Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Iran tells UN inspectors it plans to enrich uranium to 20% | Euronews

Iran tells UN inspectors it plans to enrich uranium to 20% | Euronews: This would push the country's programme a technical step away from weapons-grade levels as it increases pressure on the West over its tattered atomic deal.

How the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation ended up in Congress’s $900 billion relief bill - The Washington Post

How the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation ended up in Congress’s $900 billion relief bill - The Washington Post: The reference is aimed at reining in China’s interference in Tibet’s religious affairs.

Friday, January 1, 2021

The Northern Triangle Needs Some TLC | Newsmax.com

The Northern Triangle Needs Some TLC | Newsmax.com: As the incoming Biden administration looks to Latin America, the "Northern Triangle" countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras rank near the top in the risk of crises that could impact U.S. domestic politics.

NRC considers extending nuclear power plant operating licenses to 100 years - NationofChange

NRC considers extending nuclear power plant operating licenses to 100 years - NationofChange: The nuclear industry and nuclear power advocates in government are “desperately trying to hold on.”

China's Real Threat is to America's Ruling Ideology | Palladium Magazine

China's Real Threat is to America's Ruling Ideology | Palladium Magazine: America's China hawks paint the country as an economic, geopolitical, and military danger. In reality, China is less a threat to America itself than it is to the legitimacy of U.S. ruling ideology.

Fukushima Update January 1, 2021

Fukushima Update January 1, 2021 – Only thirty percent of Fukushima residents feel reconstruction has been sufficient… Another overly-optimistic projection for renewable energy is proposed for Japan… An unsupported claim is posted about radiation levels at F. Daiichi! https://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

Why China is Anti-Fragile - Law & Liberty

Why China is Anti-Fragile - Law & Liberty: It is high time to focus on what China does right rather than what it does wrong—and undertake to do it better.

The Barrier To Nuclear Is Perception, Says Panel - Eurasia Review

The Barrier To Nuclear Is Perception, Says Panel - Eurasia Review: As policymakers grapple with the twin challenges of climate change and a post-COVID economic recovery, the benefits of nuclear power are clearer than

Nuclear Energy In A Post-Pandemic ASEAN | The ASEAN Post

Nuclear Energy In A Post-Pandemic ASEAN | The ASEAN Post: Clean energy holds an important role in the post pandemic recovery process.

5 Advanced Reactors to Change Nuclear Energy in the Next Decade | IE

5 Advanced Reactors to Change Nuclear Energy in the Next Decade | IE: The future of nuclear energy appears bright as the US DOE was just awarded significant funding to continue research into 5 new reactor designs.

Permit to build Egypt's Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant may be issued mid-2021 - EgyptToday

Permit to build Egypt's Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant may be issued mid-2021 - EgyptToday: The NPPA applied on the permit on March 10, 2019.

Russian nuclear power generation breaks Soviet record - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Russian nuclear power generation breaks Soviet record - Xinhua | English.news.cn

China out front in global race to eliminate CO2 emissions - Nikkei Asia

China out front in global race to eliminate CO2 emissions - Nikkei Asia: TOKYO/GUANGZHOU -- The global race to decarbonize is underway. And China has already taken the lead.The trend to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions wi

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Yemen: Deadly attack on Aden airport after new government flies in | Middle East Eye

Yemen: Deadly attack on Aden airport after new government flies in | Middle East Eye: At least 22 people reported dead and dozens wounded in attack shortly after ministers arrived from Saudi Arabia

Cold War With China Is Avoidable - WSJ

Cold War With China Is Avoidable - WSJ: Today’s challenge is different. Beijing has economic power Moscow could only dream of.

Opinion | Execution Will Mark MLK’s Birthday

Opinion | Execution Will Mark MLK’s Birthday: Shakespeare got it right. Something is definitely rotten, but not in Denmark. The decay is made in America and engulfs the fortress at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Just before Christmas and with true holiday spirit, the master of the White House manor pardoned 41 convicted criminals (aka friends and relatives) and commuted the sentences of eight others. When added to earlier ones,

ECA Update December 31, 2020 Premature Nuclear Reactor Retirements Could Effect Nuclear Waste Disposal

Image View this email in your browser ECA UPDATE Dec 31, 2020 FEATURED NUCLEAR WASTE Premature Nuclear Reactor Retirements Could Effect Nuclear Waste Disposal Forbes | 12/29/2020 Nuclear power has accounted for 20% of electricity generated in the U.S. each year since 1990. But even with climate concerns and a worldwide movement to reduce CO2 emissions, the market is not rewarding nuclear power’s zero-carbon generation nor its unrivaled reliability. More than a quarter of U.S. nuclear power plants don’t make enough money to cover their operating costs, raising the threat of more early retirements. Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Image Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! HAPPY NEW YEARS FROM ECA Image NATIONAL LABS Los Alamos National Laboratory may get boost in nuclear funding Santa Fe New Mexican | 12/29/2020 Los Alamos National Laboratory will get a hefty funding boost — including for its work on plutonium pit production — in the military spending bill held up by a presidential veto. Many predict the veto will be overridden, and if it is, the lab’s budget will increase to $3.3 billion from the $2.3 billion allocated last year. The bill puts $837 million into the lab’s plutonium operations, more than double the previous year’s $308 million, as Los Alamos pursues production of 30 nuclear bomb cores by 2026 — a goal critics have questioned. Plans call for the Savannah River Site in South Carolina to make an additional 50 plutonium pits by 2030, so the two facilities will produce a combined 80 pits per year as stated in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. Continue reading >> TRANSPORTATION New Mexico Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation Symposium NEI | 12/31/2020 Join NEI’s free webinar, "New Mexico Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation Symposium," where you will have the opportunity to engage industry experts regarding spent fuel transportation in New Mexico. The U.S. nuclear industry is anticipating the completion of consolidated interim storage facilities in New Mexico and Texas with the ability to receive spent nuclear fuel as early as 2024. As the U.S. prepares for the transportation of the spent fuel, this symposium provides an opportunity for New Mexico elected officials, state and local first responders, emergency management, as well as state regional and tribal organizations to engage industry experts and join the ongoing conversation. Continue reading >> Image IN OTHER NEWS NUCLEAR IAEA Highlights and Achievements in 2020 – a Year in Review (IAEA, 12/30/2020) LEGISLATION Rep. Burgess introduces American Nuclear Leadership Commission Act (Daily Energy Insider, 12/29) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT Dems delay defense bill over stimulus check fight with McConnell (Politico, 12/30) LEGISLATION McConnell and GOP reject House's $2,000 stimulus checks (Politico, 12/30) UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 8-10, 2021 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA ECA PUBLICATIONS Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org. View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles DOE Site Proflies Energy Communities Alliance 1625 Eye St., NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20006 U

China starts building second CFR-600 fast reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

China starts building second CFR-600 fast reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Construction work has started on the second CFR-600 sodium-cooled pool-type fast-neutron nuclear reactor in Xiapu County, in China's Fujian province. Also known as the Xiapu fast reactor demonstration project, the CFR-600 is part of China's plan to achieve a closed nuclear fuel cycle.

IAEA Informed by Slovenian Authority that Krško Nuclear Power Plant in Safe Shutdown Following Earthquake | IAEA

IAEA Informed by Slovenian Authority that Krško Nuclear Power Plant in Safe Shutdown Following Earthquake | IAEA

Review Begins To Possibly Extend Operation Of Wisconsin Nuclear Plant To 2050 | WUWM

Review Begins To Possibly Extend Operation Of Wisconsin Nuclear Plant To 2050 | WUWM: A federal agency announced it has started to review an application to keep Wisconsin's only nuclear power plant open until about 2050. That's roughly two

IAEA Highlights and Achievements in 2020 – a Year in Review | IAEA

IAEA Highlights and Achievements in 2020 – a Year in Review | IAEA: In a year marked by COVID-19, the IAEA provided support to its Member States related to the pandemic while also delivering its planned services – some of them online.

Utility CEOs, analysts wary of Biden's timeline for carbon-free power sector | S&P Global Market Intelligence

Utility CEOs, analysts wary of Biden's timeline for carbon-free power sector | S&P Global Market Intelligence

Feds allocate $75 million to national uranium reserve | Energy Journal | trib.com

Feds allocate $75 million to national uranium reserve | Energy Journal | trib.com: Sen. John Barrasso called the uranium reserve a big win for Wyoming's struggling industry. But operators here had hoped for more.

The Green Fantasy and Messy Reality of Nuclear Power | The New Republic

The Green Fantasy and Messy Reality of Nuclear Power | The New Republic: Biden is flirting with the idea of rejuvenating the industry to help decarbonize the economy—and there are skeptics in spades.

Premature Nuclear Reactor Retirements Could Effect Nuclear Waste Disposal

Premature Nuclear Reactor Retirements Could Effect Nuclear Waste Disposal: Since 2012, 12 commercial reactors have shut down in the U.S., with 27 more planned by 2026, a loss of at least 37,000 MW of capacity and about 5 trillion kWhs from their expected life. The effects may be profound, from a loss of $8 billion in NWFund revenues to the orphaning of their nuclear waste.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

EU and China agree new investment treaty | Financial Times - SinoEUTreaty.pdf

EU and China agree new investment treaty | Financial Times - SinoEUTreaty.pdf

Congress Updates US Energy Policy, Incorporates Energy-Related Tax Provisions Through Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 - Lexology

Congress Updates US Energy Policy, Incorporates Energy-Related Tax Provisions Through Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 - Lexology: The US Congress has adopted the first extensive update to US federal energy policies in over a decade in the Energy Act of 2020 (Energy Act), which…

IAEA Highlights and Achievements in 2020 – a Year in Review | IAEA

IAEA Highlights and Achievements in 2020 – a Year in Review | IAEA: In a year marked by COVID-19, the IAEA provided support to its Member States related to the pandemic while also delivering its planned services – some of them online.

Entergy and Holtec Submit Application To Decommission Palisades Plant - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

Entergy and Holtec Submit Application To Decommission Palisades Plant - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.

EIG Article : Brexit: What Does the Deal Mean for Energy?

EIG Article : Brexit: What Does the Deal Mean for Energy?

Fission accomplished: El-Sisi hails progress of Egypt’s first nuclear plant | Arab News

Fission accomplished: El-Sisi hails progress of Egypt’s first nuclear plant | Arab News: CAIRO: The historic development of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant has been discussed in a Cairo meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Director-General of ROSATOM Alexey Likhachev. ROSATOM, the Russian state’s nuclear energy agency, is working with Cairo to construct the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency Bassam Rady

Sisi, Russian Energy Agency Head Meet About First Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant - The Media Line

Sisi, Russian Energy Agency Head Meet About First Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant - The Media Line: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met in Cairo […]

President Macron backs nuclear power

President Macron backs nuclear power: President Macron backs nuclear power

Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power: The Ninth Circuit upheld the dismissal of Public Watchdogs’ complaint against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other defendants relating to the decommissioning of two units at the San Ono…

COVID-19, Prison and Another Pandemic Clare Grady Made Me Remember - CounterPunch.org

COVID-19, Prison and Another Pandemic Clare Grady Made Me Remember - CounterPunch.org: Clare Grady is going to prison. On February 10, this nice Irish Catholic lady of 62, who lives with her family in Ithaca, New York will enter Alderson Prison, West Virginia, to begin a one-year-and-one-day sentence. That’s because, on April 4, 2018, Clare and six cohorts, also white and Catholic, broke into the world’s largest More

Inviting Nuclear Disaster - CounterPunch.org

Inviting Nuclear Disaster - CounterPunch.org: Nuclear power plants when they began being constructed were not seen as running for more than 40 years because of radioactivity embrittling metal parts and otherwise causing safety problems. But in recent decades, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the operating licenses of nuclear power plants from 40 years to 60 years and then More

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Shutdown Planned for Palisades Nuclear Plant on West Side of State - DBusiness Magazine

Shutdown Planned for Palisades Nuclear Plant on West Side of State - DBusiness Magazine: The Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert, Mich. (south of South Haven) is slated for shutdown following an acquisition by Holtec International.

Is nuclear fusion the answer to the climate crisis? | Environment | The Guardian

Is nuclear fusion the answer to the climate crisis? | Environment | The Guardian: Promising new studies suggest the long elusive technology may be capable of producing electricity for the grid by the end of the decade

Premature Nuclear Reactor Retirements Could Effect Nuclear Waste Disposal

Premature Nuclear Reactor Retirements Could Effect Nuclear Waste Disposal: Since 2012, 12 commercial reactors have shut down in the U.S., with 27 more planned by 2026, a loss of at least 37,000 MW of capacity and about 5 trillion kWhs from their expected life. The effects may be profound, from a loss of $8 billion in NWFund revenues to the orphaning of their nuclear waste.

Energy Act of 2020—Variety of Provisions for Fission and Fusion | Hogan Lovells - JDSupra

Energy Act of 2020—Variety of Provisions for Fission and Fusion | Hogan Lovells - JDSupra: Last week, Congress passed a $900B omnibus spending bill, which contains, most importantly, relief measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also various authorizations and...

Mini-nuclear companies are looking for buyers who think small | Scienceline

Mini-nuclear companies are looking for buyers who think small | Scienceline: The latest generation of small modular reactors, or SMRs, are designed to be put together in a factory and shipped out to build a power plant, unit by unit.

The Coalition That Will Realign California - California Globe

The Coalition That Will Realign California - California Globe: Poor governance, beginning long before the bungled response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a recall campaign that may very well put California

New York can’t buy its way out of blackouts | Energy Central

New York can’t buy its way out of blackouts | Energy Central: New York City will soon be home to the world’s biggest utility-scale battery system, designed to back up its growing reliance on intermittent renewables. At 400 MWh this batch of batteries will be more than triple the 129 MWh world leader in Australia.The City of New York’s director of sustainability (I am not making this title up), Mark Chambers, is ecstatic, bragging:

New York can’t buy its way out of blackouts | The Energy Collective Daily

New York can’t buy its way out of blackouts | The Energy Collective Daily Link to The Energy Collective Network New York can’t buy its way out of blackouts Spain Increases Zero Carbon Sources on its Grid Do you need an Energy Advisor? Energy Progress- the best of 2020 leads to a great 2021 Lloyd's market to quit fossil fuel insurance by 2030 What is the point of nuclear innovation? Japan Struggles to Make Progress with MOX Fuel Program Despite Ambitious Goals

China's Threat to the Bible | RealClearReligion

China's Threat to the Bible | RealClearReligion: The Bible is America's best-selling book, annually outpacing the top 20 best sellers combined. Yet a single Chinese company has a near monopoly on Bible printing, meaning that any rupture in the suppl

The National Security Implications of Opioids | RealClearHealth

The National Security Implications of Opioids | RealClearHealth: The National Security Implications of Opioids | RealClearHealth

New Treasury Rule Subsidizes High-Tax States | RealClearPolicy

New Treasury Rule Subsidizes High-Tax States | RealClearPolicy: It is no secret the federal tax code is unbalanced and unfair. A byzantine network of deductions and carveouts favor some, while the remaining taxpayers foot the bill. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 201

BREAKING: WHO chief scientist says not enough evidence that COVID vaccine prevents infection | The Post Millennial

BREAKING: WHO chief scientist says not enough evidence that COVID vaccine prevents infection | The Post Millennial: Dr. Swaminathan said "I don't believe we have the evidence on any of the vaccines to be confident that it's going to prevent people from actually getting the infection and therefore passing it on."

US Department of Energy backs five advanced nuclear reactor concepts

US Department of Energy backs five advanced nuclear reactor concepts: The US Department of Energy (DOE) is backing five projects to develop advanced nuclear reactor designs to be built in the United States by private industry. Under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy's US$30 million initial funding is expected to…

Ohio Supreme Court stops collection of nuclear plant subsidy - SFChronicle.com

Ohio Supreme Court stops collection of nuclear plant subsidy - SFChronicle.com: CLEVELAND (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court on Monday issued a temporary stay to stop collection of a fee from nearly every electric customer in the state starting Jan. 1 to subsidize two nuclear power plants, a provision included in a scandal-tainted bill approved by the state Legislature in July 2019. The order signed by Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor comes a week after a judge in Franklin County issued a preliminary injunction to stop collection of the fees. Common Pleas Judge Chris Brown in his ruling from the bench last Monday said, “To not impose an injunction would be to allow certain parties to prevail. It would give the OK that bribery is allowed in the state of Ohio and that any ill-gotten gains can be received. The Ohio Manufacturers' Association appealed to the Supreme Court earlier this month after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in August cited the legislation known as HB6 in issuing an order approving collection of the fees and then refused to reconsider the group's request for a new hearing. The law calls for the plant's new owner, Energy Harbor, to receive as much as $150 million a year and nearly $1 billion in total. Another $20 million a year from the fees a

Why Is Solar Energy Getting 250 Times More In Federal Tax Credits Than Nuclear?

Why Is Solar Energy Getting 250 Times More In Federal Tax Credits Than Nuclear?: In 2018, the American solar industry got roughly 250 times as much in federal tax incentives as the nuclear sector, when compared by the amount of energy produced. Coming in a close second is the wind sector, which got about 160 times as much as nuclear.

5 Reactors Connected to the Grid, 5 Removed in 2020

5 Reactors Connected to the Grid, 5 Removed in 2020: Nuclear power capacity continues to grow worldwide, as larger reactors are added to the grid while smaller units are retired. Furthermore, uprates to some

Monday, December 28, 2020

AWED Energy& Environmental Newsletter

AWED Logo Energy & Environmental Newsletter - 12/28/20 Guaranteed interesting & informative or double your money back. AWED Friends: Welcome to our latest Energy & Environmental Newsletter... (For all 2020 Newsletters, go here.) To review the current issue's highlights, see below… Note: If you are getting this Newsletter from a friend, please email physicist John Droz for your own free periodic copy… Hope you had a good Christmas/ Hanukkah, and have an enjoyable, profitable and rewarding 2021 — with a LOT less stress! Climbing out of a cellar? ——————————————————————————————————— — This Newsletter's Articles, by Topic — US National Elections: General — Donald Trump's Stealthy Road to Victory Fighting On Video: Trump has three options The Etiology of Executive Order 13848 Why I Will Not Give Up Biden is not “President-elect” until after January 6th, at the earliest List of Trump’s Accomplishments 2020 Election Screaming Red Flags That Deserved Criminal Inquiry US National Elections: Malfeasance — How to Steal an Election in Four Steps Navarro Report: The Immaculate Deception ASOG Dominion Report Review: Part 1 & Part 2 Video: The Plot to Steal America Yes, It Was a Stolen Election Video: Patrick Byrne - What Really Happened In The Oval Office US National Elections: Lawsuits — A Running Compendium of Challenges to Election 2020 Georgia Sued Over Administration of Senate Runoff Elections US National Elections: State Issues — Election Fraud in Antrim County (MI) – Dominion Forensic Audit Results Georgia's Not Prosecuting Its Unprecedented Number of Double Voters Amazing short video: Testimony re Nevada voting fraud (the words) NY-22 Errors And Challenges Could Undermine Voter Rights Electors in 7 States Cast Dueling Votes for Trump Other US Politics and Socialism — It’s Time to Find Our Common Ground and Fight the Real Deep State Western greens are China’s useful idiots China: The Conquest of Hollywood China using green agenda to gain advantage over America COVID-19: Prevention — New COVID-19 Vaccines, Same Sluggish FDA FDA Investigates Allergic Reactions to Pfizer COVID Vaccine Video: Vaccines by Ex Merck rep Brandy Vaughan Study: Flu Vaccine Raises Risk of COVID Death WHO Deletes Naturally Acquired Immunity from Its Website Fauci tells Americans not to see their kids for Christmas Evidence Shows Lockdowns Do Not Control Coronavirus COVID-19: Models and Data — HCQ is effective for COVID-19 when used early: meta analysis of 180 studies The COVID-19 Data is a "Travesty" How Technocrats Intentionally Weaponized Bad Scientists There are thousands of COVID strains, so this new scare is NOT a big deal COVID-19: Misc — Here are the 10 top COVID questions which the media is ignoring The Grinch Who Stole Christmas And Other Villains Medical Tyranny Sent 8 Million Americans Into Poverty Since Summer 2020 Short video: Price Transparency - How to Fix Healthcare Wind & Solar Energy — Thousands of new French turbines — but no reduction in carbon emissions NIMBY’s are making more noise than wind turbines Big Stimulus For Renewable Energy in Covid Relief Bill Congress Passes Solar, Wind Tax Credit Extensions, etc. Reality Check on a Batteries during a one-day Wind/Solar lull Over 100 Eagles Could Be Killed By NY Bluestone Wind Turbines Vineyard Wind Withdraws From Federal Permitting Process Turbines in Lake Erie are Irresponsible Nuclear Energy — An Upbeat Look at Nuclear with Rod Adams States Can Resolve Nuclear Dilemma With a Modest Investment Successfully de-fueling an Ontario nuclear reactor Fossil Fuel Energy — Gas Ban Economics 101 This Natural Gas Plant Has Achieved Zero Emissions Vaccines to Fight COVID-19 Impossible Without Fossil Fuels Misc Energy — Solarwinds Hack Infected Power Industry Critical Infrastructure Washington Post Trashes EPA Benefit Cost Analysis Rule New York Times Trashes EPA’s Particulate Matter Rule Radicals Back in Charge Will Undermine State’s Resource Economy Biden's About to Floor It to a Green Future WSJ “News” on Green Energy Is Pure Puffery Biden to tap former Michigan Gov. Granholm to lead DOE Manmade Global Warming, Some Deceptions — China Debuts ‘Ambitious’ Environmental Plan Increasing CO2 for a Decade China’s green NGO climate propaganda enablers Climate activists' have new plan to 'double-count' emissions The Climate Scam: What We Are Up Against Study finds most of the CO2 increase is natural LinkedIn Shuts Out Diverse Views Boris Johnson: Climate crisis ‘far more destructive than coronavirus’ Newly discovered Greenland plume drives thermal activities in the Arctic Misc Manmade Global Warming — Biden Is a Climate Dead End Biden Climate Plan Risks Putting China Before The American People Study: 6000 years ago it was warmer than today How Russia Could Dominate a Warming World

An Upbeat Look at Nuclear with Rod Adams | Climate Scepticism

An Upbeat Look at Nuclear with Rod Adams | Climate Scepticism: Robert Bryce’s Power Hungry podcast has a excellent interview with longtime nuclear energy blogger and podcaster Rod Adams. It’s almost two hours and has rather few views so I thought I…

ECA Update December 28, 2020

Image View this email in your browser ECA UPDATE Dec 28, 2020 FEATURED NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT House poised to override Trump veto for first time The Hill | 12/28/2020 The House appears poised to override President Trump’s veto of the must-pass annual defense policy bill, a dramatic rebuke of Trump in the final days of his presidency. House lawmakers will vote Monday on overriding Trump’s rejection of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed both chambers of Congress with more than the two-thirds majority needed to overcome a veto. Some Republicans have said they would sustain Trump’s veto despite supporting the bill earlier this month. Still, dozens would need to flip their vote for the override to fail, and some Democrats who previously voted against the measure could switch their votes to override Trump. Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Image Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! NATIONAL LABS Congress approves record Office of Science funding for DOE national labs Federal Labs | 12/22/2020 Congress this week passed legislation sponsored by subcommittee Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein that includes the sixth consecutive year of record funding for the Office of Science – the U.S. Department of Energy program that supports work at 17 national laboratories. The Senate bill also prioritizes funding for supercomputing and advanced nuclear programs and provides the seventh consecutive year of record funding in a regular appropriations bill for the Corps of Engineers. “I proposed a New Manhattan Project for Clean Energy last March – a five year project with Ten Grand Challenges that will use American research and technology to put our country and the world firmly on a path toward cleaner, cheaper energy," Alexander said. "To provide the tools to create these breakthroughs, the federal government should double its funding for energy research and reinstate the United States as number one in the world in advanced computing. That is why setting a new record funding level for the Office of Science – the nation’s largest supporter of research in the physical sciences – is one of my top priorities." Continue reading >> Image IN OTHER NEWS NATIONAL LABS 15 Ways LANL Made An Impact In 2020 — COVID-19 And Beyond (Los Alamos Reporter, 12/28) Battelle Energy Alliance and NASA take next step in search for industry partners to design nuclear power system for moon (INL, 12/22) BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS Trump backs down, signs stimulus package (Politico, 12/28) UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 8-10, 2021 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA ECA PUBLICATIONS Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org. View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles DOE Site Proflies Energy Communities Alliance 1625 Eye St., NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20006 USA © 2019 Energy Communities Alliance, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Trump signs stimulus bill into law and averts shutdown - The Washington Post

Trump signs stimulus bill into law and averts shutdown - The Washington Post: Trump's change of plans came after he had the whole country on edge for nearly a week.

Japan’s MOX Fuel Plan Gets a Green Light, but Reprocessing Start Delayed for Two Years | Neutron Bytes

Japan’s MOX Fuel Plan Gets a Green Light, but Reprocessing Start Delayed for Two Years | Neutron Bytes: Japan Struggles to Make Progress with MOX Fuel Program Despite Ambitious Goals DOE ARDP Program Awards $20 million for Advanced Reactor Concepts BWXT to Start $106.6 Million Microreactor Design Pro…