Tuesday, March 30, 2021

New Mexico sues US over proposed nuclear waste storage plans

New Mexico sues US over proposed nuclear waste storage plans: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico sued the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday over concerns that the federal agency hasn’t done enough to vet plans for a multibillion-dollar facility...

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Why More and More Environmentalists Want to Go Nuclear | IE

Why More and More Environmentalists Want to Go Nuclear | IE: Nuclear power could be a big help in the fight against climate change. Learn why more environmentalists are starting to endorse it.

The Reality of the Need for More Nuclear Energy Is Hard to Ignore – Ricochet

The Reality of the Need for More Nuclear Energy Is Hard to Ignore – Ricochet: Shutting down nuclear power plants is a lot easier than generating reliable, carbon-free energy. As The New York Times reports on the tenth anniversary of the meltdown of three nuclear reactors in Fukushima, Japan, following a massive earthquake-tsunami: “As the share of nuclear energy in Japan has plummeted from about a third of total power […]

Legislation Approved To Eliminate Nuclear Plants Bailout

Legislation Approved To Eliminate Nuclear Plants Bailout: The $1 billion bailout for Ohio nuclear plants tied to a bribery investigation at the Ohio Statehouse is one step closer to being eliminated.

EU experts to decide nuclear power qualifies for green investment label -document | Reuters

EU experts to decide nuclear power qualifies for green investment label -document | Reuters: Experts tasked with assessing whether the European Union should label nuclear power as a green investment will say that the fuel qualifies as sustainable, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.

Dear Readers

After 11 years of running the Nuclear Wire, I have decided that nuclear news aggregation should pass to another, preferably someone in the industry who is willing to take an activist role in promoting nuclear energy. I originally started this wire as a tribute to my late husband, Joseph P. Kearney whom I met decades ago when he was at OMB and I at EPA. My career path brought me into OMB and to an InterAgency Review of the Federal Government's Nuclear Waste Management Program during the Carter Administration. Joe's career path took me out of Washington DC to Los Angeles, where we were married, and I went on to Loyola Law School. Joe's career then led me to Detroit, Michigan when he joined ANR Pipeline Corporation during a hostile takeover by the Coastal Corporation. From there, Joe was tapped to lead a joint venture between Bechtel Corporation and Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation to develop an independent power company outside of California. The U.S. Generating Company was established and sited in Bethesda, Maryland. At the time, the goal of this power company was the development of fossil electric generation. Its a shame that nuclear wasn't included in the portfolio, because the development of innovation in the nuclear industry could have commenced sooner with the acquisition of coal plants that were being shut down. This was in the late 1980s. More about Joe's career can be found here: Powering A Generation: Joseph Kearney Interview (main ... americanhistory.si.edu › powering › ohi › kearney1 Joe Kearney had over 25 years of financial and managerial experience in the energy business, covering a wide range of industries and technologies and Supporting NSE: Kearney Fellowship is legacy of a “Nuclear Green” https://web.mit.edu/nse/news/spotlights/2013/kearney.html The rest is industry history. Nuclear plants are being shut down to the detriment of climate and economic efficiency. New nuclear hasn't resolved the regulatory morass, financing, and proper cost estimating to rationally develop new nuclear. The industry has not managed to move the bureaucratic inertia of the federal government regulatory agencies to manage the grid, electricity supply and production, reliability, and waste disposal. On the international front, Russia and China are the primary suppliers of nuclear energy and component parts. That is a sad legacy. In certain respects, we have given away the store, and that didn't need to happen. ANS has finally started a news summary of significant nuclear newsworthy activities. Occasionally I may post on LinkedIN or Facebook, but I have decided that my grandchildren are calling, and the COVID pandemic has made manifest that life is too short. My mother used to say "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." I'm left with that view of the nuclear industry. And I have known some of the best in the industry who have done their very best to move the industry. To no avail. It's truly a shame. One glimmer of hope. The work that has gone on at Fukushima is well done. I had the privilege to  review the ANS review of the past 10 years. If you have not seen this review, you should. The work at Fukushima is indeed impressive. Then, compare that with Hanford. And we come full circle to where we were in 1979. Meanwhile, spent fuel should be reprocessed and not buried. The criteria of retrieveability of waste once buried should be changed. And consideration should be given to shooting defense wastes into space now that space exploration is being nuclearized. But I leave all that to the future. In the meantime, I wish all of you a very Happy Easter. God Speed and God Bless you all. Michele Kearney

North Korea's new missile a strategic game-changer - Asia Times

North Korea's new missile a strategic game-changer - Asia Times: SEOUL - North Korea's ballistic missiles tested on March 25 were a new, advanced model that confounds defenses, state media revealed today. The tests

The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet - POLITICO

The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet - POLITICO: The biomass industry is warming up the South's economy, but many experts worry it's doing the same to the climate. Will the Biden Administration embrace it, or cut it loose?

China sets up nuclear safety committee to boost 2060 carbon neutral efforts | South China Morning Post

China sets up nuclear safety committee to boost 2060 carbon neutral efforts | South China Morning Post: Committee will create ‘strict and high’ safety standard, with nuclear power generation capacity set to rise as China aims to cut its carbon dioxide emissions.

UPDATE 2-Czechs open preliminary round in nuclear project, keep Russia in for now | Reuters

UPDATE 2-Czechs open preliminary round in nuclear project, keep Russia in for now | Reuters: The Czech Industry Ministry has decided to invite four bidders including Russia to pre-qualify for a tender to build a new nuclear power plant, but a final decision on who will be allowed to bid will be made after an October election, it said on Thursday.

Ohio legislature close to revoking nuclear power subsidy | Reuters

Ohio legislature close to revoking nuclear power subsidy | Reuters: Ohio's Senate amended and unanimously passed a House bill that would repeal nuclear subsidies for Energy Harbor Corp's Davis-Besse and Perry reactors in the state.

US DOD awards contracts for development of advanced microreactor - Nuclear Engineering International

US DOD awards contracts for development of advanced microreactor - Nuclear Engineering International: The US Department of Defense (DOD) said on 22 March that it had exercised contract options for two teams - led by BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy - to proceed with development of a final design for a transportable advanced nuclear...

Centrus on Track to Produce HALEU Nuclear Fuel Material by Early 2022

Centrus on Track to Produce HALEU Nuclear Fuel Material by Early 2022: Centrus Energy, a firm under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to demonstrate production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) with

More nuclear power needed in the future to meet carbon reduction goals, TVA CEO says | Chattanooga Times Free Press

More nuclear power needed in the future to meet carbon reduction goals, TVA CEO says | Chattanooga Times Free Press: The Tennessee Valley Authority, once the nation's most ambitious developer of nuclear power of any U.S. utility, hasn't started building a new nuclear reactor in nearly a half century.

Understanding Energy Crises of the 1970s and Avoiding Problems Today

Understanding Energy Crises of the 1970s and Avoiding Problems Today: If you were alive and living in the U.S. during the 1970s, you probably remember waiting in long lines to fill your car with fuel. Yet, gasoline wasn’t

Centrus expects to begin HALEU production in 2022 - Nuclear Engineering International

Centrus expects to begin HALEU production in 2022 - Nuclear Engineering International: US-based Centrus Energy Corp on 23 March provided an update on construction of the USA’s first production facility for High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) in Piketon, Ohio, saying it hoped to begin production next year....

More delays for US Vogtle NPP - Nuclear Engineering International

More delays for US Vogtle NPP - Nuclear Engineering International: Georgia Power Company said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 19 March that the planned November start up of unit 3 at the Vogtle NPP in Georgia could be delayed by at least a month. Georgia Power said that its Southern...

More nuclear power needed in the future to meet carbon reduction goals, TVA CEO says | Chattanooga Times Free Press

More nuclear power needed in the future to meet carbon reduction goals, TVA CEO says | Chattanooga Times Free Press: The Tennessee Valley Authority, once the nation's most ambitious developer of nuclear power of any U.S. utility, hasn't started building a new nuclear reactor in nearly a half century.

Wireless tech a 'game changer' for nuclear power plants | EurekAlert! Science News

Wireless tech a 'game changer' for nuclear power plants | EurekAlert! Science News: Application of Wireless Technologies in Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control Systems (December 2020; IAEA Nuclear Energy Series) is the culmination of a four-year International Atomic Energy Agency research project on the economic benefits and emerging uses of wireless technology in the field of nuclear energy. Rudy Shankar, director of Lehigh University's Energy Systems Engineering, chaired the international group that produced the report.

Macron, Orban urge EU to ‘actively support’ nuclear power – EURACTIV.com

Macron, Orban urge EU to ‘actively support’ nuclear power – EURACTIV.com: A group of seven European leaders fronted by French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the European Commission to stop hindering nuclear power and consider ways of bringing atomic energy into the EU’s green finance rule book ahead of an EU summit on Thursday (25 March).

Czechs Delay $7 Billion Nuclear Reactor Tender, Leave China Out - Bloomberg

Czechs Delay $7 Billion Nuclear Reactor Tender, Leave China Out - Bloomberg: The Czech government postponed a tender to build a $7 billion nuclear reactor until after October elections and said it won’t invite Chinese companies to participate in a security assessment of potential bidders.

Ohio legislature close to revoking nuclear power subsidy

Ohio legislature close to revoking nuclear power subsidy: Ohio's Senate amended and unanimously passed a House bill that would repeal nuclear subsidies for Energy Harbor Corp's Davis-Besse and Perry reactors in the state. House Bill 128 (HB128), which the Senate passed on Wednesday, would confirm what state courts have already done in halting collection of the subsidies under House Bill 6 (HB6). Analysts at ClearView Energy Partners said the Ohio House could approve the slightly amended Senate version of HB128 this week and send it to Governor Mike DeWine, who is expected to sign the legislation.

NextEra Energy plans to turn Iowa’s only nuclear power plant into a solar farm | Clay and Milk

NextEra Energy plans to turn Iowa’s only nuclear power plant into a solar farm | Clay and Milk: U.S. energy company NextEra Energy announced plans last week to build a 690-megawatt solar project at the site of its closed Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Palo, Iowa. The company shut the nuclear reactor in […]

Nuclear Power Continues To Break Records In Safety And Generation

Nuclear Power Continues To Break Records In Safety And Generation: Energy Northwest in Richland, WA, which operates the only nuclear power plant in the region, the Columbia Generating Station, has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2020. Not to mention breaking all generation records.

Dukovany pre-qualification round announced : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Dukovany pre-qualification round announced : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade has selected EDF, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Rosatom and Westinghouse to participate in a pre-qualification round for a tender to supply a new unit for the Dukovany nuclear power plant. The ministry has not included China General Nuclear. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the Czech Republic told Radiožurnál that the exclusion of CGN "seriously deviates from the principle of fair competition and the rules of international trade".

TVO cleared for fuel loading at Finnish EPR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

TVO cleared for fuel loading at Finnish EPR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj has been granted a permit by the country's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority to load fuel into the reactor of the Olkiluoto 3 EPR. The unit, construction of which began in 2005, is scheduled to enter commercial operation early next year.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Nuke Roadie News As Iran toughens stance, hopes for nuclear thaw before June diminish

Nuke Roadie News: As Iran toughens stance, hopes for nuclear thaw before June diminish reuters.com The odds of Washington and Tehran making progress to revive the 2015 nuclear deal before Iran's June elections have dwindled after Iran opted to take a tougher stance before returning to talks, diplo… Shared by The Bands of Time

China says it will safeguard Iran nuclear deal, defend Sino-Iran ties

China says it will safeguard Iran nuclear deal, defend Sino-Iran ties: China will make efforts to safeguard the Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of Sino-Iranian relations, the commerce ministry said on

Why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Help Counter the Climate Crisis | EWG Next Level Energy

Why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Help Counter the Climate Crisis | EWG Next Level Energy: Small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, are designed to generate less than 300 megawatts of electricity – several times less than typical reactors, which have a range of 1,000 to 1,600 MW. While the individual standardized modules would be small, plans typically call for several modules to be installed at a single power generation site. Photo credit: NuScale Power, LLC

Doosan Heavy ships nuclear waste storage casks for U.S. nuclear plant

Doosan Heavy ships nuclear waste storage casks for U.S. nuclear plant: [Courtesy of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction ]SEOUL -- Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, a key player in South Koreas nuclear power industry, has shipped five cask sets for a U.S. nuclear power plant under a contract with Nuclear Assurance Corporation (NAC), an American provider...

Not So Advanced: Hype vs. Reality for Nuclear Technology | NRDC

Not So Advanced: Hype vs. Reality for Nuclear Technology | NRDC: While aging US nuclear plants continue to close because they cannot compete in the market, proponents of so-called “advanced nuclear reactors” promise they are the future because of their significant benefits. However, a recent report by the Union of Concerned...

Is an end to nuclear waste possible?

Is an end to nuclear waste possible?: Nuclear waste is one of the main sticking points in the public discourse about the future of nuclear power. But technological advances are greatly reducing the amount and radiotoxicity of it.

WILDFIRES: Judge mulls requiring PG&E to turn off power more frequently -- Wednesday, March 24, 2021 -- www.eenews.net

WILDFIRES: Judge mulls requiring PG&E to turn off power more frequently -- Wednesday, March 24, 2021 -- www.eenews.net: A federal judge overseeing Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s criminal probation said yesterday that he is considering requiring the utility to be more aggressive about turning off its electricity lines near tall trees, a plan that could double the number of power outages in six Northern California counties over the next decade.

California DAs Could Sue Utilities for Unkept Power Lines Under New Proposal – Courthouse News Service

California DAs Could Sue Utilities for Unkept Power Lines Under New Proposal – Courthouse News Service: A proposal that would allow counties to fine utilities like PG&E that fail to clear brush from power lines up to $100,000 per violation clears a key committee in the Assembly. Supporters argue…

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work | Energy Central

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work | Energy Central: Why the commercialisation of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work?The main reason used to be a lack of incentives for CO2 capture.With the 45Q tax in the US and higher CO2 emission allowance price in the EU, I trust that there will be more incentives for the industry to pick up CCS.What do you think - why CCS has not been yet commercialised?

BWXT and X-Energy selected to develop Project Pele mobile microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

BWXT and X-Energy selected to develop Project Pele mobile microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Strategic Capabilities Office of the US Department of Defense has selected BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy LLC to develop a final design for a prototype mobile microreactor under the Project Pele initiative.

US Nuclear Completes $256,626 Shipment to China, Signs New Agreement With CNNC Subsidiary

US Nuclear Completes $256,626 Shipment to China, Signs New Agreement With CNNC Subsidiary: US Nuclear Corp. (OTCQB: UCLE) Nuclear Power Plants in China LOS ANGELES, CA, March 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire – US Nuclear Corp. (OTCQB: UCLE) recently completed a shipment to China of USN’S popular tritium and carbon-14 air samplers as well as portable tritium monitors worth a total of $256,626. Furthermore, as part of US Nuclear’s expansion into the Chinese market, US Nuclear signed a new “Cooperation Agreement” on March 1, 2021 with Dalian Zhonghe Scientific and Technological Development Co., a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Together, the companies will work to design the perfect instrumentation to outfit Chinese nuclear power plants. The instruments are planned to be built at a local factory in China to be cost-competitive and will be optimized for Chinese operators based on the local regulations and procedures. This can be a game changer since currently 80% of nuclear instruments purchased are imported into China at a high cost, and the functionality often does not fit local procedures, regulations, and language. US Nuclear already has a local sales office in Beijing, China, and this new cooperation agreement with Dalian Zhonghe wi

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

How America can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050

How America can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050: We are running out of time to preserve a habitable planet for our children and everyone must start acting like it.

Opinion | Nuclear energy provides a solution for climate crisis - The Daily Iowan

Opinion | Nuclear energy provides a solution for climate crisis - The Daily Iowan: Iowa should invest in nuclear energy to combat the harmful effects of climate change. Currently, there are no operating nuclear power plants in Iowa — the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo closed its doors permanently after sustaining damage from the August derecho. Though, it was already slated for closure in October 2020 because, as...

Nuclear Energy Is a Reliable Source That Also Shrinks Emissions | RealClearMarkets

Nuclear Energy Is a Reliable Source That Also Shrinks Emissions | RealClearMarkets: If the near total collapse of the Texas energy grid on the morning of February 15th demonstrates anything, it proves the importance of reliable energy production. In short, federal and statepolic

ANS Nuclear Policy Wire

ANS Nuclear Policy WireANS Nuclear Policy Wirec Tomorrow the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to examine the latest developments in the nuclear energy sector with a focus on ways to maintain and expand the use of nuclear energy in the U.S. and abroad. The hearing will include testimony from: Mr. Jeffery Lyash, President and CEO, Tennessee Valley Authority Mr. Chris Levesque, President and CEO, TerraPower Mr. Scott Melbye, President, Uranium Producers of America and Executive Vice President, Uranium Energy Corporation Ms. Amy Roma, Founding Member, Atlantic Council's Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition and Partner, Hogan Lovells Mr. Clay Sell, CEO, X-Energy You can can watch the hearing live tomorrow at 9:45 a.m. EST and find additional information HERE.

How Biden can jumpstart U.S. nuclear waste strategy | Stanford News

How Biden can jumpstart U.S. nuclear waste strategy | Stanford News: Stanford University experts are cautiously optimistic that the Biden administration can change the U.S. trajectory on nuclear waste.

Switching career from particle physics to nuclear power – Physics World

Switching career from particle physics to nuclear power – Physics World: Troels Schönfeldt talks about his career change from particle physics to co-founder and chief executive of Seaborg Technologies

UAE and Belarus Introduced Nuclear Power Last Year. Who is Next? | IAEA

UAE and Belarus Introduced Nuclear Power Last Year. Who is Next? | IAEA: With nuclear energy increasingly recognized as vital to supporting sustainable development and climate change, nations from Africa to Asia are eyeing its use.

Testing begins at UAE's nuclear power plant - operator | Reuters

Testing begins at UAE's nuclear power plant - operator | Reuters: The United Arab Emirates's Barakah nuclear power plant testing will begin after the fuel load was completed at the second unit, as part of the process to start up the reactor, the operator said on Tuesday on Twitter.

Regulator Urges Judge Not to Expand PG&E Power Blackouts – Courthouse News Service

Regulator Urges Judge Not to Expand PG&E Power Blackouts – Courthouse News Service: California regulators want more time to vet a proposal that could expand fire-prevention power blackouts, but a federal judge said the process could take too long and result in more wildfire deaths…

Federal judge may require more PG&E blackouts to prevent wildfires - MarketWatch

Federal judge may require more PG&E blackouts to prevent wildfires - MarketWatch: A federal judge overseeing Pacific Gas & Electric's criminal probation said Tuesday that he is considering requiring the utility to be more aggressive about...

Sizewell C Consortium signs MoU on investment potential : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

Sizewell C Consortium signs MoU on investment potential : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: The proposed Sizewell C nuclear power project could lead to an investment of GBP4.4 billion (USD6.0 billion) in the East of England, according to a Memorandum of Understanding announced today by the Sizewell C Consortium, which represents more than 200 UK-based companies and organisations.

BWXT and X-Energy selected to develop Project Pele mobile microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

BWXT and X-Energy selected to develop Project Pele mobile microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Strategic Capabilities Office of the US Department of Defense has selected BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy LLC to develop a final design for a prototype mobile microreactor under the Project Pele initiative.

Swift action needed to rebuild world's energy system: Korsnick : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

Swift action needed to rebuild world's energy system: Korsnick : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Nuclear energy is the key to making climate commitments work and will play a critical role in meeting the Biden Administration's ambitious climate goals, Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Maria Korsnick told the organisation's annual State of the Nuclear Energy Industry event yesterday.

What if the Perfect Climate Fix Can’t Arrive in Time? - Bloomberg

What if the Perfect Climate Fix Can’t Arrive in Time? - Bloomberg: Even a surprise innovation tomorrow would require time to scale up. In the meantime, the emissions crisis would continue, according to a policy-simulating tool.

A Socially Sustainable Future for… | The Breakthrough Institute

A Socially Sustainable Future for… | The Breakthrough Institute: Our latest research demonstrates how Western anti-nuclear sentiment was a part of broader social movements and ideologies.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

PG&E Executives Sued Personally for California Wildfire Damage

PG&E Executives Sued Personally for California Wildfire Damage: On February 24, victims of deadly 2017 and 2018 California wildfires filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court seeking to hold former officers and directors of PG&E liable for failing to protect them from the harm that followed from the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2017 North Bay Fires. In addition to devastating personal and property loss, many California homeowners whose homes were burned also found themselves the victims of bad faith insurance denials. Justice John Trotter (Ret.), Trustee of the PG &E Fire Victim Trust v. Lewis Chew seeks to redress these harms in a direct way – by suing those responsible for putting corporate profits and their own financial interest ahead of their fiduciary duty to protect public safety.

Judge's proposal could raise number of PG&E's preventative power outages | Seeking Alpha

Judge's proposal could raise number of PG&E's preventative power outages | Seeking Alpha: The judge overseeing PG&E's (PCG) criminal probation said today he may require the utility to be more aggressive about turning off its electricity lines near tall trees, a plan...

Lightbridge and Framatome end Enfission joint venture : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Lightbridge and Framatome end Enfission joint venture : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Lightbridge Corporation and Framatome have agreed to dissolve their Enfission joint venture. Launched in January 2018, Enfission was to develop, license and sell nuclear fuel assemblies based on Lightbridge's innovative metallic nuclear fuel technology.

US HALEU facility set for 2022 start-up : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News

US HALEU facility set for 2022 start-up : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: The USA's first production facility for high-assay low-enriched uranium is expected to begin production early next year, Centrus Energy has announced. The facility is under construction at Piketon, Ohio.

Design anomaly found in Flamanville EPR nozzles : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Design anomaly found in Flamanville EPR nozzles : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: EDF notified France's nuclear safety regulator, the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, on 3 March of a significant event concerning a design anomaly on three nozzles of the main primary system of the EPR reactor under construction at Flamanville. The concerned nozzles were produced in 2011 based on a 2006 design file. The regulator has asked EDF how it plans to deal with this anomaly.

A Socially Sustainable Future for… | The Breakthrough Institute

A Socially Sustainable Future for… | The Breakthrough Institute: Our latest research demonstrates how Western anti-nuclear sentiment was a part of broader social movements and ideologies.

North Korea fires short-range missiles in direct challenge to Biden administration - The Washington Post

North Korea fires short-range missiles in direct challenge to Biden administration - The Washington Post: The missile tests represent Kim Jong Un’s first challenge to President Biden, whose aides have not yet outlined an approach to the regime’s nuclear threat amid a review of U.S.-North Korea policy.

Leningrad II-2 enters commercial operation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Leningrad II-2 enters commercial operation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The second VVER-1200 reactor at the Leningrad nuclear power plant in western Russia began commercial operation today. Leningrad II-2 is the fourth VVER-1200 in operation in Russia and beings the total number of nuclear power units in the country to 38. The VVER-1200 has a 200-megawatt bigger capacity than, and a design life twice as long as, the previous VVER design.

KHNP and ENEC expand APR1400 cooperation : Corporate - World Nuclear News

KHNP and ENEC expand APR1400 cooperation : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on research & development and technology exchange related to the operation of Korean-designed APR1400 reactors. South Korea's first APR1400 unit entered commercial operation in December 2015, while four such reactors are due to start up in the UAE by 2023.

Iowa's only nuclear power plant will be turned into a solar farm - Electrek

Iowa's only nuclear power plant will be turned into a solar farm - Electrek: The Duane Arnold Energy Center in eastern Iowa, a now-idle nuclear power plant, will soon become a 690-megawatt solar farm.

Major Benefits of Nuclear Energy

Major Benefits of Nuclear Energy: Major Benefits of Nuclear Energy By CIOReview - Nuclear power is the only large-scale, carbon-free electricity source that can widely expand to produce large amounts of...

A Glimpse of the U.S.' New Nuclear Posture

A Glimpse of the U.S.' New Nuclear Posture: Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In 2002, he and a team of Post reporters won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. He also won an Emmy in 1981 and the 2010 … Continue reading "A Glimpse of the U.S.’ New Nuclear Posture"

Deep Isolation Webinar

Deep Isolation Webinar Deep Isolation Presents Model and Results for Sealing of a Deep Horizontal Borehole Repository for Nuclear Waste Safety in Depth Part 2: Sealing of a Deep Horizontal Borehole Repository for Nuclear Waste Deep Isolation will share an update of the results from the post-closure safety calculations for a generic deep horizontal borehole repository. This second webinar will specifically focus on the sealing of the repository in a study recently published: Sealing of a Deep Horizontal Borehole Repository for Nuclear Waste. The calculations are not derived from a specific geographic location or geological site. Generic calculations are a valuable and necessary step in developing a safety analysis approach that will eventually support the safety assessment of a deep horizontal borehole repository. United States Tuesday, March 30, 2021 10:30 am - 11:30 am PDT U.S. Registration Europe, Middle East, Africa Wednesday, March 31, 2021 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm CET EMEA Registration After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join the webinar. Featured Presenter Stefan Finsterle, hydrogeologist for Deep Isolation, will provide an overview of the analyses and the significance of the findings, followed by a Q&A session. Copyright © 2021 Deep Isolation, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Deep Isolation 2001 Addison St., Suite 300 Berkeley, CA 94704

PG&E equipment caused deadly Zogg Fire, Cal Fire says | Seeking Alpha

PG&E equipment caused deadly Zogg Fire, Cal Fire says | Seeking Alpha: PG&E <<PCG>> slides after California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the 2020 Zogg Fire, which killed four people in Shasta and Tehama counties, was...

OPG Applies For Renewal Of Darlington Nuclear Site Licence :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

OPG Applies For Renewal Of Darlington Nuclear Site Licence :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for renewal of the site preparation licence for the Darlington new nuclear project, the Organisation of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) said.

In 2012, following the acceptance of an environmental assessment, the CNSC granted OPG a licence to allow site preparation activities to support future nuclear generation.

The application for renewal of the licence will be considered by the CNSC at a public hearing scheduled to take place on 9 and 10 June 2021.

Darlington is the only site in Canada currently licensed for new nuclear. OPG owns and operates the Pickering and Darlington nuclear stations in Ontario.

Russia completes key equipment for Iter - Nuclear Engineering International

Russia completes key equipment for Iter - Nuclear Engineering International: Russia is supplying 25 sophisticated high-tech systems for the International Thermonuclear Fusion Experimental Reactor (Iter), under construction in France. In St Petersburg, at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ) specialists from...

Petten reactor switches to low enriched uranium - Nuclear Engineering International

Petten reactor switches to low enriched uranium - Nuclear Engineering International: The Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) in the Netherlands said on 18 March that, from now on, the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten will only produces medical isotopes using low enriched uranium (LEU). Until recently, production for...

Viable nuclear fusion energy could be a reality by 2025, says UBS

Viable nuclear fusion energy could be a reality by 2025, says UBS: The investment bank cited Dennis Whyte, professor of nuclear science and engineering at MIT, who said the university’s NET SPARC project expects to...

Energy Fuels' uranium mill in southeast Utah plans to export material to Estonia to produce rare earth elements

Energy Fuels' uranium mill in southeast Utah plans to export material to Estonia to produce rare earth elements: Utah regulators have yet to decide whether the White Mesa uranium mill will be allowed to import 2,000 drums of radioactive powder from a rare metals facility in Estonia. But that won’t prevent Energy Fuels, the Colorado-based company that operates the mill in San Juan County, from exporting material to the same Estonian plant to be processed into rare earth elements as soon as this month.

Moniz: Texas blackouts show need to protect infrastructure against climate change | TheHill

Moniz: Texas blackouts show need to protect infrastructure against climate change | TheHill: Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on Monday told lawmakers that recent extreme weather events in Texas underscored the need to better incorporate climate change risks into energy infrastructure.

Biden Pushes Green Energy As Informed Environmentalists Abandon It | RealClearMarkets

Biden Pushes Green Energy As Informed Environmentalists Abandon It | RealClearMarkets: President Biden and others who would stake the future of modern civilization on wind and solar technologies are ignoring former environmental activists who have now soured on so-called green energy. A

Can the U.S. switch on a Nuclear Fusion plant by 2035? - Energy Post

Can the U.S. switch on a Nuclear Fusion plant by 2035? - Energy Post: Momentum is building in the U.S. for the switching on of a nuclear fusion pilot plant by 2035. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine lays out for the first time the required technical, economic, and regulatory standards. It comes soon after the prospects for fusion were boosted in January by …

Why Hydrogen Needs Nuclear Power To Succeed | OilPrice.com

Why Hydrogen Needs Nuclear Power To Succeed | OilPrice.com: Hydrogen is increasingly popular in 2021, but critics say that costs will have to go down by more than 50% still to make it competitive with hydrocarbon fuels, something that perhaps only nuclear power could achieve

German green energy compares poorly to French nukes

German green energy compares poorly to French nukes: The limits of green tech are so severe according to the Manhattan Institute’s Mark Mills, those who disagree engage in "magical thinking"

The worst fallout from Fukushima was hysteria | Comment | The Sunday Times

The worst fallout from Fukushima was hysteria | Comment | The Sunday Times: A year after the colossal earthquake and tsunami that took the lives of 18,500 souls on the northeast coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, I visited the area. So efficient was the clean-up operation

Nuclear Plant Closures And Renewables Increase Electricity Prices & Unreliability, Testifies Michael Shellenberger to U.S. Senate — Environmental Progress

Nuclear Plant Closures And Renewables Increase Electricity Prices & Unreliability, Testifies Michael Shellenberger to U.S. Senate — Environmental Progress: Are we so confident that reducing energy diversity while pushing more variable energy onto electrical grids is the best path forward in terms of reliability, affordability, and sustainability? The Senate can play a constructive role by taking action now to prevent the closure of nuclear plants that

Department Of Energy Price Data Spotlights Regressive Nature Of ‘Electrify Everything’ Effort

Department Of Energy Price Data Spotlights Regressive Nature Of ‘Electrify Everything’ Effort: On Wednesday, an item in the Federal Register on residential energy prices underscored the regressive nature of the “electrify everything” effort that is being promoted by many of America’s highest-profile climate activists.

The True Cost of Powering an Electric Car | Edmunds

The True Cost of Powering an Electric Car | Edmunds: Determining the cost of powering a plug-in vehicle isn't difficult once you understand the individual cost points. These boil down to where and when you charge and your utility company's various rates.

Wind turbines and solar farms drive down house prices | VOX, CEPR Policy Portal

Wind turbines and solar farms drive down house prices | VOX, CEPR Policy Portal: Countries that invest in renewable energy production face frequent opposition from local homeowners. Using a detailed housing transactions dataset covering the whole of the Netherlands since 1985, this column compares the overall impact that wind turbines and solar farms have on housing prices. It finds that tall wind turbines (over 150 metres) have a negative effect,

KHNP and ENEC expand APR1400 cooperation : Corporate - World Nuclear News

KHNP and ENEC expand APR1400 cooperation : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on research & development and technology exchange related to the operation of Korean-designed APR1400 reactors. South Korea's first APR1400 unit entered commercial operation in December 2015, while four such reactors are due to start up in the UAE by 2023.

Taxonomies must reflect climate goals, says Orano CEO : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

Taxonomies must reflect climate goals, says Orano CEO : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Political wrangling over the classification of nuclear energy in taxonomies contradicts the low-carbon ambition of the Paris Agreement, Philippe Knoche, CEO of Orano, said last week during World Nuclear Association's Strategic eForum on Sustainable Finance. Knoche was joined on the panel by representatives of the International Monetary Fund, Rothschild & Co, Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development, Banque de France and the Network for Greening the Financial System, who all said investment in new nuclear projects requires political consensus that is currently absent from some debates on sustainable finance.

Brazil to complete Angra 3 finance package in 18 months, says BNDES director : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

Brazil to complete Angra 3 finance package in 18 months, says BNDES director : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Leonardo Mendes Cabral, director of privatisations at Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development, says he expects a financing arrangement to finish unit 3 of the Angra nuclear power plant will be ready by the end of next year. BNDES is one of the biggest providers of financing for infrastructure projects in Brazil, and also played a role in financing nuclear energy in the past.

Leningrad II-2 enters commercial operation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Leningrad II-2 enters commercial operation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The second VVER-1200 reactor at the Leningrad nuclear power plant in western Russia began commercial operation today. Leningrad II-2 is the fourth VVER-1200 in operation in Russia and beings the total number of nuclear power units in the country to 38. The VVER-1200 has a 200-megawatt bigger capacity than, and a design life twice as long as, the previous VVER design.

Nuclear Energy Is a Reliable Source That Also Shrinks Emissions | RealClearMarkets

Nuclear Energy Is a Reliable Source That Also Shrinks Emissions | RealClearMarkets: If the near total collapse of the Texas energy grid on the morning of February 15th demonstrates anything, it proves the importance of reliable energy production. In short, federal and statepolic

New nuclear needs positive taxonomies, says Rothschild & Co executive : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

New nuclear needs positive taxonomies, says Rothschild & Co executive : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Private investors need to see clear and consistent political support for nuclear energy as a way to tackle climate change if they are to play a role in raising the large amount of capital required for new-build projects, Stephen Vaughan, vice chair of Energy & Power at Rothschild & Co, said yesterday during World Nuclear Association's Strategic eForum on Sustainable Finance. Specifically, taxonomies must back investment in nuclear power, he said.

Success of nuclear reactor Hualong One suggests it can compete with wind and solar to drive China’s decarbonisation | South China Morning Post

Success of nuclear reactor Hualong One suggests it can compete with wind and solar to drive China’s decarbonisation | South China Morning Post: Nuclear power’s future will depend on whether the recent on-time construction of the Hualong One reactor can be sustained in future projects, and whether it can establish a good safety record, energy experts said.

Molten Salt Reactors Leading Advanced Nuclear Technology - Nanalyze

Molten Salt Reactors Leading Advanced Nuclear Technology - Nanalyze: Some emerging technologies are advancing so rapidly that we seem to write about them every week. Artificial intelligence is the most obvious example, as it bleeds into most other sectors, including robotics, smart cities, drug discovery, and the list goes on. Progress around other technologies is so painfully slow – and the eventual payoff debatable or so distant as to be nearly meaningless in a mortal lifetime – that we only occasionally revisit the topic to make sure we haven’t missed some great technological leap. A recent example is carbon capture, which remains economically infeasible but is attracting renewed interest

China’s Dominance Of Clean Energy Supply Chains Raises Concerns | Energy Central

China’s Dominance Of Clean Energy Supply Chains Raises Concerns | Energy Central: Over the past decade, no major energy source has grown faster than solar power. According to the 2020 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has grown at an average annual […]

EU foreign policy chief defends 2015 nuclear deal with Iran – Middle East Monitor

EU foreign policy chief defends 2015 nuclear deal with Iran – Middle East Monitor: The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has defended the nuclear deal signed between world powers and Iran in 2015, saying without the deal, Iran...

India carrying out uranium exploration in Arunachal Pradesh | Hindustan Times

India carrying out uranium exploration in Arunachal Pradesh | Hindustan Times: "AMD is carrying out detailed geological investigations for uranium in parts of Arunachal Pradesh," said AMD director D K Sinha

Iran says to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor | Reuters

Iran says to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor | Reuters: Iran will cold test its redesigned Arak nuclear reactor as prelude to fully commissioning it later in the year, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Friday.

Newhallville Nuclear Clean-Up Completed | New Haven Independent

Newhallville Nuclear Clean-Up Completed | New Haven Independent: One year and four months later, General Electric finished cleaning up the site of a former nuclear manufacturing facility in Newhallville and handed the 2.7-acre lot — formerly contaminated, now...

Georgia Power acknowledges Plant Vogtle nuclear quality issues, delay

Georgia Power acknowledges Plant Vogtle nuclear quality issues, delay: Georgia Power’s parent, Atlanta-based Southern Company, now is acknowledging that the company is likely to miss the current deadline for completing th

FirstEnergy refusing to return subsidy cash to customers

FirstEnergy refusing to return subsidy cash to customers: CLEVELAND (AP) — An Ohio electric company under scrutiny for its role in what federal authorities say was a $60 million bribery and corruption scheme has told state energy regulators that it...

Peaceful societies are not utopian fantasy. They exist. - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Peaceful societies are not utopian fantasy. They exist. - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: The existence of tribes, nations, and other social systems comprised of non-warring neighbors demonstrates that living without war is possible. Could emulating the features of existing non-warring systems provide insights and methods for turning back the Doomsday Clock?

Watch now — Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Watch now — Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Watch the Bulletin virtual program, Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, featuring Elizabeth Kolbert in conversation with John Mecklin.  In this conversation, you’ll hear about Kolbert’s newest book, which dives deep into geoengineering, the hopes and hazards it provides, and how it may be humanity’s path forward.    Read more Bulletin coverage of climate change and listen to all of our virtual programs.  Elizabeth Kolbert is … Continued

Bill Gates’ bad bet on plutonium-fueled reactors - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Bill Gates’ bad bet on plutonium-fueled reactors - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: One of Bill Gates’ causes is to replace power plants fueled by coal and natural gas with climate-friendly alternatives. That has led the billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder to embrace nuclear power. But Gates has been persuaded to back a costly reactor design fueled by nuclear-weapon-usable plutonium and shown, through decades of experience, to be expensive, quick to break down, and difficult to repair.

Saudi Aramco to prioritise energy supply to China for 50 yrs, says CEO – Middle East Monitor

Saudi Aramco to prioritise energy supply to China for 50 yrs, says CEO – Middle East Monitor: Saudi Aramco will ensure China's energy security remains its highest priority for the next 50 years and beyond as new and existing energy sources run in parallel for some time, CEO Amin Nasser told th...

Japan earthquake: Tsunami warning issued after 7.0 preliminary magnitude quake - CNN

Japan earthquake: Tsunami warning issued after 7.0 preliminary magnitude quake - CNN: A 7.0 preliminary magnitude earthquake has struck Japan off the coast of Ishinomaki, a city located just 65 miles (104 km) from Fukushima, the site of a devastating 9.0 magnitude quake 10 years ago.

Time For South Korea to Take the Lead on North Korea - 19FortyFive

Time For South Korea to Take the Lead on North Korea - 19FortyFive: President Biden and his team should consider that it is no longer appropriate for Washington to be in charge of Korean affairs.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

NRC to Discontinue Spent Fuel Reprocessing Rule - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

NRC to Discontinue Spent Fuel Reprocessing Rule - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.

Warmonger Joe Biden Seems Quite Eager To Start A War With Russia | End Of The American Dream

Warmonger Joe Biden Seems Quite Eager To Start A War With Russia | End Of The American Dream: If you are the president of the United States and you want to have a positive relationship with another country, it is probably not a good idea to call the leader of that other country a "killer" that "doesn't have a soul".  Also, it is probably not a good idea to accuse the other country of directl

Is 100% Carbon-Free Electricity Within the Next Decade Viable for the U.S. Let Alone the Rest of the Planet? | Energy Central

Is 100% Carbon-Free Electricity Within the Next Decade Viable for the U.S. Let Alone the Rest of the Planet? | Energy Central: Can the United States within the next decade reduce carbon emissions from the electric grid by 50%? According to Bill Gates and Breakthrough Energy Sciences (BES), the country can achieve 70% carbon-free electricity and emission reductions by 42% by 2030. The cost, $1.5 trillion, $400 billion less than the current COVID rescue plan. Achieving a macro grid involves a

Friday, March 19, 2021

Fukushima Update March 19, 2021

Fukushima Update March 19, 2021 - A Japanese video says news coverage has blown the radiation effects of F. Daiichi out of proportion... Japan posts two relatively positive videos about recovery from the 2011 cataclysms... A high court reverses its shutdown order for Ikata unit #3... Tokyo says Tepco's K-K nuke station cannot be restarted... Th Yomiuri Shimbun says nuclear power companies are at the mercy of local courts over restarts... The Asahi Shimbun posts another 10th anniversary “hopelessness” article... Anti-nuclear consultant Mycle Schneider says F. Daiichi makes nuclear energy irrelevant. https://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

Iran says to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor | Reuters

Iran says to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor | Reuters: Iran will cold test its redesigned Arak nuclear reactor as prelude to fully commissioning it later in the year, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Friday.

Mixed court rulings for Japanese reactors : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Mixed court rulings for Japanese reactors : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The Hiroshima High Court today overturned a temporary injunction against the operation of unit 3 at Shikoku Electric Power Company's Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime prefecture. Meanwhile, the Mito District Court has ordered a suspension of the operation of unit 2 at Japan Atomic Power Company's Tokai plant in Ibaraki prefecture.

Russia To Help On Project To Extend Life Of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant

Russia To Help On Project To Extend Life Of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant: Russia will help Armenia extend the life of its nuclear power plant in Metsamor for another 10 years, according to the director of the station.

Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake | Neutron Bytes

Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake | Neutron Bytes: The New York Times reported on August 6, 2020, that a U.S. government classified intelligence analysis includes an assessment that Saudi Arabia, working with China, was building a facility to conve…

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Canadian government has announced investments totalling just over CAD56 million (USD45 million) to support the development of small modular reactor research and technology in New Brunswick. The package includes an investment of CAD50.5 million in Moltex Energy Ltd to develop its 300 MW Stable Salt Reactor-Wasteburner. Meanwhile, a new report has underlined the potential economic benefits from SMRs for Canadian provinces.

DOE's first task for loan guarantees: Calming industry nerves - POLITICO

DOE's first task for loan guarantees: Calming industry nerves - POLITICO: Business executives and attorneys say they are nervous about the high cost of applying for the loan guarantees and fear they could see their requests get stuck in limbo for years.

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: The ability of nuclear energy to stabilise electricity systems and secure the grid is all the more essential in an increasingly unpredictable weather world, write Bryan Hanson, executive vice president and chief generation officer at Exelon, Bohdan Zronek, chief nuclear officer at ČEZ Group, and Sama Bilbao y Léon, director general of World Nuclear Association.

Senior U.S. Official Acknowledges Washington Has Spent $143 Billion to Destroy Its Own Government in Afghanistan — Strategic Culture

This is a really good piece. What does Biden think he will achieve by staying until November other than a decent interval? Also, with all those $billions, the per capita GDP in Afghanistan has declined since 2010: https://www.statista.com/statistics/262052/gross-domestic-product-gdp-per-capita-in-afghanistan/ Senior U.S. Official Acknowledges Washington Has Spent $143 Billion to Destroy Its Own Government in Afghanistan — Strategic Culture: The U.S.-created and supported government of Afghanistan is on the brink of collapse. It has lost all credibility with its people because of its incompetence…

District court orders suspension of Tokai nuclear plant north of Tokyo | The Japan Times

District court orders suspension of Tokai nuclear plant north of Tokyo | The Japan Times: The plant, which started commercial operations in 1978, has been idle as the utility works to meet stricter regulations established after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan: Court orders suspension of nuclear plant

Japan: Court orders suspension of nuclear plant: Order issued on appeal by locals living near Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki province, reports local media - Anadolu Agency

Japan court denies Tokai Daini nuclear power plant restart over evacuation plan- The New Indian Express

Japan court denies Tokai Daini nuclear power plant restart over evacuation plan- The New Indian Express: The Tokai Daini, or No.2, plant, launched in 1978, has been offline since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami off Japan's northeast coast that triggered the Fukushima plant's meltdowns.

UPDATE 1-Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group

UPDATE 1-Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group: A new generation of so-called "advanced" nuclear power reactors that Washington believes could help fight climate change often present greater proliferation risks than conventional nuclear power, a science advocacy group said on Thursday. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has made curbing climate change a priority and has supported research and development for advanced nuclear technologies. Last October, the month before Biden was elected, the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded $80 million each to TerraPower LLC and X-energy to build reactors it said would be operational in seven years.

NextEra Energy looking to turn decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant into solar farm

NextEra Energy looking to turn decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant into solar farm: The facility, which is Iowa's only nuclear power plant, was supposed to be decommissioned in October 2020, but damage from the derecho forced it to close right away.

FERC Dismisses California Nuclear Complaint | ERO Insider

FERC Dismisses California Nuclear Complaint | ERO Insider: FERC threw out a complaint by activist group CGNP against that sought to stop the closure of PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

US Defense Department eyes 2022 for microreactor build decision : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

US Defense Department eyes 2022 for microreactor build decision : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The US Department of Defense's project to develop a mobile reactor - Project Pele - is on track for full power testing of a mobile reactor in 2023, with outdoor mobile testing at a Department of Energy installation in 2024, DOD's Jeff Waksman told the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 33rd Regulatory Information Conference last week.

New nuclear needs positive taxonomies, says Rothschild & Co executive : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

New nuclear needs positive taxonomies, says Rothschild & Co executive : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Private investors need to see clear and consistent political support for nuclear energy as a way to tackle climate change if they are to play a role in raising the large amount of capital required for new-build projects, Stephen Vaughan, vice chair of Energy & Power at Rothschild & Co, said yesterday during World Nuclear Association's Strategic eForum on Sustainable Finance. Specifically, taxonomies must back investment in nuclear power, he said.

Grid connection for Pakistani Hualong One unit : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Grid connection for Pakistani Hualong One unit : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Unit 2 of the Karachi nuclear power plant in Pakistan was synchronised with the electricity grid yesterday. The Chinese-designed Hualong One reactor - the first of two to be constructed at the site - is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of this year. Karachi 2 and 3 are the first exports of China's Hualong One design, promoted on the international market as the HPR1000.

K-2: Pakistan’s first 1,100MWs nuclear power plant connected to national grid - Pakistan Observer

K-2: Pakistan’s first 1,100MWs nuclear power plant connected to national grid - Pakistan Observer: KARACHI – In a major milestone, the Unit-2 of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (K-2) was successfully connected to national grid for the first time on Thursday. K-2 project, which is based on Chinese ACP1000 concept started in August 2015 close to the site of the Unit-1 in the outskirts of Karachi city, is currently operating […]

Feds to put millions into small nuclear reactor development in N.B. | CBC News

Feds to put millions into small nuclear reactor development in N.B. | CBC News: Taxpayers are pouring tens of millions of additional dollars into subsidizing the development of small modular nuclear reactors in New Brunswick.

Offline Iowa nuclear plant eyed as site of solar project

Offline Iowa nuclear plant eyed as site of solar project: CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A decommissioned eastern Iowa nuclear plant could become the site of a new massive solar energy project. NextEra Energy of Florida on Tuesday laid out plans in a...

Safety goes high-tech at new SRS facility | Savannah River Site | postandcourier.com

Safety goes high-tech at new SRS facility | Savannah River Site | postandcourier.com: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management is employing 3D laser scanning to further ensure safety and accuracy in work at the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the

EIA: Less electricity generated by coal than nuclear in US in 2020 | World Coal

EIA: Less electricity generated by coal than nuclear in US in 2020 | World Coal: 2020 marked the first time that coal was not the largest or second-largest source of annual electricity generation in the US since at least 1949, but the EIA expects coal-fired electricity generation to increase in both 2021 and 2022.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Canadian government has announced investments totalling just over CAD56 million (USD45 million) to support the development of small modular reactor research and technology in New Brunswick. The package includes an investment of CAD50.5 million in Moltex Energy Ltd to develop its 300 MW Stable Salt Reactor-Wasteburner. Meanwhile, a new report has underlined the potential economic benefits from SMRs for Canadian provinces.

EPRIʻs Mansoor discusses importance of nuclear generation at NRC summit - Daily Energy Insider

EPRIʻs Mansoor discusses importance of nuclear generation at NRC summit - Daily Energy Insider: During a virtual panel discussion sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), highlighted the importance of nuclear ... Read More »

Veil first woman to lead NRC's reactor regulatory office | Power Engineering

Veil first woman to lead NRC's reactor regulatory office | Power Engineering: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named the first African American and woman to run the NRC’s office overseeing reactor regulation.

Does the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant create more problems than it solves?

Does the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant create more problems than it solves?: Part of Abu Dhabi’s clean energy push, the $32 billion nuclear power station risks destabilising a volatile region with detrimental consequences for the environment.

Huge solar farm planned for decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant site | The Gazette

Huge solar farm planned for decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant site | The Gazette: For more than four decades, the name of former Cedar Rapids utility executive Duane Arnold has been synonymous with nuclear power in Iowa. Now it could have a new connotation: a massive solar energy project planned for 2023 near the now-idle Duane Arnold Energy Center.

Report: 'Advanced' Nuclear Reactors No Better Than Current Fleet | Union of Concerned Scientists

Report: 'Advanced' Nuclear Reactors No Better Than Current Fleet | Union of Concerned Scientists: A new Union of Concerned Scientists report finds that so-called "advanced" non-light-water nuclear reactors in development do not live up to their hype.

Egypt's Petrojet signs teaming agreement with Korean nuclear companies : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Egypt's Petrojet signs teaming agreement with Korean nuclear companies : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Petrojet - an Egyptian petroleum sector company - is boosting cooperation with South Korean companies including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Kepco E&C, Hyundai E&C and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction to participate in Egypt's first nuclear power plant project. The El Dabaa plant is to be built by Russia's JSC Atomstroyexport as the general contractor for the project. Petrojet Chairman Waleed Lotfy signed a teaming agreement with representatives of the South Korean companies, who visited Petrojet's headquarters in Cairo on 16 March.

Japan Court Paves Way for Restart of Shikoku Nuclear Reactor - Bloomberg

Japan Court Paves Way for Restart of Shikoku Nuclear Reactor - Bloomberg: A Japanese court overturned a decision barring the operation of Shikoku Electric Power Co.’s nuclear power plant, a win for the government’s efforts to revive the country’s idled atomic energy industry.

Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group

Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group: A new generation of so-called "advanced" nuclear power reactors that Washington believes could help fight climate change often present greater proliferation risks than conventional nuclear power, a science advocacy group said on Thursday. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has made curbing climate change one of the pillars of his administration and has supported research and development for advanced nuclear technologies. Last October, the month before Biden was elected, the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded $80 million each to TerraPower LLC and X-energy to build reactors it said would be operational in seven years.

Japan court denies resumption of Tokai Daini nuclear power plant: NHK | Reuters

Japan court denies resumption of Tokai Daini nuclear power plant: NHK | Reuters: Japan's Mito District Court ruled on Thursday that Japan Atomic Power Co should not be allowed to resume operations at its Tokai Daini nuclear power plant, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Japanese regulators say TEPCO nuclear plant prone to attack | The Seattle Times

Japanese regulators say TEPCO nuclear plant prone to attack | The Seattle Times: TOKYO (AP) — Japanese nuclear regulators said Wednesday that the world's largest nuclear power plant, owned by the utility behind the Fukushima nuclear crisis, will not restart anytime soon due...

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

China launches Iter tritium breeding project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

China launches Iter tritium breeding project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The first project of the Chinese Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket System for the Iter fusion reactor project was launched on 15 March at China National Nuclear Corporation's Southwestern Institute of Physics in Chengdu, Sichuan province. It marks the start of China's implementation phase of tritium breeding technology in Iter.

SCE plans relocation of  San Onofre used fuel : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

SCE plans relocation of  San Onofre used fuel : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Southern California Edison has released a three-part strategic plan for the relocation of used nuclear fuel from the shut-down San Onofre plant. The company has also launched a stakeholder coalition with two local counties to advocate for and encourage federal government action to deal with used fuel currently stored at San Onofre and other US nuclear sites.

Korean companies to train Egyptian plant workers : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Korean companies to train Egyptian plant workers : Corporate - World Nuclear News: A group of South Korean firms has signed a partnership agreement with Egyptian state-owned construction company Petrojet to help train Egyptian employees for the planned El Dabaa nuclear power plant, which is to be built by Russia. A construction licence for the El Dabaa plant is expected to be issued in the second-half of 2021.

UK's Hinkley Point B approved for restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

UK's Hinkley Point B approved for restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation has today provided EDF with permission for Reactors 3 and 4 at the Hinkley Point B power station in Somerset, England, to return to service for a limited period of operation. This follows ONR's assessment of whether cracking observed in the graphite bricks that form the reactor core could compromise the key nuclear safety requirements.

Security lapses impact Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Security lapses impact Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: Tokyo Electric Power Company has failed in its duty to protect nuclear materials at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, according to Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority. A series of security breaches has prompted the regulator to suspend the process for inspections needed to restart unit 7 at the plant.

Infrastructure Should Be the Great Economic Equalizer - CounterPunch.org

Infrastructure Should Be the Great Economic Equalizer - CounterPunch.org: During the Trump years, the phrase “Infrastructure Week” rang out as a sort of Groundhog Day-style punchline. What began in June 2017 as a failed effort by The Donald’s White House and a Republican Senate to focus on the desperately needed rebuilding of American infrastructure morphed into a meme and a running joke in Washington. More

Russia Signs Contract To Supply Another Batch Of Research Reactor LEU :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Russia Signs Contract To Supply Another Batch Of Research Reactor LEU :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP) and the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority have signed a contract for Russia to supply another batch of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for the ETRR-2 research reactor.

Russia’s Tvel nuclear fuel company, of which NCCP is a subsidiary, said the contract follows the successful completion of a similar contract signed in 2020.

Covra Announces Plans For New Radwaste Facility :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Covra Announces Plans For New Radwaste Facility :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: The Netherlands’ Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste (Covra) has announced plans for a new storage building for low- and medium-level radioactive waste.

Covra, which operates the Netherlands centralised radioactive waste processing and storage facility near Vlissingen-Oost in the municipality of Borselle, in the southwest of the country, said the additional storage space is needed because the current storage building for low- and medium-level radioactive waste is filling up.

Edison aims to rally allies nationwide to push feds on permanent nuclear waste storage – Orange County Register

Edison aims to rally allies nationwide to push feds on permanent nuclear waste storage – Orange County Register: Southern California Edison Co., which operates the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant, hopes affected citizens and communities can prod the federal government to find a permanent home for radioacti…

UNECE report examines how nuclear energy can support sustainable development - Nuclear Engineering International

UNECE report examines how nuclear energy can support sustainable development - Nuclear Engineering International: A new report by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) explores the potential for nuclear energy as part of the energy portfolio and shows how the utilisation of local or regional uranium resources can provide a platform for sustainable...

EPRI CEO: Nuclear power is important for a decarbonized, resilient energy system

EPRI CEO: Nuclear power is important for a decarbonized, resilient energy system: Electric Power Research Institute President and CEO Dr. Arshad Mansoor this month stressed the importance of nuclear generation to the resilience of the U.S. electric power system and expressed confidence in the potential for new and emerging nuclear energy technologies to support continued grid decarbonization.

Westinghouse plans investment in Polish nuclear : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Westinghouse plans investment in Polish nuclear : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Westinghouse Electric Company has announced its intention to invest in nuclear technologies in Poland, following a meeting in Warsaw between Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman and Polish Secretary of State for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski.