Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Fukushima Commentary 7/30/16

Fukushima Commentary 7/30/16

It’s Official: F. Daiichi Unit #2 was not a Melt-Through

The Fukushima Daiichi Unit #2 muon tomography shows there was no compromise in the lower RPV head. It is likely that none of the corium, while still molten, escaped the Reactor Pressure Vessel. To conclude otherwise makes no sense.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-commentary.html

Fresh doubt over Hinkley Point nuclear power project

 Fresh doubt over Hinkley Point nuclear power project
http://www.euronews.com/2016/07/29/fresh-doubt-over-hinkley-point-nuclear-power-project

The coast isn’t clear for India’s nuclear power quest

The coast isn’t clear for India’s nuclear power quest


http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-coast-isnt-clear-for-indias-nuclear-power-quest/article8918162.ece

How New York Could Save the Nuclear Power Industry in the U.S.

How New York Could Save the Nuclear Power Industry in the U.S.


http://time.com/money/4431597/new-york-nuclear-power-subsidies/

Nuclear agency reports 'apparent' violations at MOX plant


Nuclear agency reports 'apparent' violations at MOX plant

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/2016-07-29/nuclear-agency-reports-apparent-violations-mox-plant

Hinkley Point nuclear deal: Theresa May demanded national security checks on Chinese investors, says Vince Cable

Hinkley Point nuclear deal: Theresa May demanded national security checks on Chinese investors, says Vince Cable


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/30/theresa-may-opposes-chinese-investment-in-britain-vince-cable-sa/

Williams: Closing Diablo Canyon is bad for the climate


Williams: Closing Diablo Canyon is bad for the climate



http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_30181786/williams-closing-diablo-canyon-is-bad-climate

Upstate Power Play Governor Cuomo’s renewable-energy push gets dirty.

Upstate Power Play

Governor Cuomo’s renewable-energy push gets dirty. http://www.city-journal.org/html/upstate-power-play-14667.html

New Hinkley Point nuclear plant in doubt as Government delays decision despite EDF approval for £18bn project

New Hinkley Point nuclear plant in doubt as Government delays decision despite EDF approval for £18bn project



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/07/28/green-light-for-hinkley-point-as-new-18bn-nuclear-plant-approved/

NEI Showcases How Nuclear Industry Is ‘Powered by Our People’


NEI Showcases How Nuclear Industry Is ‘Powered by Our People’

  • “Powered by Our People” profiles spotlight nuclear ingenuity
  • Video and blog posts from members will publish weekly
  • Members encouraged to share content, foster awareness


http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/NEI-Showcases-How-Nuclear-Industry-Is-Powered-by-O

Monday: Rally for Nuclear at the New York State Capital


Monday: Rally for Nuclear at the New York State Capital

State House, Albany New York

The Standard and the Rally

New York State is considering a Clean Energy Standard that includes nuclear power plants. This is a big deal.  Many states have Renewable Portfolio Standards that give preference and subsidies to renewables, supposedly in the interest of preventing climate change, but give no value to the fact that nuclear plants do not emit carbon dioxide, any more than wind turbines do.

This coming Monday, there's an important hearing at the New York State Capital about the Clean Energy Standard.   Two organizations: Environmental Progress and Mothers for Nuclear,  are coordinating a rally in Albany for the standard.  After the rally,  we will attend the hearing. I say "we" because  I will be there, hopefully with some others from this area. I'm driving 140 miles to attend, and I am glad to do it!

 Hopefully, the Clean Energy Standard will be enacted, and nuclear plants will be given credit for their clean-air qualities!

If you are interested in coming to the rally, but not sure...email me offline at mjangwin at gmail.

This is very exciting, and I am happy about it.

New York and Vermont

This possibility/ probability in New York shows that nuclear can make progress and get support.  I am very pleased with this development, and happy that nuclear supporters who have been in Albany will go to the plant area for an extension of their rally. The people of Oswego have every reason to be proud of themselves for their work in gaining support for nuclear plants.  Shellenberger gives them abundant credit in his article on How to Save a Nuclear Plant.

However, the contrast with Vermont makes me sad.

In New York, the Governor was in favor of keeping the upstate plants operating. (He wanted to shut Indian Point, however.)  In Vermont, when Peter Shumlin ran for governor the first time, I swear Shumlin was running against Vermont Yankee more than he was running against Brian Dubie.  As a matter of fact, he told Brian Dubie that Dubie  cared more the shareholders of  "Entergy Louisiana"  than he cared about the people of Vermont.  Here's my blog post on that: Taking It Personal: Shumlin Accuses Dubie of Serving the Interests of "Entergy Louisiana."

All politics is local, and local politics in Vermont can be painful.

Relevant Links:

Here's Environmental Progress's review of the history of the standard: How to Save a Nuclear Plant, by Michael Shellenberger.

Here's the schedule and sign-up link for the rally. It starts at 8:30 a.m. in Albany, and then moves on to the plant area (Oswego) later in the afternoon. Save the Climate rally information.  I personally will not be going to Oswego, but I expect that many people in that area will be glad to see people who went to Albany to defend their plants!


Here is my July 17 blog post on writing in support of the Clean Energy Standard. It  includes a link to the standard itself. Write a Comment! Support New York Nuclear Plants.

And if you can't come to the rally, you can donate to Environmental Progress with the Donate button on this page. 





http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2016/07/monday-rally-for-nuclear-at-new-york.html#.V5zex46XQkh

Detectors confirm most fuel remains in unit 2 vessel

Detectors confirm most fuel remains in unit 2 vessel

29 July 2016
Most of the fuel that melted in unit 2 of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan remains within the reactor pressure vessel, an examination using a muon detection system indicates.


http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Detectors-confirm-most-fuel-remains-in-unit-2-vessel-2907164.html

How many robots does it take to run your data center?

How many robots does it take to run your data center?
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Organizations are finding new ways to automate their IT infrastructure
READ FULL STORY https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/1563759585a66e81

U.S. Fracking Now Competitive With Saudi Oil Prices

U.S. Fracking Now Competitive With Saudi Oil Prices

U.S. fracking operations are now efficient enough to produce oil at a price that's competitive with traditional drilling in Saudi Arabia-at least for Pioneer Natural Resources, whose CEO confirmed that production costs have fallen to $2.25 a barrel in some locations.
Scott Sheffield, Pioneer's soon-to-be retired chief executive, said in the company's earnings call Thursday that improved techniques at horizontal wells in the Permian Basin of West Texas have brought costs low enough to match that of Saudi Arabia, which attempted to sabotage U.S. operations by flooding the market with low-priced oil starting in 2014.
Pioneer reported its second-quarter earnings results this morning, posting a loss of 22 cents per share on revenues of $786 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate called for a loss of 34 cents per share, while our revenue estimate was $794 million.
While Pioneer's earnings beat and newly-competitive pricing imply that it is possible for U.S. oil companies to survive the market conditions caused by Saudi Arabia and other oil giants in the Middle East, Sheffield didn't seem to have much faith in any production outside the Permian Basin.
"My firm belief is the Permian is going to be the only driver of long-term oil growth in this country. And it's going to grow on up to about 5 million barrels a day from 2 million barrels," Sheffield said.http://www.nasdaq.com/article/us-fracking-now-competitive-with-saudi-oil-prices-cm656856

NY's historic bailout of nuke plants explained: Why ratepayers could pony up $7 billion

NY's historic bailout of nuke plants explained: Why ratepayers could pony up $7 billion


http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2016/07/nys_historic_bailout_of_nuke_plants_explained_why_ratepayers_will_pony_up_7_bill.html

Hinkley gets one answer but more questions

Hinkley gets one answer but more questions
Hinkley Point C finally received a positive final investment decision from the EDF board last night, only for the UK government to postpone signing its supporting agreements. Prime Minister Theresa May's new cabinet wants to review the deal and decide in early autumn whether to commit its support.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Hinkley-gets-one-answer-but-more-questions-2907161.html

Thursday, July 28, 2016

France Agrees To Build Huge Nuclear Reactor For UK, Saving $32 Billion Photo of Andrew Follett Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/28/france-agrees-to-build-huge-nuclear-reactor-for-uk-saving-32-billion/#ixzz4FkZZj4Mz

France Agrees To Build Huge Nuclear Reactor For UK, Saving $32 Billion

Photo of Andrew Follett


http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/28/france-agrees-to-build-huge-nuclear-reactor-for-uk-saving-32-billion/

Making Clouds for a Living

Making Clouds for a Living


http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2016/07/making-clouds-for-living.html

Would Standardized Nuclear Plant Designs Prevent Construction Overruns and Delays? Lessons From the 1970s

Would Standardized Nuclear Plant Designs Prevent Construction Overruns and Delays? Lessons From the 1970s


http://www.theenergycollective.com/wdavis/2206461/would-standardized-nuclear-plant-designs-prevent-construction-overruns-and-delays

California Closing Nuclear Plant Kept Lights On In Heat Wave | The Daily Caller

California Closing Nuclear Plant Kept Lights On In Heat Wave | The Daily Caller

NCRI - National Council of Resistance of Iran - Struan Stevenson: Is the Iran Nuclear Deal Going to Collapse?

NCRI - National Council of Resistance of Iran - Struan Stevenson: Is the Iran Nuclear Deal Going to Collapse?

Hinkley's nuclear plant fails all tests - bar the politics | Damian Carrington | Environment | The Guardian

Hinkley's nuclear plant fails all tests - bar the politics | Damian Carrington | Environment | The Guardian

Why is the Hinkley Point nuclear plant so controversial? | Business Analysis & Features | News | The Independent

Why is the Hinkley Point nuclear plant so controversial? | Business Analysis & Features | News | The Independent

Study: Wind & Solar up to 5X More Costly than Existing Coal and Nuclear


Study: Wind & Solar up to 5X More Costly than Existing Coal and Nuclear

http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/press/study-wind-solar-5x-costly-existing-coal-nuclear/

Decommissioning milestone at German reactor

Decommissioning milestone at German reactor
Dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel of the Obrigheim nuclear power plant in Germany has been completed, plant owner EnBW announced yesterday. The plant shut down in 2005 after 36 years of operation and has been in the process of demolition since 2008.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/WR-Decommissioning-milestone-at-German-reactor-2807165.html

Japanese institute sees 19 reactor restarts by March 2018

Japanese institute sees 19 reactor restarts by March 2018
Seven Japanese nuclear power reactors are likely to be in operation by the end of next March and 12 more one year later, according to an estimate by the country's Institute of Energy Economics. Judicial rulings and local consents will influence the rate of restart, it notes.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Japanese-institute-sees-19-reactor-restarts-by-March-2018-2807164.html

Fukushima Update 7/28/16

Fukushima Update 7/28/16

Unit #2’s re-solidified fuel (corium) is confirmed to be inside the reactor vessel (RPV)… A sociologist says “only sensational news [about Fukushima] is being reported.”… Less than 1% of food-fish caught near F. Daiichi remains contaminated… On the other hand, only 5 of the 18 fish caught inside the F. Daiichi port area have no detectible Cs-134… The NRA says quake calculations for Oi nuke station are adequate… Tepco wants its nuclear stations removed from the “Pokemon Go” app.

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

EM Update Vol. 8, Issue 14, July 28, 2016

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EM Update | Vol. 8, Issue 14 | July 28, 2016
GreenBar

Why Renewables Can’t Do It Without Nuclear Power

Why Renewables Can’t Do It Without Nuclear Power


http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-Renewables-Cant-Do-It-Without-Nuclear-Power.html

US NRC Blog Update: REFRESH: The Power of Power Uprates

REFRESH: The Power of Power Uprates

Since this blog post first ran in December 2011, the NRC staff has approved 16 additional power uprates, increasing the nuclear fleet’s output by an additional 1300 megawatts electric. An additional three are under review (for the three reactors at Browns Ferry), and the staff expects to receive an additional 10 uprate applications through the end of September 2017.  David McIntyre
Neil Sheehan
Public Affairs Officer
Region
I
refresh leafMuch news space has been devoted over the years to the prospects for new reactors in the U.S. However, new reactors are not the only way the nation’s share of nuclear-generated electricity can be increased — and it doesn’t involve earth-movers, the construction of new buildings or other changes visible to the casual observer.
Another option available to nuclear power plant owners is to pursue a power uprate, which essentially means an increase in the maximum amount of power a reactor can generate. But before a power uprate can be implemented, it must first undergo a thorough review by the NRC.
Take for example, the NRC’s approval of a 15 percent power uprate for the Nine Mile Point 2 nuclear power plant in upstate New York. That approval was the culmination of an NRC review that began with the submittal of the application on May 27, 2009.
During the course of the agency’s evaluation of the proposal, NRC staff scrutinized data regarding the proposal and posed dozens of technical questions to the plant’s owner, Constellation. They included queries about the effects of greater stresses on piping and the plant’s steam dryer, a component at the top of the reactor vessel, as a result of operations at higher power levels.
Power_Uprates_past-current-future (002)The NRC does not proceed to a final decision until all such questions are answered to our full satisfaction.
Uprates are not a new development. In fact, the NRC approved the first uprate back in 1977 and has to date approved 140 such applications. All told, the uprates have led to an increase in power output nationwide of about 6,000 megawatts electric.
There are three different kinds of power uprates: “measurement uncertainty recapture” uprates, “stretch” uprates and “extended” uprates. Here’s a brief description of each:
Measurement uncertainty recapture uprates – They involve an increase of less than 2 percent and are achieved by implementing enhanced techniques for calculating reactor power levels. State-of-the-art devices are used to more precisely measure feedwater flow, which is used to calculate reactor power.
Stretch uprates – The increases are typically between 2 and 7 percent and usually involve changes to instrumentation settings but do not require major plant modifications.
Extended uprates – Power boosts of this type have been approved for increases of up to 20 percent. They usually involve significant modifications to major pieces of non-nuclear equipment, such as high-pressure turbines, condensate pumps and motors, main generators and/or transformers. The Nine Mile Point 2 uprate would fall into this category.
For more information on power uprates, visit the NRC web site.

Addressing Climate Action with Nuclear Energy

Addressing Climate Action with Nuclear Energy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr3mJY_gr_Y&feature=em-uploademail

Westinghouse switches on to big potential in China

Westinghouse switches on to big potential in China


http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2016-07/28/content_26248858.htm

Exelon, NARUC panelists debate state, federal roles in energy markets


Exelon, NARUC panelists debate state, federal roles in energy markets
https://www.snl.com/Interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-37188685-11046

Plant Vogtle reactor project workforce tops 6,000 workers, will grow

Plant Vogtle reactor project workforce tops 6,000 workers, will grow


http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2016-07-27/plant-vogtle-reactor-project-workforce-tops-6000-workers-will-grow

Is Eskom building a case for nuclear power?

http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2016/07/28/is-eskom-building-a-case-for-nuclear-power

Nuclear power being backed as reliable way of keeping the lights on

Nuclear power being backed as reliable way of keeping the lights on


https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/115608/nuclear-power-backed-reliable-way-keeping-lights/

America's Heat Wave No Sweat For Nuclear Power

America's Heat Wave No Sweat For Nuclear Power



http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2016/07/28/americas-heat-wave-no-sweat-for-nuclear-power/#400b5dda2a00

Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station To Be Given Green Light

Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station To Be Given Green Light


http://www.newsweek.com/edf-give-hinkley-point-nuclear-power-station-green-light-484851

Go-ahead expected for new nuclear plant on the British coast

The plant will be located on the south-east coast

http://www.newstalk.com/UK,nuclear-plant-Hinkley-Point-Somerset-permission


Q & A: New Hinkley Point C nuclear power station

https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/115610/q-new-hinkley-point-c-nuclear-power-station/

Decision due on £18 billion Hinkley nuclear reactor


http://www.onenewspage.co.uk/n/UK/759qi08qy/Decision-due-on-pound-18-billion-Hinkley-nuclear.htm

EDF set to make final decision on Hinkley Point nuclear site


http://www.eadt.co.uk/business/edf_set_to_make_final_decision_on_hinkley_point_nuclear_site_1_4634816

Hinkley Point set to get final investment approval from France's EDF


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/07/28/39876/UK-nuclear-deal-set-to-get-final-nod


Hinkley: Point of no return for nuclear project as UK prepares to sign subsidy deal

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/07/27/hinkley-point-of-no-return-for-nuclear-project-as-uk-prepares-to/

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Dems Offically Slash ‘All Of The Above’ Energy Plan From Platform

Dems Offically Slash ‘All Of The Above’ Energy Plan From Platform


http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/26/dems-offically-slash-all-of-the-above-energy-plan-from-platform/

Nuclear Industry Calls for More Predictable Reviews at NRC

Nuclear Industry Calls for More Predictable Reviews at NRC


http://www.bna.com/nuclear-industry-calls-n73014445346/

Just a Show: The Calm Sham of the DNC

Just a Show: The Calm Sham of the DNC

Hinkley C investment decision: A new dawn for UK nuclear power? - The Barrel Blog

Hinkley C investment decision: A new dawn for UK nuclear power? - The Barrel Blog

Horizon Nuclear Power Reacts To Panel Mandates - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Horizon Nuclear Power Reacts To Panel Mandates - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Nuclear power key focus of UAE-South Korea ties, ambassador says | The National

Nuclear power key focus of UAE-South Korea ties, ambassador says | The National

Uranium poised for price jump in nuclear power boom - Article - BNN

Uranium poised for price jump in nuclear power boom - Article - BNN

Guest Opinion: Keep existing nuclear power plants running


  • Guest Opinion: Keep existing nuclear power plants running

  • The U.S. is losing its nuclear power plants at an alarming rate. Since 2013, American utilities have announced the early closure of 14 reactors, including the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts.

http://www.heraldnews.com/opinion/20160726/guest-opinion-keep-existing-nuclear-power-plants-running

General Atomics radiation monitoring systems operating at new U.S. nuclear power plant


General Atomics radiation monitoring systems operating at new U.S. nuclear power plant

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/07/general-atomics-radiation-monitoring-systems-operating-at-new-u-s-nuclear-power-plant.html

Russia, Turkey reach 'political decision' on TurkStream, nuclear power plant: agencies

Russia, Turkey reach 'political decision' on TurkStream, nuclear power plant: agencies


http://www.todayonline.com/world/russia-turkey-reach-political-decision-turkstream-nuclear-power-plant-agencies

GA-EMS Installs Monitoring System At Watts Bar 2

GA-EMS Installs Monitoring System At Watts Bar 2


http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2016/07/27/ga_2d00_ems-installs-monitoring-system-at-watts-bar-2-072701#.V5kaEI6XQkg

IAEA experts working in Belarus to prepare nuclear power plant construction site assessment mission

IAEA experts working in Belarus to prepare nuclear power plant construction site assessment mission
IAEA experts working in Belarus to prepare nuclear power plant construction site assessment mission
Read full text at: http://eng.belta.by/society/view/iaea-experts-working-in-belarus-to-prepare-nuclear-power-plant-construction-site-assessment-mission-93200-2016/
If you use BelTA’s materials, you must credit us with a hyperlink to eng.belta.by.
AEA experts working in Belarus to prepare nuclear power plant construction site assessment mission
Read full text at: http://eng.belta.by/society/view/iaea-experts-working-in-belarus-to-prepare-nuclear-power-plant-construction-site-assessment-mission-93200-2016/
If you use BelTA’s materials, you must credit us with a hyperlink to eng.belta.by.

http://eng.belta.by/society/view/iaea-experts-working-in-belarus-to-prepare-nuclear-power-plant-construction-site-assessment-mission-93200-2016/

$11.38b loan deal signed for nuclear power plant


$11.38b loan deal signed for nuclear power plant


http://www.thedailystar.net/business/1138b-loan-deal-signed-nuclear-power-plant-1259944

Guest Post by Michael Shellenberger: How to Save a Nuclear Plant


How to Save a Nuclear Plant

by Michael Shellenberger
Next Monday, the state of New York may make climate change history.
That’s because the state’s Public Service Commission will vote on a measure that would not only prevent three nuclear power plants from being replaced by fossil fuels, it would also establish an important precedent that could be replicated across the U.S. and even Europe.
I will be at the meeting in Albany, New York, along with other pro-nuclear environmentalists organized by Environmental Progress (EP), to encourage the Commissioners to do the right thing.
Climate scientists and environmentalists organized by EP have over the last several months been championing the inclusion of nuclear in state Clean Energy Standards (CES) as a fair and equitable way to protect America’s largest source of clean energy.
If the Commissioners do the right thing, we will toast them along with Governor Andrew Cuomo and all other parties for making New York a climate change leader.
And after that, we will drive three hours to the northwest to toast an even more special group of people: the workers of the Fitzpatrick nuclear power plant. 

How Fitzpatrick Fought Back

If the CES becomes law, Fitzpatrick — known locally as just “Fitz” — which had been written off as dead, will likely survive. Discriminated against by federal and state policies, the plant’s operator, Entergy, announced it would have to close the plant by January 2017.
Sometimes, when the operator of a nuclear plant announces a closure, the workers just give up. Doing so is perfectly understandable: why try to keep a nuclear plant open that its operator plainly no longer wants?
But that wasn’t the reaction from Fitzpatrick workers. Instead, they fought back. They organized rallies, pressured their elected officials to intervene, and even attacked the plant's operator, Entergy.
The head of the local union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 97) Ted Skerpon blasted Entergy, saying it was "using the FitzPatrick plant as a chip'' to pressure Gov. Cuomo to stop trying to shut down Indian Point, a more profitable nuclear plant near to Manhattan.
"Don't tell me it wasn't just a ploy,'' Skerpon told a reporter. "And if it wasn't, you know what, Entergy, step up and tell us what you were asking for. You're still hiding it. What are you asking for? What do you need?''
The union, the local community and elected officials pressured Entergy and the Governor's office to return to the negotiating table. But talks again broke down.
"It's Final," a local newspaper reported bluntly. "The fate of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego County has been decided. It will close."
Sarah Spath, a nuclear engineer who used to work at Fitz but now works at neighboring Ginna, which will also be closed if the CES does not pass next Monday, spoke out eloquently for ending the discrimination against nuclear in New York, and again in California.

“I am a life-long lover of Mother Earth and a whole-hearted soldier for sustainability," Spath said in video testimony posted to Facebook that has since been viewed 30,000 times.
But Cuomo wanted to exclude Indian Point from the Clean Energy Standard for supposed safety reasons. The discriminatory treatment of Indian Point was hotly opposed by pro-nuclear environmentalists, including Environmental Progress.

Climate Scientists & Environmentalists Defend Indian Point

In early April, while campaigning in New York, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders called for closing Indian Point, which anti-nuclear groups have long sought to close.
The next day, climate scientist James Hansen spoke up strongly for Indian Point
"The last few weeks have seen an orchestrated campaign to mislead the people of New York about the essential safety and importance of Indian Point nuclear plant to address climate change. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has repeatedly certified the safety of Indian Point. The scaremongers have taken minor maintenance questions and wrongly suggested they point to significant problems with the plant."
A few days later, Environmental Progress challenged Cuomo's staff on its proposal to protect nuclear plants but exclude nuclear. “How does the governor justify supporting only the upstate nuclear power plants and not Indian Point,” Cesar Penafiel, Director of Analytics at Environmental Progress, asked Richard Kauffman, Cuomo's energy czar at meeting last April.
Then, in early June, EP sent an open letter to Cuomo signed by Hansen and dozens of respected climate scientists and environmentalists. We praised Cuomo's CES while criticizing his exclusion of Indian Point:
"Dealing with climate change requires that 100 percent of our electricity derive from clean, low-carbon energy sources. We thus applaud your efforts to include nuclear in a new, clean energy standard (CES).... At the same time, we are troubled by your efforts to close the Indian Point nuclear plant and to exclude it from the CES."
We debunked the alleged safety concerns with Indian Point one by one. We concluded by noting:
"Nuclear remains the safest way to make reliable clean energy according to every major scientific review, and yet it is treated as though the opposite were the case. All power plants require monitoring and maintenance but only nuclear plants attract the attention of policymakers and the media. The justification for the double standard is that nuclear is uniquely dangerous but all of the data, including of the worst accidents, show the opposite to be true."
Though it's not exactly clear how it might have affected the final outcome, it is notable that in June and July, Gov. Cuomo's plans for a major solar manufacturing push in upstate New York were unraveling. After the US Justice Department announced an investigation of alleged corruption, IBM and a major Japanese investor put on hold over $1.5 billion in investments, including in a Solar City manufacturing facility.
Finally, on July 8, the staff of the New York PSC released a revised Clean Energy Standard proposal that includes Indian Point. 
The following week, Entergy announced that it was in discussions with Exelon to sell Fitz, contingent upon passage of the revised CES.
The CES is by no means a done deal. It is being opposed by the usual suspects, including the Sierra Club, NRDC and Riverkeeper — both of whom take money from energy corporations that stand to benefit from closing New York nuclear plants. 
For that reason Environmental Progress submitted an official letter to the Commissioners— with an even larger group of signatories — and is mobilizing pro-nuclear supporters to come to Albany to urge Commissioners to do the right thing.
If they do the right thing for the climate and New York, there will be plenty of credit to go around.
The Commissioners and Gov. Cuomo will deserve credit for siding with the climate and communities against fear mongering special interest groups like Sierra Club and Riverkeeper. 
Entergy and Exelon will deserve credit for working out a win-win deal and transcending the scarcity mentality that accompanies low electricity demand growth. 
Climate scientists — particularly Jim Hansen — and pro-nuclear environmentalists will deserve credit for standing up for the science against the anti-nuclear lobby not just in Albany but also Springfield, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. 
But, in the end, I think special credit should go to the courageous workers of Fitz, supportive elected officials, IBEW 97, the Building Trades and the Oswego Industrial Development Agency. Had they given up, then so too might have Gov. Cuomo, Entergy and Exelon.   
In recognition of their leadership — a model of courage and tenacity for struggling nuclear plant workers and communities around the country — Environmental Progress will travel to Oswego to give the workers and their leaders the James Hansen Climate Courage Award.
The first round of beers for Fitz and other nuclear power plant workers at Greene's Ale House next Monday, August 1, will be on me.