Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Anti-Nuclear/Environmental Groups File Petition To Keep Diablo From Running Beyond 2025 | KVEC-AM
Anti-Nuclear/Environmental Groups File Petition To Keep Diablo From Running Beyond 2025 | KVEC-AM: Several anit-nuclear and environmental groups have filed a petition to try and keep the Diablo Canyon power plant from operating beyond 2025. According to the Tribune, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, Friends of the Earth, and
Friday, July 7, 2023
Issue 2023-07-06 - Nikkei Asia - The U.S.-China rare earths battle How one mine in California is trying to challenge Beijing’s dominance
Issue 2023-07-06 - Nikkei Asia: We bring you the Asian business, politics, economy and tech stories others miss.
Stop Calling Nuclear Reactors "Aging" | The Breakthrough Institute
Stop Calling Nuclear Reactors "Aging" | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
Saudi Arabia can alleviate US concerns over its civilian nuclear energy program. Here’s how. - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Saudi Arabia can alleviate US concerns over its civilian nuclear energy program. Here’s how. - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Two nonproliferation experts discuss how Saudi Arabia could become a responsible civilian nuclear power.
Diablo Canyon: NRC decision to keep power plant open appealed | San Luis Obispo Tribune
Diablo Canyon: NRC decision to keep power plant open appealed | San Luis Obispo Tribune: The groups argue that keeping Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in operation past 2025 puts “millions of Californians at risk.”
Tapping into DOE’s $250B of loan authority for projects that reinvest in US clean energy infrastructure | Utility Dive
Tapping into DOE’s $250B of loan authority for projects that reinvest in US clean energy infrastructure | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.
Russian Operator of Occupied Ukraine Reactor Disregards IAEA Advice to Shut Down - Bloomberg
Russian Operator of Occupied Ukraine Reactor Disregards IAEA Advice to Shut Down - Bloomberg: Russian operators at an occupied nuclear plant in southern Ukraine continue to ignore requests from safety regulators to bring the last partly-operational reactor under their supervision into a state of full shutdown.
Exclusive: IAEA chief Grossi hints at discord among Fukushima report experts | Reuters
Exclusive: IAEA chief Grossi hints at discord among Fukushima report experts | Reuters: The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said on Friday he had heard that one or two experts behind its report greenlighting Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima plant may have had concerns.
Bulgaria and Ukraine MoU covers nuclear energy cooperation : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
Bulgaria and Ukraine MoU covers nuclear energy cooperation : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: The energy ministers of Ukraine and Bulgaria have signed a memorandum of understanding to "deepen cooperation" in the energy sector, including "participation in joint projects and initiatives involving joint activities in the field of nuclear energy".
Urenco to expand US enrichment plant : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Urenco to expand US enrichment plant : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: Uranium enrichment services provider Urenco has announced plans to increase capacity at its plant in Eunice, New Mexico - the only operating commercial uranium enrichment facility in North America - by 15%. New commitments from US customers for non-Russian fuel underpin this investment, the company noted.
European consortium focuses on VVER fuel : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
European consortium focuses on VVER fuel : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: A Westinghouse-led consortium has been selected by the European Union to develop and deliver a "fully European" nuclear fuel supply for Russian-designed VVER pressurised water reactors.
Kärnfull Next receives investment from climate tech fund : Corporate - World Nuclear News
Kärnfull Next receives investment from climate tech fund : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Danish climate tech fund Climentum Capital and Swedish social developer Granitor Growth Management are investing EUR2 million (USD2.2 million) into Swedish small modular reactor project development company Kärnfull Next AB.
Additional SMRs in the pipeline for Darlington : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Additional SMRs in the pipeline for Darlington : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Ontario government announced it is working with Ontario Power Generation to begin planning and licensing for three additional GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 small modular reactors, for a total of four, at the Darlington plant site.
Thursday, July 6, 2023
The Dynamics of an Entangled Security Dilemma: China's Changing Nuclear Posture | International Security | MIT Press
The Dynamics of an Entangled Security Dilemma: China's Changing Nuclear Posture | International Security | MIT Press: Abstract.
Abstract
Amid an intensifying rivalry with the United States, China is modernizing and significantly expanding its nuclear forces. These developments fuel concerns that China's traditional nuclear strategy premised on a limited nuclear arsenal for assured retaliation and a no-first-use policy is undergoing a major shift. Using Chinese-language materials, an examination of Chinese debates about China's security environment and the future direction of its nuclear strategy finds that a nuclear-conventional entangled security dilemma is emerging between the United States and China. The shift in the conventional balance of force in the region and the U.S. development of lower-yield nuclear weapons has led to greater fears in China of U.S. limited nuclear use in a conflict. Chinese strategists increasingly believe that U.S. nonnuclear strategic capabilities threaten China's nuclear forces. Although there is limited evidence of a shift in its nuclear strategy, China is changing its strategic posture to ensure its second-strike capability, including by relying on advanced conventional weapons (e.g., counterspace capabilities, cyber weapons, and electronic warfare) that can target U.S. missile defense. The dynamics of an entangled security dilemma may weaken arms race stability, and they underscore why it will be challenging for the United States to engage China in nuclear arms control.
Will India Surpass China to Become the Next Global Superpower?
Will India Surpass China to Become the Next Global Superpower?: When India overtook China in April to become the world’s most populous nation, observers wondered: Will New Delhi surpass Beijing to become the next global superpower? India’s birth rate is almost twice that of China. And India has outpaced China in economic growth for the past two years—its GDP grew 6.1 percent last quarter, compared with China’s 4.5 percent. At first glance, the statistics seem promising.
This question has only become more relevant as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington this week. From a U.S. perspective, if India—the world’s largest democracy—really could trump China, that would be something to shout about. India is China’s natural adversary; the two countries share more than 2,000 miles of disputed, undemarcated border, where conflict breaks out sporadically. The bigger and stronger China’s competitors are in Asia, the greater the prospects for a balance of power favorable to the United States.
Yet before inhaling the narrative of a rapidly rising India too deeply, we should pause to reflect on four inconvenient truths.
Roughly $7B federal loan could offer PG&E ‘cheap money’ to upgrade electric grid in California | Utility Dive
Roughly $7B federal loan could offer PG&E ‘cheap money’ to upgrade electric grid in California | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.
First submissions for Canadian review of eVinci design : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
First submissions for Canadian review of eVinci design : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: Westinghouse Electric Company has submitted the first set of documents to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the pre-licensing vendor design review of its eVinci microreactor.
Ontario government announces support for nuclear expansion : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Ontario government announces support for nuclear expansion : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The province's government has announced it is starting pre-development work to build up to 4800 MWe of new nuclear capacity at Bruce Power's existing site, in what would be Canada's first large-scale nuclear build in more than 30 years.
The Most Massive Attack Against Free Speech in U.S. History | RealClearPolicy
The Most Massive Attack Against Free Speech in U.S. History | RealClearPolicy: The Most Massive Attack Against Free Speech in U.S. History
Western Media Prepping Nuclear False Flag… and Thermonuclear War — Strategic Culture
Western Media Prepping Nuclear False Flag… and Thermonuclear War — Strategic Culture
Western media are conditioning the public for a false-flag attack on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) to blame Russia. That would then provide the United States and NATO a pretext to directly intervene in their proxy war to support the Kiev regime.
The Kiev regime’s month-old counteroffensive is failing miserably to push back Russian defense lines. Indeed, if anything, it seems that Russian forces are turning the tables to gain more territory in eastern Ukraine. The military situation is becoming a fiasco for the NATO-backed regime in Kiev.
Months of much-hyped counteroffensive are delivering nothing but defeat for the Ukrainian forces despite massive supplies of weapons from the U.S. and its NATO allies. Western governments and media can barely hide the reality that NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine against Russia is turning into a historic debacle. How long can the charade continue before the American and European public demand answers and accountability?
With a major NATO summit due to take place next week in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12, the battlefield disaster for the alliance’s Kiev proxy will be potentially an acute embarrassment. There will be severe political repercussions for Washington and the European Union which has funneled close to $200 billion in military support to the Kiev regime since the conflict erupted in February last year.
Blowing up the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is one way of dramatically shifting the narrative – albeit an act of criminal desperation. The power station is Europe’s largest civilian nuclear installation. The radioactive fallout from a fatal missile strike on the ZNPP would engulf large swathes of Europe, including Russia, with potentially deadly contamination.
Has China Just Checkmated the US by Banning Rare Earth Exports?
Has China Just Checkmated the US by Banning Rare Earth Exports?: China's ban is a response to the West's not-so-well thought out strategy of economically decoupling from the People's Republic, Asia-Pacific consultant Thomas W. Pauken told Sputnik.
(4) NextEra Energy Res on Twitter: "Duane Arnold Energy Center’s recent milestone marked a new industry standard: safely transferring more than 1,800 spent fuel assemblies to long-term storage within 20 months, besting the last record by 10 months and saving $100 million. https://t.co/T8m8SczuAl" / Twitter
Canadian, US regulators publish joint TRISO report : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
Canadian, US regulators publish joint TRISO report : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The joint report by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission establishes a common regulatory position on tristructural isotropic fuel qualification, for use in the licensing of advanced reactor and small modular reactor technologies.
Solar farms sucking up California’s water – so much for “sustainability”
Solar farms sucking up California’s water – so much for “sustainability”
Large swaths of formerly dry and empty land across rural California now house massive solar farms that we are told will make the Golden State more energy sustainable – but there is just one problem: these solar farms are sucking up the state's scarce water supplies at an astounding rate.
Local wells near the solar projects are either being sucked dry or are already dry as a bone due to the construction of multiple utility-scale solar projects located near Desert Center, which is located along the stretch of Interstate 10 out near Palm Springs.
South Korea forms SMR Alliance : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
South Korea forms SMR Alliance : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: A public-private partnership comprised of 42 state-run and private entities has been created to advance Korea's small modular reactor sector. The alliance aims to establish plans to revitalise the country's SMR industry within the next year.
World’s biggest nuclear power plant being planned in Canada - BNN Bloomberg
World’s biggest nuclear power plant being planned in Canada - BNN Bloomberg: A Canadian utility is starting early work to expand a nuclear plant, potentially building the world’s biggest facility as growing demand for clean energy spurs interest in atomic energy.
Climate Change: Shipping Needs to Go Nuclear to Reach Net Zero - Bloomberg
Climate Change: Shipping Needs to Go Nuclear to Reach Net Zero - Bloomberg: The industry’s energy needs far exceed the capacity of green sources like solar and wind. There’s only one alternative.
IAEA has seen no sign of explosives at Zaporizhzhia yet, more access needed | Reuters
IAEA has seen no sign of explosives at Zaporizhzhia yet, more access needed | Reuters: Experts from the U.N. nuclear watchdog based at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine have yet to observe any indications of mines or explosives at the plant, but they need more access to be sure, the agency said on Wednesday.
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
White House cautiously opens the door to study blocking sun's rays to slow global warming - E&E News by POLITICO
White House cautiously opens the door to study blocking sun's rays to slow global warming - E&E News by POLITICO: A Biden administration report required by Congress outlines research options for a last-ditch effort to slow the heating of the planet. But the White House
Japan gets U.N. nuclear watchdog approval for Fukushima water release - Japan Today
Japan gets U.N. nuclear watchdog approval for Fukushima water release - Japan Today: Japan won approval from the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Tuesday for its plan to release treated radioactive water from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima plant into the ocean, despite fierce resistance from Beijing and some local residents. After a two-year review, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Japan's plans were consistent with global…
Getting Critical Minerals Right | The Breakthrough Institute
Getting Critical Minerals Right | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
Small Modular Reactors (SMR) for Nuclear Energy - EnergyPortal.eu
Small Modular Reactors (SMR) for Nuclear Energy - EnergyPortal.eu: Exploring the Future of Small Modular Reactors for Nuclear Energy As the global demand for clean, reliable, and affordable energy continues to grow, Small Modular
Rising Reliability Threats Underscore Benefits of Small Modular Reactors | American Public Power Association
Rising Reliability Threats Underscore Benefits of Small Modular Reactors | American Public Power Association: As the threats to the resilience and reliability of the electric power grid caused by extreme weather events rise, the advantages of small modular reactors are becoming more apparent.
Argentina's RA-10 research reactor aiming to be operational in 2025 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Argentina's RA-10 research reactor aiming to be operational in 2025 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The RA-10 multipurpose research reactor is about 80% completed, with civil works to be finished within three months and expectations it will be operating in 2025, Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission says.
Kiev’s nuclear terrorism allegations are ‘nonsense’ – Lavrov to RT — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
Kiev’s nuclear terrorism allegations are ‘nonsense’ – Lavrov to RT — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union: Allegations that Russia is plotting a “terrorist attack” on the Zaporozhye NPP are nothing but a “well-worn” scare, FM Sergey Lavrov says
POWER July 2023
POWER July 2023: Experience our interactive, profoundly engaging digital publication!
How Bad Is CO2? - by Tomas Pueyo - Uncharted Territories
How Bad Is CO2? - by Tomas Pueyo - Uncharted Territories
When I talk about global warming, I hear four main unknowns, misconceptions, and questions from people:
Are humans the main culprits of CO2 in the atmosphere?
Is CO2 causing global warming?
Are human emissions destroying the Earth?
How bad are the consequences of releasing CO2 and maybe heating the Earth?
Let’s address them!
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
We're Building Things Based on a Climate We No Longer Live In - Scientific American
We're Building Things Based on a Climate We No Longer Live In - Scientific American: Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.
Nuclear power is a staple of American defense | Stars and Stripes
Nuclear power is a staple of American defense | Stars and Stripes: It is pertinent for the safety of this country and the stability of the world that the rest of the U.S. set sail alongside the Navy and adopt nuclear power as a streamlined energy source.
Is It Safe? Japan Set to Release Treated Fukushima Nuclear Water Into Ocean - The Washington Post
Is It Safe? Japan Set to Release Treated Fukushima Nuclear Water Into Ocean - The Washington Post: Japanese utility Tepco is planning to release more than 1 million cubic meters of treated radioactive water — enough to fill 500 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the wrecked Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, part of its nearly $150 billion effort to clean up the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl. Storage tanks at the site are forecast to be full as early as 2024, and space for building more is scarce. Scary as it sounds, discharges are common practice in the in
Monday, July 3, 2023
Saudi Arabia and Russia announce new oil cuts | The Hill
Saudi Arabia and Russia announce new oil cuts | The Hill: Major oil hubs Saudi Arabia and Russia announced oil supply cuts in what Saudi Arabia described as an attempt to “stabilize markets.” Saudi Arabia’s move was announced in the state-run Saudi Press Agency, which said that the kingdom will extend July cuts of 1 million barrels per day into August. For that month, Saudi Arabia…
Zaporizhzhia reconnected to back-up power line after four months : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
Zaporizhzhia reconnected to back-up power line after four months : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been reconnected to a back-up power line which has been down since 1 March.
Chinese containment model completes structural testing : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
Chinese containment model completes structural testing : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: A structural performance test of a scaled-down Hualong One containment building in serious accident conditions has been successfully completed by China's Harbin Institute of Technology. A team of researchers - which included workers from China National Nuclear Corporation's China Nuclear Power Engineering division - spent three years making preparations for the test.
Permitting submissions made for New Brunswick SMR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Permitting submissions made for New Brunswick SMR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: NB Power, in partnership with ARC Clean Technology Canada Inc, has submitted an environmental impact assessment registration document and an application for a site preparation licence for an advanced small modular reactor at the existing Point Lepreau nuclear site.
Podcast: The prospects for nuclear energy in Africa : Perspectives - World Nuclear News
Podcast: The prospects for nuclear energy in Africa : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: The main interview is with Lassina Zerbo, who discusses the current situation, and the emerging future plans, for nuclear energy in Africa. There are also reports on China's molten salt reactor and the USA's HALEU fuel supply initiatives.
Mini Reactor Cost Surge Threatens Nuclear’s Next Big Thing - BNN Bloomberg
Mini Reactor Cost Surge Threatens Nuclear’s Next Big Thing - BNN Bloomberg: High inflation and rising interest rates are driving up the cost of a new generation of miniature atomic reactors that the nuclear industry is relying on to lift sales and help meet climate targets.
Das ungarische Parlament will die Aufnahme Schwedens in die NATO bis zum Herbst nicht behandeln – Anti-Spiegel
Das ungarische Parlament will die Aufnahme Schwedens in die NATO bis zum Herbst nicht behandeln – Anti-Spiegel
The Hungarian parliament does not want to deal with Sweden's admission to NATO until autumn
This is from the published agenda for the period from 3rd to 7th. July out
The Hungarian parliament does not plan to deal with Sweden's admission to NATO next week, the last working week before the summer break. This is from the agenda for the period from the 3rd to the 7th. July, which was published on the Parliament's website on Sunday.
According to this, the Hungarian parliament could postpone the ratification of the Swedish NATO accession agreement until the autumn, and the question will not be raised before the North Atlantic Alliance summit on the 11th and 12th. July in Vilnius.
Theoretically, the parliamentary leadership, which abstains from comment, could put the topic on the agenda next week. The meetings are for the 3rd, 4th and 7th. Scheduled for July. MEPs want to deal primarily with the draft budget for 2024.
On the 29th In June, the deputy Agnes Vadai of the opposition party Democratic Coalition reported that the faction of the governing party FIDES-Hungarian Civil Union had decided not to deal with the issue of Sweden's admission to NATO in the last days of the spring meeting. According to her, the topic was postponed to a later date - possibly to the autumn.
The Hungarian parliament has repeatedly postponed the ratification of the agreement on Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance despite pressure from abroad. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that he is not prepared to deal with the issue because there are serious differences of opinion between Budapest and Stockholm. In his opinion, these should be resolved before Sweden's accession to NATO in order not to create conflicts there. The government and MEPs have expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that Swedish politicians have accused Hungary of deviating from democracy and demanded that the EU funds owed to the country be blocked.
On the 27th In March, the Hungarian parliament approved the ratification of the Finnish NATO accession agreement, but postponed the consideration of Sweden. The Hungarian government had previously stated that it supported the admission of Sweden to the alliance, but the concerns of the deputies had to be allayed. Finland and Sweden submitted their applications on the 18th. May 2022 and stated that they were prompted to take this step by the developments in Ukraine. Of all NATO countries, Sweden's accession documents have not been ratified by Turkey, which calls for stricter action by Stockholm against Kurdish extremists who have settled in the country.
Translation from the Russian news agency TASS
German Chancellor raises concerns over long-range weapons to Ukraine | Al Mayadeen English
German Chancellor raises concerns over long-range weapons to Ukraine | Al Mayadeen English: Germany has set refraining from striking Russian territories as a condition for weapon supplies.
Sweden Shocks Europe: Abandons 'Unstable' Green Energy Agenda, Returns to Nuclear Power – RedState
Sweden Shocks Europe: Abandons 'Unstable' Green Energy Agenda, Returns to Nuclear Power – RedState: While Sweden moves away from 'green energy,' climate-crazed Joe Biden moves full speed ahead.
Sunday, July 2, 2023
Implications of a U.S. Ban on Russian Uranium
Implications of a U.S. Ban on Russian Uranium: Here are some likely scenarios should the United States ban the import of Russian uranium.
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