calls on Russia to hold new nuke talks
US calls on Russia to hold new nuke talks
Washington (AFP) Feb 5, 2016 -
President Barack Obama's national security advisor used the anniversary of a major nuclear arms reduction treaty Friday
to call on Russia to accept further arms talks.
Five years after Washington and Moscow agreed the New Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty, Susan Rice called on Russia to take the next step.
"(We) continue to call on Russia to answer the president's invitation
five years ago ...
morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_calls_on_Russia_to_hold_new_nuke_talks_999.html
Washington (AFP) Feb 5, 2016 -
President Barack Obama's national security advisor used the anniversary of a major nuclear arms reduction treaty Friday
to call on Russia to accept further arms talks.
Five years after Washington and Moscow agreed the New Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty, Susan Rice called on Russia to take the next step.
"(We) continue to call on Russia to answer the president's invitation
five years ago ...
morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_calls_on_Russia_to_hold_new_nuke_talks_999.html
Save Diablo Canyon so it can continue to supply massive quantities of clean power
Save Diablo Canyon so it can continue to supply massive quantities of clean power
http://atomicinsights.com/save-diablo-canyon-so-it-can-continue-to-supply-massive-quantities-of-clean-power/
China overtakes Germany to make nuclear fusion breakthrough: Reactor creates conditions THREE times hotter than the sun
China overtakes Germany to make nuclear fusion breakthrough: Reactor creates conditions THREE times hotter than the sun
- Test was conducted on a magnetic fusion reactor known as EAST
- Chinese team were able to maintain 50 million°C for 102 seconds
- The breakthrough that could someday make fusion power a reality
- Last week Germany used 2 megawatts of microwave radiation to heat hydrogen gas to 80 million°C for a quarter of a second
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3434187/China-overtakes-Germany-make-nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-Reactor-creates-conditions-THREE-times-hotter-sun.html
Courts, States Begin The Debate On ‘Rights Of Nature’
| Courts, States Begin The Debate On ‘Rights Of Nature’ |
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By Dusty Miller, Thursday, February 4, 2016 10:00 AM
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In
1972, Christopher Stone, a Harvard law professor, proposed the
thoughtful rationale “Should Trees Have Standing?” to explore the topic
of potential rights of nature from a legal perspective. He opined that
rivers and trees and other “objects” of nature have rights and that
these should be protected by granting legal standing to guardians of… Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2016/02/04/courts-states-begin-the-debate-on-rights-of-nature/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=25991731&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ybrcCu9IbmG8XVpNLfEffuoxOvSoXKqPhuh44V98zgQzBf3JFZVcsIJjE1P3hqwLgIo2jHh97CZndQjMwF78sywOo9A&_hsmi=25991731
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A Statement From U.S. Secretary Of Energy Ernest Moniz On India Joining The Convention On Supplementary Compensation For Nuclear Damage (CSC)
A Statement From U.S. Secretary Of Energy Ernest Moniz On India Joining The Convention On Supplementary Compensation For Nuclear Damage (CSC)
http://breakingenergy.com/2016/02/04/a-statement-from-u-s-secretary-of-energy-ernest-moniz-on-india-joining-the-convention-on-supplementary-compensation-for-nuclear-damage-csc/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=25991731&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_79K2cNy2t72RVRqKeL2Q_L8cHAiKpsZJ_LduxS-l6MVqa7sfUSALUem81ruNbLYYddCUopPWfkBl-Mm7JD7QLp8L3-g&_hsmi=25991731
Energy News Roundup: Democrats Block Energy Bill, Renewables Overtake Fossil Fuels & Oil Falling Further
| Energy News Roundup: Democrats Block Energy Bill, Renewables Overtake Fossil Fuels & Oil Falling Further |
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By Conor O'Sullivan, Friday, February 5, 2016 1:00 PM
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Senate Democrats on Thursday
blocked a comprehensive energy bill after majority Republicans rejected
hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency federal aid to Flint,
Michigan, to fix and replace the city’s lead-contaminated pipes. [Fox
News] The US renewable energy industry installed 16 GW of clean energy
in 2015, which is 68% of all new capacity… Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2016/02/05/energy-news-roundup-democrats-block-energy-bill-renewables-overtake-fossil-fuels-oil-falling-further/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=25991731&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9rOkhAiF6dj3c0FNYIf61shS0ZuVm5siKEBBJ_mwEY_E7ZmggGTL98eE96cOo7mYjrIclt5g9nyljoN6YNbVhDhW-K4Q&_hsmi=25991731
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Natural Gas Changes the Energy Map
Natural Gas Changes the Energy Map
Vast amounts of the clean-burning
fossil fuel have been discovered in shale deposits, setting off a gas
rush. But how it will affect our energy use is still uncertain.
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/415725/natural-gas-changes-the-energy-map/
Can Japan Recapture Its Solar Power?
Can Japan Recapture Its Solar Power?
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/533451/can-japan-recapture-its-solar-power/
India’s Energy Crisis
India’s Energy Crisis
Can India modernize its
manufacturing economy and supply electricity to its growing population
without relying heavily on coal—and quite possibly destroying the global
climate?
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/542091/indias-energy-crisis/
The Great German Energy Experiment
The Great German Energy Experiment
Germany has decided to pursue
ambitious greenhouse-gas reductions—while closing down its nuclear
plants. Can a heavily industrialized country power its economy with wind
turbines and solar panels?
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/428145/the-great-german-energy-experiment/
Is Low Dose Radiation Exposure Really Harmful?
Is Low Dose Radiation Exposure Really Harmful?
http://medicalresearch.com/radiology/is-low-dose-radiation-exposure-really-harmful/21316/
Friday, February 5, 2016
Burial of weapons plutonium at WIPP ill advised
Burial of weapons plutonium at WIPP ill advised
http://www.currentargus.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/01/30/burial-weapons-plutonium-wipp-ill-advised/79547598/
A step forward for nuclear technology
A step forward for nuclear technology
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/article/A-step-forward-for-nuclear-technology-6808080.php
The New Nuclear Energy Revolution
The New Nuclear Energy Revolution
Throwing off excessive regulatory precaution will bend the nuclear cost curve down, argues new study
http://reason.com/archives/2016/02/05/the-new-nuclear-energy-revolution
'Rosatom is now actively expanding its global footprint'
'Rosatom is now actively expanding its global footprint'
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/interview-of-evgeni-griva-director-general-of-rosatom-south-asia/article8194319.ece
The challenge in Afghanistan, the coming nuclear reload, and Russia’s new sub boom
The challenge in Afghanistan, the coming nuclear reload, and Russia’s new sub boom
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/05/the-challenge-in-afghanistan-the-coming-nuclear-reload-and-russias-new-sub-boom/
Decline in intertidal biota after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster: field observations
Decline in intertidal biota after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster: field observations
ABSTRACT
In 2011, 2012, and 2013, in the intertidal zones of eastern Japan, we investigated the ecological effects of the severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant that accompanied the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The number of intertidal species decreased significantly with decreasing distance from the power plant, and no rock shell (Thais clavigera) specimens were collected near the plant, from Hirono to Futaba Beach (a distance of approximately 30 km) in 2012. The collection of rock shell specimens at many other sites hit by the tsunami suggests that the absence of rock shells around the plant in 2012 might have been caused by the nuclear accident in 2011. Quantitative surveys in 2013 showed that the number of species and population densities in the intertidal zones were much lower at sites near, or within several kilometers south of, the plant than at other sites and lower than in 1995, especially in the case of Arthropoda. There is no clear explanation for these findings, but it is evident that the intertidal biota around the power plant has been affected since the nuclear accident.http://www.nature.com/articles/srep20416#abstract
ANS Friday Nuclear Matinee / February 5, 2016
ANS Friday Nuclear Matinee / February 5, 2016
By Will Davis on Feb 05, 2016 11:00 amThis week’s ANS Nuclear Cafe Friday Matinee features an update from South Carolina Electric & Gas on “A Year of Progress for V. C. Summer Units 2 and 3.” These Continue Reading →
Read in browser »
Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors
Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors
Abstract
The
existing literature on the construction costs of nuclear power reactors
has focused almost exclusively on trends in construction costs in only
two countries, the United States and France, and during two decades, the
1970s and 1980s. These analyses, Koomey and Hultman (2007); Grubler
(2010), and Escobar-Rangel and Lévêque (2015), study only 26% of
reactors built globally between 1960 and 2010, providing an incomplete
picture of the economic evolution of nuclear power construction. This
study curates historical reactor-specific overnight construction cost
(OCC) data that broaden the scope of study substantially, covering the
full cost history for 349 reactors in the US, France, Canada, West
Germany, Japan, India, and South Korea, encompassing 58% of all reactors
built globally. We find that trends in costs have varied significantly
in magnitude and in structure by era, country, and experience. In
contrast to the rapid cost escalation that characterized nuclear
construction in the United States, we find evidence of much milder cost
escalation in many countries, including absolute cost declines in some
countries and specific eras. Our new findings suggest that there is no
inherent cost escalation trend associated with nuclear technology.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421516300106
Doomsday Clock: Nuclear Arsenals More Dangerous Now than During the Cold War
Doomsday Clock: Nuclear Arsenals More Dangerous Now than During the Cold War
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2016/02/doomsday-clock-nuclear-arsenals-more-dangerous-now-than-during-the-cold-war-3293004.html
Japanese volcano erupts, nearby nuclear plant unaffected
Japanese volcano erupts, nearby nuclear plant unaffected
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-volcano-idUSKCN0VE12G
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
http://www.bna.com/look-behind-scenes-b57982066997/
Keystone Redux: TransCanada is Now Seeking An Ocean Route for its Dirty Tar Sands
Posted: 04 Feb 2016 07:01 PM PST
The
company that eventually lost a bid to build the Keystone XL tar sands
pipeline (and has filed a lawsuit against the United States government
for $15 billion for lost profits) is eyeing to get its tar sands oil to
the Gulf Coast another way: by sea.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/danielle-droitsch/2319029/keystone-redux-transcanada-now-seeking-ocean-route-its-dirty-tar-sands?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29
Corporate Interest In Green Energy Requires New Thinking From Electric Utilities
Corporate Interest In Green Energy Requires New Thinking From Electric Utilities
http://theenergycollective.com/djwamsted/2321945/corporate-interest-green-energy-requires-new-thinking-electric-utilities?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29
Scientists map movement of Greenland Ice during past 9,000 years
Scientists map movement of Greenland Ice during past 9,000 years
Austin TX (SPX) Feb 05, 2016 -
Scientists have created the first map that shows how the Greenland Ice
Sheet has moved over time, revealing that ice in the interior is moving
more slowly toward the edges than it has, on average, during the past
9,000 years.
The findings, which researchers said don't change the fact that the ice
sheet is losing mass overall and contributing to sea level rise, are
published in the Feb. 5 i ...
morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Scientists_map_movement_of_Greenland_Ice_during_past_9000_years_999.html
Austin TX (SPX) Feb 05, 2016 -
Scientists have created the first map that shows how the Greenland Ice
Sheet has moved over time, revealing that ice in the interior is moving
more slowly toward the edges than it has, on average, during the past
9,000 years.
The findings, which researchers said don't change the fact that the ice
sheet is losing mass overall and contributing to sea level rise, are
published in the Feb. 5 i ...
morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Scientists_map_movement_of_Greenland_Ice_during_past_9000_years_999.html
Battery technology could charge up water desalination
Battery technology could charge up water desalination
Champaign IL (SPX) Feb 05, 2016 -
The technology that charges batteries for electronic devices could
provide fresh water from salty seas, says a new study by University of
Illinois engineers. Electricity running through a salt water-filled
battery draws the salt ions out of the water. Illinois mechanical
science and engineering professor Kyle Smith and graduate student Rylan
Dmello published their work in the Journal of the Elec ...
morehttp://www.terradaily.com/reports/Battery_technology_could_charge_up_water_desalination_999.html
Champaign IL (SPX) Feb 05, 2016 -
The technology that charges batteries for electronic devices could
provide fresh water from salty seas, says a new study by University of
Illinois engineers. Electricity running through a salt water-filled
battery draws the salt ions out of the water. Illinois mechanical
science and engineering professor Kyle Smith and graduate student Rylan
Dmello published their work in the Journal of the Elec ...
morehttp://www.terradaily.com/reports/Battery_technology_could_charge_up_water_desalination_999.html
India ratifies nuclear liability convention, hopes to win foreign investment
India ratifies nuclear liability convention, hopes to win foreign investment
http://www.reuters.com/article/india-nuclear-idUSKCN0VD2J1
Measure supports storing spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico
Measure supports storing spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/energy/article/Measure-supports-storing-spent-nuclear-fuel-in-6807001.phpEx-Sen. Lugar says MOX facility vital to nuke agreement
Ex-Sen. Lugar says MOX facility vital to nuke agreement
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/energy/article/Ex-Sen-Lugar-says-MOX-facility-vital-to-nuke-6807399.php
Parsons lays off 123 workers at Savannah River Site waste facility
Parsons lays off 123 workers at Savannah River Site waste facility
http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20160203/AIK0101/160209821/1007/srs-contractor-laid-off-123-workers
Meet a Startup Making a New Kind of Safer, Smaller Nuclear Reactor
Meet a Startup Making a New Kind of Safer, Smaller Nuclear Reactor
http://fortune.com/2016/02/04/nuclear-startup-x-energy/
Nuclear energy and desalination in Israel
Nuclear energy and desalination in Israel
ABSTRACT
Israel
is unique when it comes to nuclear power. Ever since the nation’s
establishment, its leaders have spoken both publicly and privately of
their interest in nuclear power, especially for water desalination. This
makes practical sense, as Israel suffers from chronic water scarcity
and, until recently, lacked other energy resources and relied on
expensive imports. Significantly, Israel possesses the technical
competence to operate nuclear power plants. This article explores the
history of Israel’s decades-long failed effort to develop a nuclear
power plant, and the likelihood of its completion in the future.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00963402.2016.1124658?journalCode=rbul20
China drafts nuclear safety law
China drafts nuclear safety law
Beijing (XNA) Feb 05, 2016 -
China is to speed up drafting of the nuclear safety law and atomic
energy law, a white paper on its nuclear emergency preparedness said on Wednesday.
Since China started to build its first nuclear power plant in 1985, the
country has made fast progress in legislation of nuclear emergency
response, said the document issued by the State Council Information
Office.
China adopted a regul ...
morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/China_drafts_nuclear_safety_law_999.html
Beijing (XNA) Feb 05, 2016 -
China is to speed up drafting of the nuclear safety law and atomic
energy law, a white paper on its nuclear emergency preparedness said on Wednesday.
Since China started to build its first nuclear power plant in 1985, the
country has made fast progress in legislation of nuclear emergency
response, said the document issued by the State Council Information
Office.
China adopted a regul ...
morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/China_drafts_nuclear_safety_law_999.html
14 of 55 Advanced Reactors – the future of nuclear?
Support for advanced reactors is on the rise – just look at the
financial backing and patronage that companies such as TerraPower,
Terrestrial Energy and X-energy have benefitted from in the last few
years.
But how will the advanced reactor industry move away from the lab and into commercial deployment?
Southern Nuclear and INL have shared their thoughts on this dilemma – read it here
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
John
John Furness
Senior Industry Analyst
Nuclear Energy Insider
+44 (0)207 375 7528
JFurness@nuclearenergyinsider.
But how will the advanced reactor industry move away from the lab and into commercial deployment?
Southern Nuclear and INL have shared their thoughts on this dilemma – read it here
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
John
John Furness
Senior Industry Analyst
Nuclear Energy Insider
+44 (0)207 375 7528
JFurness@nuclearenergyinsider.
Japan's Sakurajima volcano, not far from nuclear plant, erupts
Japan's Sakurajima volcano, not far from nuclear plant, erupts
http://uk.reuters.com/article/japan-volcano-idUKL3N15K3P9Thursday, February 4, 2016
Obama to seek $10-a-barrel oil tax
Obama to seek $10-a-barrel oil tax
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2016/02/04/obama-seeks-10-per-barrel-oil-tax-to-fund-clean-transport/#35236101=0
Close-up inspection in high radiation environments
Close-up inspection in high radiation environments
http://www.engineerlive.com/content/close-inspection-high-radiation-environments
Full-scale equipment installation to begin at Belarusian nuclear power plant in 2016
Full-scale equipment installation to begin at Belarusian nuclear power plant in 2016
http://www.investinbelarus.by/en/press/news/belta/bea8788c7b288528.html
United States Steam Generators for Nuclear Power Industry 2016 Market Research Report
United States Steam Generators for Nuclear Power Industry 2016 Market Research Report
http://www.marketresearch.com/QYResearch-Group-v3531/United-States-Steam-Generators-Nuclear-9735608/
Minister: Armenia nuclear plant operations to be extended until 2027
Minister: Armenia nuclear plant operations to be extended until 2027
http://news.am/eng/news/309768.html
http://news.am/eng/news/309768.html
Letter: Radiation not the cause of Hanford workers’ cancer deaths
Letter: Radiation not the cause of Hanford workers’ cancer deaths
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article58015718.html
Amendments to US Energy Legislation Support Energy Storage Advancement
Amendments to US Energy Legislation Support Energy Storage Advancement | |
Jennifer Delony | February 3, 2016
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The U.S. Senate in a voice vote on Feb. 1 approved an
amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S.2012) that gives
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) flexibility in administering funding
for energy storage research.
Full Article
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/02/amendments-to-energy-legislation-support-energy-storage-advancement.html?cmpid=renewablestorage0242016&eid=288118515&bid=1300766
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NRC Blog Update: NRC Finishes Review of Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Planning Report
NRC Finishes Review of Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Planning Report
Posted by on February 4, 2016
Public Affairs Officer
Region I
More of a marathon than a sprint, the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant can in some cases take decades. But central to the successful completion of that process is careful planning and vigilant oversight.
In December of 2014, the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant
embarked on that phase of its life after being permanently shut down.
As required by the NRC, Entergy, the plant’s owner, submitted a Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report, or PSDAR, on Dec. 19, 2014.What exactly is a PSDAR? It is a report designed to provide the NRC and public with a general overview of the company’s proposed decommissioning activities. The report includes estimated costs for decommissioning and an affirmation that the decommissioning can be completed consistent with the site’s environmental statement.
Since the PSDAR only provides information and is not a federal action, it does not require NRC approval. However, the agency does review such submittals to confirm they meet regulatory requirements.
Besides performing an evaluation of the nuts-and-bolts aspects of the decommissioning plans, the NRC staff also reviewed public comments regarding the report. Along those lines, the agency held a public meeting on Feb. 19, 2015, in Brattleboro, Vt., for the purpose of receiving comments. Those remarks and others submitted separately in writing were all considered as the report was being prepared.
The NRC staff has now completed its review of the report and has determined the planned decommissioning activities, schedules and other information described in it are consistent with the agency’s requirements in this area. A copy of the NRC’s letter to Entergy regarding the PSDAR review results will be made available in the agency’s electronic documents system, ADAMS.
Also on the topic of Vermont Yankee’s decommissioning, as of Feb. 1, 2016, the responsibility for Vermont Yankee has been transferred within the NRC from the office responsible for operating reactors to the office responsible for decommissioning nuclear power plants.
Going forward, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards’ Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs will oversee licensing activities involving Vermont Yankee.
The NRC will continue to perform inspections at Vermont Yankee, with the intention of being on-site anytime a major activity is taking place.
Obama to propose $10-a-barrel oil tax
Obama to propose $10-a-barrel oil tax
A controversial new way to fund transportation.
http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/02/obama-oil-tax-budget-000038
RAND Report Questions Nuclear Role In Defending Baltic States
RAND Report Questions Nuclear Role In Defending Baltic States
http://fas.org/blogs/security/2016/02/nato-nukes-rand/
UAE Portrait of a Nation: First Emirati Barakah nuclear plant inspector
UAE Portrait of a Nation: First Emirati Barakah nuclear plant inspector
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-portrait-of-a-nation-first-emirati-barakah-nuclear-plant-inspector
C-10 wants tougher test for nuclear plant concrete
C-10 wants tougher test for nuclear plant concrete
http://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/c--wants-tougher-test-for-nuclear-plant-concrete/article_65820858-4e41-5644-8024-f2512b0186d5.html
Antarctic study identifies melting ice sheet's role in sea level rise
Antarctic study identifies melting ice sheet's role in sea level rise
Edinburgh UK (SPX) Feb 04, 2016 -
Loss of ice in Antarctica caused by a warming ocean could raise global
sea levels by three metres, research suggests. Scientists carrying out
fieldwork in the region have assessed the landscape to determine how the
West Antarctic ice sheet might respond to increasing global
temperatures.
In the first study of its kind, researchers were able to gauge how
levels of ice covering the land have ...
morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Antarctic_study_identifies_melting_ice_sheets_role_in_sea_level_rise_999.html
Edinburgh UK (SPX) Feb 04, 2016 -
Loss of ice in Antarctica caused by a warming ocean could raise global
sea levels by three metres, research suggests. Scientists carrying out
fieldwork in the region have assessed the landscape to determine how the
West Antarctic ice sheet might respond to increasing global
temperatures.
In the first study of its kind, researchers were able to gauge how
levels of ice covering the land have ...
morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Antarctic_study_identifies_melting_ice_sheets_role_in_sea_level_rise_999.html
Greenland model could help estimate sea level rise
Greenland model could help estimate sea level rise
Fairbanks AK (SPX) Feb 04, 2016 -
University of Alaska Fairbanks mathematicians and glaciologists have
taken a first step toward understanding how glacier ice flowing off
Greenland affects sea levels.
Andy Aschwanden, Martin Truffer and Mark Fahnestock used mathematical
computer models and field tests to reproduce the flow of 29 inlet
glaciers fed by the Greenland ice sheet. They compared their data with
data from NASA's O ...
morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Greenland_model_could_help_estimate_sea_level_rise_999.html
Fairbanks AK (SPX) Feb 04, 2016 -
University of Alaska Fairbanks mathematicians and glaciologists have
taken a first step toward understanding how glacier ice flowing off
Greenland affects sea levels.
Andy Aschwanden, Martin Truffer and Mark Fahnestock used mathematical
computer models and field tests to reproduce the flow of 29 inlet
glaciers fed by the Greenland ice sheet. They compared their data with
data from NASA's O ...
morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Greenland_model_could_help_estimate_sea_level_rise_999.html
Sweden's Vattenfall results nuked by atomic energy tax
Sweden's Vattenfall results nuked by atomic energy tax
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Swedens_Vattenfall_results_nuked_by_atomic_energy_tax_999.html
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Swedens_Vattenfall_results_nuked_by_atomic_energy_tax_999.html
Here's how close America came to having nuclear powered rockets
Here's how close America came to having nuclear powered rockets
http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-close-america-came-to-having-nuclear-powered-rockets-2016-2?utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=post_email_list
Nuclear Power Plant Plan Melting Away
Nuclear Power Plant Plan Melting Away
The ambitious plan to build a nuclear power plant in Cambodia with technical assistance from Russia announced in November during a visit by that country’s premier was unrealistic at this time, a senior official from state-run energy supplier Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) said yesterday.http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/20975/nuclear-power-plant-plan-melting-away/
Power from nuclear fusion to be reality?
Power from nuclear fusion to be reality?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Power-from-nuclear-fusion-to-be-reality/articleshow/50842725.cms
How Germany took big step toward nuclear fusion
German scientists working on the Wendelstein 7-X fusion device
started a series of experiments that could eventually prove the
superiority of the stellarator-type fusion devices.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0203/How-Germany-took-big-step-toward-nuclear-fusion
Nuclear fusion device's 1st test with hydrogen declared a success
Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Greifswald successfully generated a plasma for a fraction of a second
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/nuclear-fusion-greifswald-1.3431541
Experimental Fusion Reactor Switched On in Germany
http://www.sciencealert.com/germany-s-massive-nuclear-fusion-machine-just-produced-its-first-hydrogen-plasma
Germany's massive nuclear fusion machine just produced its first hydrogen plasma
This is huge.
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/600712/experimental-fusion-reactor-switched-on-in-germany/
India to allot site for Russian built nuclear power plant
India to allot site for Russian built nuclear power plant
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Business/2016-02-04/India-to-allot-site-for-Russian-built-nuclear-power-plant/204735
Pathfinder Bank ; Upstate Energy Jobs Coalition Strongly Supports Legislation To Protect Nuclear Power
Upstate Energy Jobs Coalition Strongly Supports Legislation To Protect Nuclear Power
http://oswegocountytoday.com/upstate-energy-jobs-coalition-strongly-supports-legislation-to-protect-nuclear-power/
German City to Sue Belgian Nuclear Power Plant
German City to Sue Belgian Nuclear Power Plant
Reports out of Germany suggest that the city of Aachen plans to sue the Tihange nuclear power plant over what it claims is the plant’s failure to adequately address safety issues at the facility.http://www.powermag.com/german-city-to-sue-belgian-nuclear-power-plant/
Kansai business leaders hail nuclear power plant restarts, urge TPP ratification
Kansai business leaders hail nuclear power plant restarts, urge TPP ratification
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/04/business/kansai-business-leaders-hail-nuclear-power-plant-restarts-urge-tpp-ratification/#.VrOXUVLlxbI
The Hinkley negotiations have gone into injury time
The Hinkley negotiations have gone into injury time, and whatever the outcome the government will end up on the losing side
By purposefully narrowing its clean energy options the government has weakened its negotiating position and increased the risk of the UK missing its climate goals
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/james-blog/2445231/the-hinkley-negotiations-have-gone-into-injury-time-once-again-and-whatever-the-outcome-the-government-will-end-up-on-the-losing-side
‘Plans for Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant should be abandoned’ – Ritchie
http://newrytimes.com/2016/02/04/plans-for-hinkley-point-nuclear-plant-should-be-abandoned-ritchie/
More delays? EDF executive in charge of the Hinkley nuclear power plant project has quit
More delays? EDF executive in charge of the Hinkley nuclear power plant project has quit
http://www.yeovilexpress.co.uk/news/somerset_news/14249737.More_delays__EDF_executive_in_charge_of_the_Hinkley_nuclear_power_plant_project_has_quit
Hinkley Point nuclear power station lurches into another crisis after director of £18bn project quits
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-3430400/Hinkley-Point-nuclear-power-station-lurches-crisis-director-18bn-project-quits.html
Hinkley resignation continues uncertainty over £18bn plant
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e6897194-c9b5-11e5-be0b-b7ece4e953a0.html#axzz3zDzvmSuk
France can’t build its own new nuclear power stations, let alone ours
France can’t build its own new nuclear power stations, let alone ours
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/france-cant-build-its-own-new-nuclear-power-stations-let-alone-ours/
UPDATE 1-Court sees slim chance for EnBW suit over nuclear moratorium
UPDATE 1-Court sees slim chance for EnBW suit over nuclear moratorium
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL8N15I3L3
NRC Blog Update: Crossing the Finish Line at Watts Bar
Crossing the Finish Line at Watts Bar
Posted by on February 2, 2016
Public Affairs Officer
Region II
Watts Bar Unit 2, the nation’s first new commercial nuclear unit in a generation, received its NRC operating license last October and is closing in on its first nuclear chain reaction. (Power production is still a ways off.) The NRC is still on the job as the staff transitions to operational inspection duties.
An NRC inspector looks on as TVA workers install components at Watts Bar Unit 2.
The Watts Bar plant, located about 50 miles northeast of Chattanooga, Tenn., has a unique history. Unit 1, which also traces its roots to 1973, was the last U.S. plant to come on line when it was finally licensed in 1996 after a similarly lengthy construction hiatus.
When work resumed on Unit 2, the NRC recalled a handful of staffers who had been involved in inspecting work on the sister unit to ensure “knowledge transfer.”
“Our goal is to verify the design is accurate,” said James Baptist, who was a team leader for several years during Watts Bar 2 construction and has recently become chief of the Region II branch overseeing the transition from construction to operation. “We want to ensure Unit 2 looks and operates just like Unit 1. It greatly assists the effort when you have a working model right beside you.”
As is the case with most NRC inspection efforts, the corps of construction resident inspectors led the way, reporting to the site daily and amassing a big percentage of those 127,000 hours.
“Everything came through the residents in terms of what was going on at the site,” said Chris Even, who recently transitioned from senior construction project manager to senior project inspector in the new branch overseeing the transition. “We always relied on the residents for knowing exactly what was going on.”
The workload was huge from the beginning, with more than 550 construction inspection items to be inspected and closed. And Baptist noted that even though the plant was designed in the 1970s, it’s built to today’s standards.
“They purposely built Unit 2 to be a mirror image of Unit 1 while including all the updated safety enhancements that have accrued over the last 25 or 30 years,” he said.
For example, Watts Bar is the first plant in the nation to comply with all the NRC’s post- Fukushima upgrades as well as the newest cybersecurity requirements.
One might think that with the license issued and the plant about to start up that the NRC inspection effort would be winding down. Baptist said that is not the case.
“We still have our foot on the gas,” he said.
Just as the NRC inspectors were dedicated to make sure Watts Bar Unit 2 was constructed and tested according to the design and NRC regulatory requirements, they will continue to maintain that vigilance as the plant begins and continues to operate.
German utilities seek billions in nuclear lawsuits
German utilities seek billions in nuclear lawsuits
http://in.reuters.com/article/germany-nuclear-idINL8N15I3US
Planning costs for Duke Energy's Lee nuclear plant creep toward $500M
Planning costs for Duke Energy's Lee nuclear plant creep toward $500M
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2016/02/planning-costs-for-lee-nuclear-plant-creep-toward.html
NASA Is Running Out Of Plutonium For Spacecraft, But A New Plan Could Help
NASA Is Running Out Of Plutonium For Spacecraft, But A New Plan Could Help
The Department of Energy has an idea that could double production
http://www.popsci.com/new-technique-could-double-plutonium-production-for-nasa
Drilling moratorium blocks federal nuclear waste project near Rugby, N.D.
Drilling moratorium blocks federal nuclear waste project near Rugby, N.D.
http://www.agweek.com/news/north-dakota/3939231-drilling-moratorium-blocks-federal-nuclear-waste-project-near-rugby-nd
Diablo Canyon is needed to save the climate, coasts By Peter Raven and Michael Shellenberger
Diablo Canyon is needed to save the climate, coasts
http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Diablo-Canyon-is-needed-to-save-the-climate-6799259.php
Fight climate change by using nuclear energy
Fight climate change by using nuclear energy
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/fight-climate-change-by-using-nuclear-energy/article_691d01f4-00e7-54df-b042-069fb0b02894.html
Will Environmentalists Force California to Choose "Dirty" Energy Over Clean Nuclear?
Will Environmentalists Force California to Choose "Dirty" Energy Over Clean Nuclear?
Closing the state's last nuclear power plant is anti-environmental and just plain stupid.
http://reason.com/blog/2016/02/03/will-california-choose-dirty-energy-over
Burial of weapons plutonium at WIPP ill advised
Burial of weapons plutonium at WIPP ill advised
http://www.currentargus.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/01/30/burial-weapons-plutonium-wipp-ill-advised/79547598/
Scientists in Germany switch on nuclear fusion experiment
Scientists in Germany switch on nuclear fusion experiment
Scientists in Germany
flipped the switch on an experiment they hope will advance the quest for
nuclear fusion, considered a clean and safe form of nuclear power.
…
Continue Reading
http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/02/scientists-in-germany-switch-on-nuclear-fusion-experiment.html?cmpid=EnlDailyPowerFebruary42016&eid=288118515&bid=1301170
Entergy breaks ground on New Orleans solar project
Entergy breaks ground on New Orleans solar project
Entergy New Orleans has
celebrated the start of construction on the city's first large-scale
effort to produce solar power. …
Continue Reading
http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/02/entergy-breaks-ground-on-new-orleans-solar-project.html?cmpid=EnlDailyPowerFebruary42016&eid=288118515&bid=1301170
Royal recognition for Jordan's nuclear program
Royal recognition for Jordan's nuclear program
King Abdullah II of Jordan has stressed the importance of moving ahead with the country's plans for nuclear energy, calling for Jordan to become a role model for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Royal-recognition-for-Jordan-nuclear-program-0202167.html
Nuclear police put Wylfa site through its most in-depth inspection
Nuclear police put Wylfa site through its most in-depth inspection to ensure it is prepared for a terrorist attac
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/nuclear-police-put-wylfa-site-10828735
Switching plans on U.S. plutonium disposal costly, risky: study
Switching plans on U.S. plutonium disposal costly, risky: study
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-plutonium-idUSKCN0VD039
Groundwater problem emerges at Vermont Yankee
Groundwater problem emerges at Vermont Yankee
https://vtdigger.org/2016/02/03/groundwater-problem-emerges-at-vermont-yankee/
Cost of Watts Bar nuclear reactor rises by $200 million to $4.7 billion
Cost of Watts Bar nuclear reactor rises by $200 million to $4.7 billion
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/feb/03/cost-watts-bar-reactor-rises-200-million-47-billion/348218/
Closing This Nuclear Plant Could Cause an Environmental Disaster
Closing This Nuclear Plant Could Cause an Environmental Disaster
California wants to lead a clean-energy revolution. But what happens if it shutters its last nuclear plant?
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/02/diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant-climate-change
Fukushima Update 2/4/16
Fukushima Update 2/4/16 –
Tokyo says most rural radioactive debris could be declassified… Kansai region business leaders “hail” the Takahama #3 restart… A former advisor reveals the chaos inside PM Kan’s office the first few days of the accident… Eight Fukushima communities want their forests decontaminated… Researchers say they found tiny radioactive glass particles scattered around F. Daiichi… Japan’s top antinuclear organization posts Fukushima’s first 5th anniversary tirade.
http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.
Tokyo says most rural radioactive debris could be declassified… Kansai region business leaders “hail” the Takahama #3 restart… A former advisor reveals the chaos inside PM Kan’s office the first few days of the accident… Eight Fukushima communities want their forests decontaminated… Researchers say they found tiny radioactive glass particles scattered around F. Daiichi… Japan’s top antinuclear organization posts Fukushima’s first 5th anniversary tirade.
http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.
Root cause of Vogtle and VC Summer delays
Root cause of Vogtle and VC Summer delays
http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2014/11/12/root-cause-of-vogtle-and-vc-summer-delays/
Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors
Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421516300106
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
A New Start for the Energy Collective | The Energy Collective Daily
A New Start for the Energy Collective | The Energy Collective Daily
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