Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Judge Rejects Lawsuit Challenging California Nuclear Plant's Operations
Judge Rejects Lawsuit Challenging California Nuclear Plant's Operations: A California judge rejected a lawsuit from an environmental group seeking to keep Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) from extending the operating life
Saudi Arabia Says It Might Select China for Nuclear Reactors | Neutron Bytes
Saudi Arabia Says It Might Select China for Nuclear Reactors | Neutron Bytes: In what should have come to few as a surprise for those who follow the nuclear industry, Saudi Arabia went on the record, as reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) (firewall) on August 25th, tha…
AI Is Beginning to Subtract Jobs, Control Needed
AI Is Beginning to Subtract Jobs, Control Needed: The conventional wisdom — don’t you love it? — holds that artificial intelligence won’t cost jobs. But it will. The evidence is mounting. I say this after doing my best to divine the thinking of th…
Activists criticize evaporation of radioactive waste water at Pilgrim plant - The Boston Globe
Activists criticize evaporation of radioactive waste water at Pilgrim plant - The Boston Globe: Activists discovered this month that Holtec, the company dismantling the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, had evaporated radioactive waste water and discharged the vapor.
Friday, August 25, 2023
California judge rules Diablo Canyon nuclear plant can stay open (NYSE:PCG) | Seeking Alpha
California judge rules Diablo Canyon nuclear plant can stay open (NYSE:PCG) | Seeking Alpha: A California judge rejected an environmental group's lawsuit that sought to block PG&E (PCG) from extending the operating life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
Saskatchewan seeks to develop SMR supply chain : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Saskatchewan seeks to develop SMR supply chain : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Saskatchewan's Crown Investments Corporation is providing CAD479,000 (USD352,296) to the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association and its partners to prepare local companies for their future participation in provincial, national and global small modular reactor development.
Slovenské elektrárne and Westinghouse fuel supply agreement : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Slovenské elektrárne and Westinghouse fuel supply agreement : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: A long-term agreement with Westinghouse for the licensing and supply of VVER-440 fuel assemblies has been signed as part of Slovenské elektrárne's efforts to diversify its supplies for power plants in Slovakia.
Growing share of Americans favor more nuclear power | Pew Research Center
Growing share of Americans favor more nuclear power | Pew Research Center: A majority of Americans (57%) say they favor more nuclear power plants to generate electricity in the country, up from 43% who said this in 2020.
Illinois governor vetoes effort to lift moratorium on new nuclear reactors | Energy News Network
Illinois governor vetoes effort to lift moratorium on new nuclear reactors | Energy News Network: Unless the governor vetoed the bill, the state’s 1987 ban on new nuclear power plants would have been lifted Wednesday.
Environmental group suffers setback in legal fight to close California's last nuclear power plant | AP News
Environmental group suffers setback in legal fight to close California's last nuclear power plant | AP News: A California judge is rejecting an environmental group’s lawsuit that sought to block the state's largest utility from seeking to extend the operating life of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
Maui County sues Hawaiian Electric Company for damages from disastrous fires : NPR
Maui County sues Hawaiian Electric Company for damages from disastrous fires : NPR: The civil suit filed Thursday seeks a jury trial and "punitive and exemplary damages" to recoup costs and loss of revenue from the deadly wildfires.
TVA reverses course, won’t sell Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant; future use for facility undecided | Chattanooga Times Free Press
TVA reverses course, won’t sell Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant; future use for facility undecided | Chattanooga Times Free Press: Seven years after voting to sell its Bellefonte nuclear plant site, the Tennessee Valley Authority has reversed itself and decided to keep the Jackson County, Alabama, power plant for another potential use.
Nuclear Power: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors | U.S. GAO
Nuclear Power: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors | U.S. GAO: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses nuclear reactors. In the coming years, the agency expects an increase in licensing applications for...
Saudi Arabia Eyes Chinese Bid for Nuclear Plant - WSJ
Saudi Arabia Eyes Chinese Bid for Nuclear Plant - WSJ: Beijing’s offer gives Riyadh leverage in talks with Washington on proliferation.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Iran oil output to reach near-capacity before summer's end
Iran oil output to reach near-capacity before summer's end: The Islamic Republic has significantly boosted its oil production levels over the past two years despite crushing western sanctions
Going Bananas Over Release of Fukushima Wastewater | Neutron Bytes
Going Bananas Over Release of Fukushima Wastewater | Neutron Bytes: Going Bananas Over Release of Fukushima Wastewater into the Ocean Today (08/24/23) Japan is starting the controlled release of wastewater that is slightly radioactive from the Fukushima nuclear sit…
US doubles imports of Russian uranium to largest amount since 2005 | Al Mayadeen English
US doubles imports of Russian uranium to largest amount since 2005 | Al Mayadeen English: Contrary to previous US calls for a ban on Russian uranium imports, the nation records its highest volume of uranium imports since 2005.
Nuclear Power, Electrification, and Carbon-Free Fuel Are Key to INL Achieving Net-Zero by 2031
Nuclear Power, Electrification, and Carbon-Free Fuel Are Key to INL Achieving Net-Zero by 2031: In 2021, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Director John Wagner set a lofty goal for the lab to achieve net-zero carbon emissions within 10 years. An
Wyoming History: Sundance Had First Portable Nuclear Reactor In The United States | Your Wyoming News Source
Wyoming History: Sundance Had First Portable Nuclear Reactor In The United States | Your Wyoming News Source: The first U.S. portable land-based nuclear reactor was packed into 16 shipping containers during the Cold War, flown to Ellsworth Air Force Base and built below Warren Peak near Sundance, Wyoming.
U.S. ambassador to eat fish in Fukushima, back release of nuclear plant water - Japan Today
U.S. ambassador to eat fish in Fukushima, back release of nuclear plant water - Japan Today: U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel will visit a city in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Fukushima on Aug 31, and plans to eat fish from the area to show support for Tokyo's decision to release treated radioactive water from a crippled nuclear plant there into the sea, an embassy official…
How gas station economics will change in the EV charging future
How gas station economics will change in the EV charging future: Gas stations will face big decisions related to costs and opportunities as gasoline-powered cars are replaced by EVs.
US-China Solar Trade Probe Ruling to Reshape Billions in Trade - Bloomberg
US-China Solar Trade Probe Ruling to Reshape Billions in Trade - Bloomberg: The Commerce Department is expected this week to conclude some Chinese manufacturers are illegally dodging tariffs by assembling solar equipment in other Asian countries before shipping it to the US — the culmination of a 17-month probe that could have profound impacts on tens of billions of dollars in trade.
Supply chain must expand to meet new build plans, report warns : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Supply chain must expand to meet new build plans, report warns : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The expansion of the nuclear power sector at the speed and scale required to meet net-zero, energy security and sustainable development targets will necessitate sustained and coordinated investment in the global nuclear supply chain, according to World Nuclear Association.
South Korea sees no scientific problem with Fukushima water release plan | Reuters
South Korea sees no scientific problem with Fukushima water release plan | Reuters: South Korea said on Tuesday it sees no problem with the scientific or technical aspects of Japan's plan to release water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant but it does not necessarily support the plan.
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Transition from large-scale nuclear to SMRs gains momentum in US - ShareCafe
Transition from large-scale nuclear to SMRs gains momentum in US - ShareCafe: The central theme driving the energy transition and decarbonisation efforts revolves around the objective of maximising the use of electricity and sourcing this electrical power from renewable and low-carbon origins.
(21) Scott Peters Urges Congress To Remove 'Roadblocks To Exporting US Nuclear Technology' - YouTube
(21) Scott Peters Urges Congress To Remove 'Roadblocks To Exporting US Nuclear Technology' - YouTube: During a House Energy Committee hearing prior to the Congressional recess, Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) questioned witnesses about US nuclear technology and the ...
Pritzker promotes higher ed funding, calls for nuclear plant bill to be amended - IPM Newsroom
Pritzker promotes higher ed funding, calls for nuclear plant bill to be amended - IPM Newsroom: Governor J-B Pritzker hopes lawmakers will come up with an amended version of SB76, a bill he vetoed on August 11 that would have ended Illinois’ moratorium on building nuclear power plants. During a visit to tout higher education funding at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, Pritzker said that despite his veto, he favors the bill as a way to allow the construction of small modular reactors, or SMR’s.
The Race to Ditch Russian Uranium Starts in New Mexico’s Desert - BNN Bloomberg
The Race to Ditch Russian Uranium Starts in New Mexico’s Desert - BNN Bloomberg: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is forcing the US and Europe to search for alternative sources of enriched uranium to power their reactors.
Biden’s Anti-Nuclear Move Fits His Anti-American Energy Agenda | National Review
Biden’s Anti-Nuclear Move Fits His Anti-American Energy Agenda | National Review: The American people want our nation to be energy-independent. They know increasing production of American energy is the best way to achieve that. President Biden is telling the American people to pound sand.
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
FOE concludes strong hearing over Diablo Canyon retirement
FOE concludes strong hearing over Diablo Canyon retirement: Friends of the Earth had a strong showing today at its first court hearing in litigation against PG&E in efforts to retire Diablo Canyon.
Of Judaism, but Not in It - Tablet Magazine
Of Judaism, but Not in It - Tablet Magazine: A Nobel Prize winning physicist who helped build the atomic bomb had a deep and abiding relationship to his Orthodox Jewish upbringing
Chart: The US can't meet its climate goals unless… | Canary Media
Chart: The US can't meet its climate goals unless… | Canary Media: But if the 24 states with aggressive emissions-reduction targets make good on their pledges, the country could get within striking distance of its 2030…
Supply chain must expand to meet new build plans, report warns : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Supply chain must expand to meet new build plans, report warns : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The expansion of the nuclear power sector at the speed and scale required to meet net-zero, energy security and sustainable development targets will necessitate sustained and coordinated investment in the global nuclear supply chain, according to World Nuclear Association.
The Power Of Power Density - Robert Bryce
The Power Of Power Density - Robert Bryce: Paul Krugman hypes renewables in the New York Times, but the Iron Law of Power Density won’t be repealed
Should the NRC Revise the Aircraft Rule for SMRs? | Neutron Bytes
Should the NRC Revise the Aircraft Rule for SMRs? | Neutron Bytes: In a cordial email exchange this week with Rod Adams, long time blogger at Atomic Insights, and more recently the Managing Partner at Nucleation Capital, we discussed whether the Nuclear Regulatory…
US regulator OKs SMR emergency preparedness rule : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
US regulator OKs SMR emergency preparedness rule : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has directed its staff to issue a final rule and associated regulatory guide that applies risk-informed, performance-based emergency preparedness requirements to small modular reactors and other new technologies.
US / New Rule Will Help Licensing Of Advanced Reactors, Says Regulator :: NucNet | The Independent Nuclear News Agency
US / New Rule Will Help Licensing Of Advanced Reactors, Says Regulator :: NucNet | The Independent Nuclear News Agency: Current regulations updated for new generation of nuclear plants
Turning Down the Temperature on Extreme… | The Breakthrough Institute
Turning Down the Temperature on Extreme… | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
Is Workforce Ready for Green Energy Transition? | RealClearPolicy
Is Workforce Ready for Green Energy Transition? | RealClearPolicy: The rapidly growing clean energy sector is bumping up against serious labor constraints.
Here Comes the Green Energy Future? | RealClearPolicy
Here Comes the Green Energy Future? | RealClearPolicy: Among the media sources serving as propagandists and cheerleaders for the “green energy transition,” two of the most prominent are the New York Times and Bloomberg News. To get an idea how the “
Monday, August 21, 2023
How to Avoid a U.S.-China War
How to Avoid a U.S.-China War: Americans and Chinese have to rehumanize each other in terms of the way we conceive of our problems and engage.
What Really Happened In Maui - by A Midwestern Doctor
What Really Happened In Maui - by A Midwestern Doctor: What Really Happened In Maui
and how can you help?
US trying to politicize nuclear nonproliferation: China Daily editorial - Chinadaily.com.cn
US trying to politicize nuclear nonproliferation: China Daily editorial - Chinadaily.com.cn: In yet another blow to the already souring bilateral relations, the Joe Biden administration has tightened controls on the export of materials and components for nuclear power plants to China on the spurious grounds that it would help prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
IEA Warns Of Winter NatGas Crisis If Russia Cuts Supplies | ZeroHedge
IEA Warns Of Winter NatGas Crisis If Russia Cuts Supplies | ZeroHedge: ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero