NRC denies Vt. oversight of Yankee fund
http://www.timesargus.com/article/20161029/THISJUSTIN/310299996
Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Consortium secures record fusion robotics deal
Consortium secures record fusion robotics deal
A consortium of Airbus Safran Launchers, Nuvia and Cegelec CEM - all companies of the Vinci group - is to develop a remote handling system for the Iter project under the largest fusion energy robotics contract ever awarded, Fusion for Energy has announced. http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Consortium-secures-record-fusion-robotics-deal-2810167.html
A consortium of Airbus Safran Launchers, Nuvia and Cegelec CEM - all companies of the Vinci group - is to develop a remote handling system for the Iter project under the largest fusion energy robotics contract ever awarded, Fusion for Energy has announced. http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Consortium-secures-record-fusion-robotics-deal-2810167.html
Europe Capitalizes on the Iran Deal
http://lobelog.com/europe-
As Washington think-tanks, with some notable exceptions, keep churning out papers advising the next American president to double down on containing Iran, the European Parliament adopted a report on October 25 that is strikingly different in tone and substance. Drafted by the UK Labour Party politician Richard Howitt , the motion received overwhelming support in the house: 459 votes in favor, with 174 against and 67 abstentions. It outlines a set of recommendations for the EU and its member states to fully capitalize on the opening provided by the historical nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1.
The report praises the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a success of a multilateral diplomacy, which has already boosted economic and trade connections between Europe and Iran. The report calls on both the EU and Iran to build on this opening by expanding cooperation in counter-terrorism, environmental protection, academic and cultural exchanges, and aviation and maritime safety.
The report is notable also for the respectful and constructive tone it uses. Although by no means short on legitimate criticisms of Iran, it avoids the kind of bashing that can only provoke angry reactions and further alienation. For example, it recognizes the complexities of Iran’s internal politics and does not seek to take sides in Iran’s domestic political debates. It acknowledges the long history of relations between Iran and various European countries as a foundation to further expand ties. Instead of blasting the “repressive theocracy,” it states that “Iran’s revolutionary legacy and constitution as an Islamic Republic” should not be an obstacle to finding common ground on issues of democracy and human rights, where possible. These are novel formulations for an official position of an elected Western body on the Islamic Republic, and convey an intention to have a dialogue of equals. http://lobelog.com/europe-capitalizes-on-the-iran-deal/#more-36422
Europe Capitalizes on the Iran Deal
by Eldar MamedovAs Washington think-tanks, with some notable exceptions, keep churning out papers advising the next American president to double down on containing Iran, the European Parliament adopted a report on October 25 that is strikingly different in tone and substance. Drafted by the UK Labour Party politician Richard Howitt , the motion received overwhelming support in the house: 459 votes in favor, with 174 against and 67 abstentions. It outlines a set of recommendations for the EU and its member states to fully capitalize on the opening provided by the historical nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1.
The report praises the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a success of a multilateral diplomacy, which has already boosted economic and trade connections between Europe and Iran. The report calls on both the EU and Iran to build on this opening by expanding cooperation in counter-terrorism, environmental protection, academic and cultural exchanges, and aviation and maritime safety.
The report is notable also for the respectful and constructive tone it uses. Although by no means short on legitimate criticisms of Iran, it avoids the kind of bashing that can only provoke angry reactions and further alienation. For example, it recognizes the complexities of Iran’s internal politics and does not seek to take sides in Iran’s domestic political debates. It acknowledges the long history of relations between Iran and various European countries as a foundation to further expand ties. Instead of blasting the “repressive theocracy,” it states that “Iran’s revolutionary legacy and constitution as an Islamic Republic” should not be an obstacle to finding common ground on issues of democracy and human rights, where possible. These are novel formulations for an official position of an elected Western body on the Islamic Republic, and convey an intention to have a dialogue of equals. http://lobelog.com/europe-capitalizes-on-the-iran-deal/#more-36422
NRC Schedules Regulatory Conference to Discuss Proposed Violation At Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
NRC Schedules Regulatory Conference to Discuss Proposed Violation At Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will meet with officials from the Pacific Gas & Electric Company on Nov. 15, to discuss a preliminary finding regarding the licensee’s failure to adequately maintain the emergency core cooling system at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
The public meeting, scheduled for 12:30 p.m., will be held at the NRC’s Region IV office at 1600 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, Texas. NRC officials will answer questions from the public following the business portion of the meeting. A telephone bridge will be available for the meeting by calling 888-790-5880 and entering passcode 4630080.
Background
Each reactor at Diablo Canyon is equipped with two emergency core cooling systems that are used to provide cooling water to a reactor under some
accident conditions. During a scheduled test conducted in May, workers discovered that a maintenance problem had rendered one of the Unit 2
emergency core cooling systems inoperable for an extended period of time, beginning as early as October 2014.
A second emergency core cooling system was available had it been needed. The licensee has corrected the condition and changes have been made to maintenance procedures to prevent recurrence. The issue is described in an NRC inspection report
.
The NRC evaluates regulatory performance at commercial nuclear plants with a color-coded process that categorizes inspection findings as green, white, yellow or red in order of increasing safety significance. The NRC has preliminarily determined that the inspection finding has low to moderate
(white) safety significance, which may require additional inspections, regulatory actions and oversight. No decision on the final safety significance of the finding or any additional NRC actions are expected to be made at the conference. That decision will be announced at a later time and documented
in an NRC inspection report. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2016/16-021.iv.pdf
Just 90 companies are accountable for more than 60 percent of greenhouse gases
Just 90 companies are accountable for more than 60 percent of greenhouse gases
http://thebulletin.org/just-90-companies-are-accountable-more-60-percent-greenhouse-gases10080
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Friday, October 28, 2016
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WIPP storage plan draws concern
WIPP storage plan draws concern
Safety issues > Watchdog group says more resources needed to repair roof cave ins
http://www.lamonitor.com/content/wipp-storage-plan-draws-concern#.WBIWcnqrHsM.linkedin
Under NRC’s Watchful Eye — New Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Comes on Line
Under NRC’s Watchful Eye — New Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Comes on Line
Posted by on October 27, 2016
Public Affairs Officer
Region II
The nuclear power industry notched a significant milestone last week when the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar Unit 2 began commercial operations. It was the nation’s first new generating unit to come on line in 20 years.
More than 350 NRC staff members were involved in the construction inspection and project management effort for Watts Bar 2.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, it was just another day at the office – the resident inspector office at the plant near Spring City, Tenn., northeast of Chattanooga. Several months before, the NRC had begun and then completed a gradual transition from construction inspection to operational inspection.
The Watts Bar units have a unique history. Both trace their lineage to 1973. Both units had lengthy construction hiatus periods, with Unit 2’s obviously lasting quite a bit longer.
Resumption of construction at Watts Bar hit a high gear in 2008 and during the next eight years, the NRC’s Region II-based construction inspection staff, supplemented by inspectors from headquarters in Rockville, Md., logged more than 127,000 hours making sure Unit 2 was built according to its design specifications. More than 350 NRC staff members were involved in the construction inspection and project management effort. The NRC also expended considerable inspection activity during the unit’s lengthy pre-operational testing phase.
Now, however, Watts Bar is a twin-unit operating facility. Three NRC resident inspectors currently act as the agency’s eyes and ears at the Watts Bar site as Unit 2 transitions to the agency’s baseline inspection program for operating units. It will take about a year before that process is completed.
Even though Watts Bar was designed in the 1970s, it was licensed to today’s standards, including all the updated safety enhancements required by the NRC, including post-Fukushima upgrades and cybersecurity requirements.
With the addition of Watts Bar Unit 2, TVA now has seven nuclear units operating in Alabama and Tennessee. https://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov/2016/10/27/under-nrcs-watchful-eye-new-commercial-nuclear-power-plant-comes-on-line/
Toshiba : WESTINGHOUSE'S WELINK BUSINESS ACCELERATOR TO ADVANCE NUCLEAR INNOVATION
Toshiba : WESTINGHOUSE'S WELINK BUSINESS ACCELERATOR TO ADVANCE NUCLEAR INNOVATION
http://www.4-traders.com/TOSHIBA-CORP-6493713/news/Toshiba-WESTINGHOUSE-S-WELINK-BUSINESS-ACCELERATOR-TO-ADVANCE-NUCLEAR-INNOVATION-23295643/
Fukushima Radiation in the Pacific (Revisited)
Fukushima Radiation in the Pacific (Revisited)
http://www.triplepundit.com/2016/10/fukushima-radiation-pacific-revisited/
U.S., Japan oppose and China abstains as U.N. votes to launch talks on nuclear arms ban
U.S., Japan oppose and China abstains as U.N. votes to launch talks on nuclear arms ban
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/10/28/world/politics-diplomacy-world/u-s-japan-oppose-china-abstains-u-n-votes-launch-talks-nuclear-arms-ban/Norway votes against nuclear disarmament resolution in the UN
Norway votes against nuclear disarmament resolution in the UN
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/norway-votes-against-nuclear-disarmament-resolution-in-the-un/id2518168/
Why Russia just introduced an 'extremely dangerous' new nuclear missile called the 'Satan 2'
Why Russia just introduced an 'extremely dangerous' new nuclear missile called the 'Satan 2'
http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-nuclear-missile-satan-2-2016-10?r=UK&IR=T
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Email from Michael Shellenberger: In Reversal, PG&E Now Admits Diablo Canyon Closure Proposal Would Increase Electricity Rates
Dear Michele,
There's no point in sugar-coating what's happened: PG&E and NRDC deliberately lied to the public and the media.
Hours after the deal to close Diablo Canyon nuclear plant was announced on June 21, Environmental Progress was the first to point out that "The proposal would increase electricity rates," in a statement, as well as on a conference call and in conversations with reporters.
We were ignored until now. Today, the San Jose Mercury News quotes me on news that PG&E will in fact raise rates:
“It’s
outrageous and it is totally deceptive what PG&E said before
compared with what is actually going to happen,” said Michael
Shellenberger, president of the Berkeley-based advocacy group
Environmental Progress.
The last time
California closed a nuclear plant through a secret deal, the result was
higher electricity rates, more pollution, and a federal criminal
investigation into corruption at the PUC.History is repeating itself now with Diablo — but it doesn't have to.
Today's news is powerful vindication of Environmental Progress's work, and an important step to killing a deal that is dirty in more ways than one.
Michael
In Reversal, PG&E Now Admits Diablo Canyon Closure Proposal Would Increase Electricity Rates
by Michael Shellenberger
When PG&E announced the deal it had secretly negotiated with anti-nuclear groups to close Diablo Canyon, California's last nuclear plant, it claimed rates would not rise.
"PG&E does not believe customer rates will increase as a result of the Joint Proposal," the company said in a statement on June 21, 2016.
NRDC, one of the parties to the proposal, went further, claiming "PG&E customers will save at least a billion dollars by replacing Diablo Canyon."
Now, PG&E admits that the closure would cost $1.8 billion, and that rates would rise immediately after if gets approval from the state's Public Utilities Commission.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that PG&E has announced the rate increase in a new bill insert:
“If the proposal is approved, the costs would be $1.77 billion and would be collected over an eight-year time period,” PG&E stated in the billing insert.
The Mercury News quotes me:
“It’s outrageous and it is totally deceptive what PG&E said before compared with what is actually going to happen,” said Michael Shellenberger, president of the Berkeley-based advocacy group Environmental Progress.
Hours after the deal was announced on June 21, Environmental Progress was the first to point out that "The proposal would increase electricity rates," in a statement, as well as on a conference call and in conversations with reporters.
Again on September 19, Environmental Progress noted that PG&E was asking for permission to charge higher rates.
And yet no media outlet had until now reported that the closure of the plant is also a rate hike.
There's no point in sugar-coating what happened. PG&E and NRDC deliberately lied to the public and the media, and journalists who have been covering this have been insufficiently skeptical of the claims being made by PG&E and NRDC.
This is not just about not raising rates. The two organization lied in other ways.
First, Diablo Canyon will be replaced almost entirely by natural gas, not renewables.
But NRDC's John Cavanagh claimed, "Natural Gas Isn't Needed To Replace Diablo Canyon."
Cavanagh is a senior attorney who has been at NRDC since the 1970s and played a central role in creating California's electricity markets through de-regulation and its renewable portfolio standard.
He thus knows perfectly well that natural gas is indeed needed because solar and wind that produce power 20 - 30 percent of the time cannot replace a plant that produces power 24 hours a day.
Second, Diablo Canyon will not require expensive cooling towers, which are at the heart of PG&E's justification for raising rates.
Both NRDC and PG&E continue to promote the idea that cooling towers will be required in order to grossly exaggerate the future cost of Diablo Canyon to justify the rate hike.
Newspaper reporters and editorial boards repeated the claims made by PG&E and NRDC last June, even though they were clearly wrong. They covered the story as a "he said, she said" story of dueling experts, even though there are hard facts that can be verified. This appears to be due to some combination of laziness and anti-nuclear bias.
Reporters should be more suspicious going forward now that the effort to close Diablo Canyon is following the same pattern as the effort to close San Onofre, just two years ago.
Back in 2014, reporters at major media outlets repeated the claim by supposed ratepayer advocacy group, TURN, that it would result in lower rates.
From the San Diego Reader:
"San Francisco–based Utility Reform Network sent out a news release blaring “$1.4 Billion in Refunds Is a Good Deal for Customers!” This so-called consumer “refund” would be a “huge win” for consumers and “hold utility shareholders accountable for the fiasco,” exulted Matthew Freedman, a lawyer for the network. Edison and SDG&E sent out releases that said consumers would get a good deal.
"The Los Angeles Times repeated Utility Reform Network’s claim that consumers would get a nifty refund. So did television and radio stations. U-T San Diego said ratepayers would save money."
San Onofre's closure exposed the PUC as thoroughly corrupt, but it also exposed journalists as too trusting in what the parties involved — the CPUC, TURN, FOE, A4NR — claimed.
The US Attorney and California’s District Attorney have on-going criminal investigations into how the CPUC initiated and rushed through a settlement proposal that closed SONGS. That settlement resulted in the requirement that ratepayers pay $3.3 billion out of a $4.7 billion settlement.
TURN and CPUC defended that outcome for 18 months before finally agreeing to re-open settlement proceedings last May.
The San Diego Union Tribune's coverage afterwards markedly improved, and the paper reported that TURN is in fact controlled by the corrupt PUC through payments the agency makes directly to TURN:
TURN has received more than $11.7 million since 2013, about 45 percent of the money awarded. Between 2008 and 2012, TURN received $12.7 million, almost half of the payments approved by the commission.
...
A month after the deal was announced, in April 2014, TURN learned of the undisclosed meeting in Poland but did not inform the public. TURN defended the negotiated settlement throughout a months-long review process, culminating in commission approval in November 2014. The deal assigned utility customers to cover $3.3 billion of the $4.7 billion in premature shutdown costs.
The group is seeking almost $290,000 for its work on the San Onofre case.
Friends of the Earth, another intervenor that signed onto the settlement, requested $483,000 in compensation, though none of the requests have been paid because the case remains active.
“The rewards meted out by the PUC go to the people who are most loyal and faithful to the commitment to keep rates as high as possible,” ratepayer advocate and attorney Michael Aguirre said.
Aguirre intervened in an application from the state’s investor-owned utilities – Edison, SDG&E, Southern California Gas and Pacific Gas & Electric – when they wanted to charge customers in advance for future wildfire damages that would not be covered by insurance companies.
The application was rejected after a groundswell of opposition. Three of the four intervenors in the case received funds; Aguirre’s claim for $224,000 was rejected.
“It was a big victory,” Aguirre said. “I put in for my money and they gave me zilch.”
Watts Bar 2 has been shut down since Oct 22 due to transformer issues
Watts Bar 2 has been shut down since Oct 22 due to transformer issues
http://atomicinsights.com/watts-bar-2-shut-since-oct-23-due-transformer-issues/
Interior Department to Auction Over 79,000 Acres Offshore New York for Wind Energy Development
From: U.S. Department of the Interior
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2016 12:31 PM
To: v1victor@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2016 12:31 PM
To: v1victor@aol.com
Date: October 27, 2016
Contacts: interior_press@ios.doi.gov
Tracey Moriarty (BOEM) 703-787-1571
Contacts: interior_press@ios.doi.gov
Tracey Moriarty (BOEM) 703-787-1571
Interior Department to Auction Over 79,000 Acres Offshore New York for Wind Energy DevelopmentFourteen companies qualified to bid in 6th competitive lease sale
WASHINGTON – As part of President Obama’s comprehensive Climate Action Plan to
create American jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources and cut
carbon pollution, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper today
announced that 79,350 acres offshore New York will be offered in a December 15 commercial wind lease sale.
“Today’s
announcement not only marks another milestone for the U.S. offshore wind
energy program, but also demonstrates how our collaborative efforts
with state, local and private sector partners can advance a clean energy
future in the United States,” said Secretary Jewell. “Industry interest
remains strong with more than a dozen qualified bidders as we take
another step closer to harnessing the enormous potential of offshore
wind energy for Atlantic coastal communities.”
The New York
Wind Energy Area starts approximately 11.5 nautical miles (nm) from
Jones Beach, NY. From its western edge, the area extends approximately
24 nm southeast at its longest portion. The lease area consists of five
full Outer Continental Shelf blocks and 143 sub-blocks. A map of the
lease area can be found here.
“New York is
a critical component in building a robust U.S. offshore wind industry,”
said BOEM Director Abigail Ross Hopper. “The process to develop and
refine the New York lease area, as well as the online auction, reflects
the deep commitment BOEM has to listening and responding to stakeholders
and ensuring that all voices are heard as we forge a path to a clean
energy future.”
To date,
BOEM has awarded eleven commercial wind leases, including nine through
the competitive lease sale process. These lease sales have generated
more than $16 million in winning bids for more than a million acres in
federal waters.
After
reviewing comments received on the Environmental Assessment, BOEM
removed about 1,780 acres from the lease area due to environmental
concerns regarding a seafloor feature known as the Cholera Bank. In a
comment letter, the National Marine Fisheries Service identified the
Cholera Bank feature as a sensitive habitat to be avoided for the
placement of structures. As a result of this removal, the revised lease
area will be approximately two percent smaller than the lease area
considered in the Proposed Sale Notice.
In response
to concerns raised by commercial fishing interests, BOEM also has
included a lease requirement for the lessee to develop a publicly
available Fisheries Communications Plan and work with a Fisheries
Liaison to facilitate communication with the fishing industry.
Today’s
announcement also identifies 14 companies that BOEM has deemed legally,
technically and financially qualified to participate in the upcoming
lease sale:
- Avangrid Renewables, LLC
- CI-II NY Inc.
- DONG Energy Wind Power (U.S.) Inc.
- Innogy US Renewable Projects LLC
- wpd offshore Alpha LLC
- Deepwater Wind Hudson Canyon, LLC
- Energy Management, Inc.
- Convalt Energy LLC
- Clean Power Northeast Development Inc.
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
- Statoil Wind US LLC
- EDF Renewable Development, Inc.
- Fishermen’s Energy, LLC
- Sea Breeze Energy LLC
Under the terms of the Final Sale Notice, which will be published in the Federal Register on October 31, the lease area will be auctioned as Lease OCS-A 0512. Concurrently, BOEM will release a revised environmental assessment (EA) for commercial wind lease issuance and related activities within the Wind Energy Area offshore New York. The EA considers reasonably foreseeable environmental and socioeconomic impacts from issuing a renewable energy lease and conducting site characterization (e.g., surveys) and assessment (e.g., installation and operation of meteorological towers and buoys) activities in the designated offshore area.
As a result of the analysis in the revised EA, BOEM issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, which concluded that reasonably foreseeable environmental effects associated with the issuance of the commercial wind lease and related activities would not significantly impact the environment.
The revised EA addresses comments received in response to an environmental assessment published in June 2016 for public review. Those comments can be viewed by searching for Docket ID BOEM-2016-0038 here.
For more information on the New York lease area and upcoming auction, as well as the revised EA, visit BOEM’s website at http://www.boem.gov/New-York.
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