Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, September 16, 2023
SF to study replacing PG&E with nonprofit electric utility | Climate Change | sfexaminer.com
SF to study replacing PG&E with nonprofit electric utility | Climate Change | sfexaminer.com: San Francisco is exploring if it's feasible to replace PG&E and its fossil fuel infrastructure with a nonprofit utility that would also electrify The City's grid.
Turkiye seeks to overturn ICC ruling on Iraq pipeline exports: Official
Turkiye seeks to overturn ICC ruling on Iraq pipeline exports: Official: The Turkish energy minister claimed that the Iraq-Turkiye pipeline is undergoing maintenance work, and will be ‘technically’ ready to resume operations soon
Men I Knew Who Knew Oppenheimer
Men I Knew Who Knew Oppenheimer: I have been to the movies. I haven’t done that since before the COVID shutdown. I went to see two huge movies that have each grossed $1 billion, and I enjoyed them enormously. They are, of course, …
Issue 2240 | Hoover Institution
Issue 2240 | Hoover Institution
A New Order in the Gulf?
Via The Caravan Issue 2240
Saudi Arabia last year turned down President Biden’s request to increase oil production and more recently reestablished diplomatic ties with Iran, with an assist from China. The collection of commentary in this issue of The Caravan provides diverse analyses of Gulf politics and the challenges to US policy.
Friday, September 15, 2023
PG&E Comments on CPUC Proposals in 2023-2026 General Rate Case - PGE Currents
PG&E Comments on CPUC Proposals in 2023-2026 General Rate Case - PGE Currents: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a Proposed Decision (PD) and Alternate Proposed Decision (APD) on
California gets off sidelines, opposes federal lawsuit to stop Diablo Canyon life-extension - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1
California gets off sidelines, opposes federal lawsuit to stop Diablo Canyon life-extension - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.
Activists want California nuclear reactor closed over safety concerns - The Washington Post
Activists want California nuclear reactor closed over safety concerns - The Washington Post: The Diablo Canyon reactors were scheduled to shutter in 2025, but California reversed course last year and is now considering running the plant until at least the end of the decade.
Wyoming Energy Authority Makes Investment Toward Microreactor Deployment
Wyoming Energy Authority Makes Investment Toward Microreactor Deployment: BWX Technologies (BWXT) said it was awarded a “two-phase, two-year contract” with the Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) to assess the viability of deploying
Turkey Energy Minister Says Nuclear Power Program Deal With China Soon - Bloomberg
Turkey Energy Minister Says Nuclear Power Program Deal With China Soon - Bloomberg: Turkey said it is closing in on an agreement with China for construction of a new nuclear power plant, a step that would mark a leap in Turkish efforts to lower oil and gas imports.
Nuclear gets a boost from Europe's new green energy targets | Reuters
Nuclear gets a boost from Europe's new green energy targets | Reuters: European lawmakers bowed to pressure from France to allow nuclear power to be used for ammonia and hydrogen production in order to pass new legally binding targets to expand renewable energy development in the European Union.
Environmental groups urge regulators to shut down California reactor over safety, testing concerns | AP News
Environmental groups urge regulators to shut down California reactor over safety, testing concerns | AP News: Environmental groups are calling on federal regulators to immediately shut down one of two reactors at California’s last nuclear power plant.
Nuclear at a Crossroads: Does nuclear power stand a chance in Minnesota amid a moratorium and carbon-free mandate?
Nuclear at a Crossroads: Does nuclear power stand a chance in Minnesota amid a moratorium and carbon-free mandate?: Minnesota politicians ponder the fate of the ‘friendly atom’
Turkey 'at important point' in China nuclear plant talks : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Turkey 'at important point' in China nuclear plant talks : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has said the country is in talks with Russia about a second nuclear plant, and with China for a third one - and has also held out the ambition of adding 5 GW of small modular reactor capacity to the country's energy system by 2050.
Hyundai builds partnerships in Poland : Corporate - World Nuclear News
Hyundai builds partnerships in Poland : Corporate - World Nuclear News: South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction has signed a series of agreements with Polish institutions and construction companies in an effort to tap into the country's nuclear power and infrastructure markets. The company is also establishing an office in Warsaw to create "a bridgehead" for entering other Eastern European markets.
Demonstration reactor to be built in Rwanda : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Demonstration reactor to be built in Rwanda : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board has signed an agreement with Dual Fluid to collaborate on the development of a demonstration Dual Fluid nuclear reactor in Rwanda. The demonstration reactor is expected to be operational by 2026.
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Tokamak Energy reports Demo4 milestone cryogenic tests : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Tokamak Energy reports Demo4 milestone cryogenic tests : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Tokamak Energy says its engineers have successfully validated electromagnetic current test results of the first of 14 toroidal field limbs in liquid nitrogen at temperatures of -200 degrees Celsius.
More funding to progress UK nuclear-generated hydrogen project : Corporate - World Nuclear News
More funding to progress UK nuclear-generated hydrogen project : Corporate - World Nuclear News: An EDF-led consortium has been awarded UK government funding to further develop plans to use heat and electricity from Heysham 2 to create hydrogen for use in the production of asphalt and cement. Earlier this year, a feasibility study demonstrated the significant benefit the project would bring in proving how nuclear could power hydrogen electrolysis.
Wyoming Energy Authority Makes Investment Toward Microreactor Deployment
Wyoming Energy Authority Makes Investment Toward Microreactor Deployment: BWX Technologies (BWXT) said it was awarded a “two-phase, two-year contract” with the Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) to assess the viability of deploying
Congress should seek ‘poison pills’ for any US-Saudi nuclear agreement
Congress should seek ‘poison pills’ for any US-Saudi nuclear agreement: The U.S. should link any Saudi nuclear deal to end-use monitoring of all weapons transferred to Riyad, the authors argue.
X-energy to develop second Project Pele microreactor design : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
X-energy to develop second Project Pele microreactor design : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The US Department of Defense has awarded a contract option to X-energy, LLC to develop an enhanced engineering design for a transportable microreactor suitable for both commercial and defence use under the Project Pele initiative. This second design would be complementary to the prototype microreactor which is being built by BWX Technologies.
A French Nuclear Fairy Tale - CounterPunch.org
A French Nuclear Fairy Tale - CounterPunch.org: In France, the nuclear industry is in decline and the nuclear company EDF is heavily in debt. At the same time, President Macron is once again promising cheap nuclear power and wants to have new small nuclear power plants built. A small part of the French nuclear industry’s financial problems is to be solved with EU money.
Environmental groups urge regulators to shut down California reactor over safety, testing concerns
Environmental groups urge regulators to shut down California reactor over safety, testing concerns: Environmental groups are calling on federal regulators to immediately shut down one of two...
Oil Prices Could Double Over the Next Two Years | RealClearEnergy
Oil Prices Could Double Over the Next Two Years | RealClearEnergy: Oil Prices Could Double Over the Next Two Years
China Races Ahead In Global Nuclear Power Development | OilPrice.com
China Races Ahead In Global Nuclear Power Development | OilPrice.com: China is rapidly expanding its nuclear energy sector, positioning itself to overtake the U.S. as the world leader in nuclear power.
Peak fossil fuel demand will happen this decade | Financial Times
Peak fossil fuel demand will happen this decade | Financial Times: But the decline in oil, gas and coal will not be steep enough to limit global warming to 1.5C
Rising power costs spark fears of clean energy slowdown - E&E News by POLITICO
Rising power costs spark fears of clean energy slowdown - E&E News by POLITICO: Renewable energy companies are warning regulators that projects could be canceled unless power contracts are changed.
Cracks at SC nuclear plant draw federal scrutiny | The State
Cracks at SC nuclear plant draw federal scrutiny | The State: Generator systems have been found to have cracks at the V.C. Summer nuclear plant north of Columbia. Generators are important to prevent nuclear meltdowns in an emergency.
Nukes Are Back, but Uranium Is in Short Supply - WSJ
Nukes Are Back, but Uranium Is in Short Supply - WSJ: A renaissance for the nuclear-power industry has run into a problem: Prices have soared for the radioactive uranium required to fuel reactors in the decades ahead.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Chubu Electric to invest in NuScale - Nuclear Engineering International
Chubu Electric to invest in NuScale - Nuclear Engineering International: Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Co has decided to invest in US NuScale Power and has agreed to acquire issued shares in NuScale from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). NuScale, established in Portland Oregon in 2007 is working...
DOD awards X-energy contract for second micro nuclear reactor design | InsideDefense.com
DOD awards X-energy contract for second micro nuclear reactor design | InsideDefense.com: The Defense Department has awarded Rockville, MD-based X-energy a contract to develop an enhanced engineering design for a transportable micro nuclear reactor in an effort to inject competition into the Project Pele initiative being run by the Strategic Capabilities Office.
Air Force plans microreactor at Alaska base pending NRC approval | Stars and Stripes
Air Force plans microreactor at Alaska base pending NRC approval | Stars and Stripes: The contract went to Oklo Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., for a 20-MW reactor at Eielson Air Force Base, a fighter base 110 miles from the Arctic Circle, according to the company and an Air Force news release Aug. 31.
DOD Exercises Option on Second Micro Nuclear Reactor Design > U.S. Department of Defense > Release
DOD Exercises Option on Second Micro Nuclear Reactor Design > U.S. Department of Defense > Release: As part of the Strategic Capabilities Office initiative Project Pele, the DOD awarded a contract option to X-energy, LLC of Rockville, Md., to develop an enhanced engineering design for a
NRC Finalizing Emergency Preparedness Rule for New Reactor Designs – Up & Atom
NRC Finalizing Emergency Preparedness Rule for New Reactor Designs – Up & Atom: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced that it intends to issue, by the end of 2023, the final rule and associated regulatory guide that sets emergency preparedness requirements for new reactors. The rulemaking will allow small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced reactor license applicants to develop performance-based emergency preparedness programs as an alternative to the current offsite radiological emergency planning requirements. This rulemaking is a significant development toward providing flexibility in meeting the NRC’s emergency preparedness requirements.
Putin in the original tone about terrorist attacks on Russian nuclear power plants planned by London.
Putin im O-Ton über von London geplante Terroranschläge auf russische AKWs – Anti-Spiegel
Putin im O-Ton über von London geplante Terroranschläge auf russische AKWs – Anti-Spiegel
https://www.anti-spiegel.ru/2023/putin-im-o-ton-ueber-von-london-geplante-terroranschlaege-auf-russische-akws/
September 13, 2023
Putin in the original tone about terrorist attacks on Russian nuclear power plants planned by London.
At the Eastern Economic Forum, which does not play a role in German media, Putin has traditionally participated in the panel discussion again. It is not surprising that the German media do not report on the conference, because it showed in a dramatic way how Asia is economically overtaking Europe.
At the panel discussion, Russian President Putin spoke about planned terrorist attacks on Russian nuclear power plants, which may have been planned by the British secret service without the knowledge of the British government. I have completely translated the questions and Putin's answers.
The fact that the presenter mentions the "Vice-President" is due to the fact that the Vice-President of Laos also sat on stage. The presenter later asked them about the consequences of the cluster munitions dropped by the USA on Laos during the Vietnam War, whose unexploded ordnance still kill people to this day.
Start of translation:
Doronow: I will ask about the arms deliveries, and then I will ask the vice president a question, because that is also a painful topic for you, you have talked a little about it. It was decided to deliver grenades with depleted uranium. Now it is said that there is a possibility that Ukraine will also get long-range missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers.
First: In your opinion, can this change the situation on the front line? And secondly: How will we react to this?
Putin: You know that we have already talked about it, but I am forced to repeat it. Just recently, the US government was of the opinion that the use of cluster munitions is a war crime, and it also said this publicly. Now she herself delivers cluster munitions to the war zone in Ukraine.
Doronow: But they say that neither the USA nor we have signed the ban on their use.
Putin: They have publicly declared that this is a crime, and they commit these acts. In general, they don't care what you think about them, they always do everything exclusively in their own interest. They thought that since they are running out of 155 caliber ammunition and it is difficult to produce them - both in European countries and in the USA - they give what they have in the arsenals. So they have cluster munitions and it started and they gave cluster munitions. It is the same with the depleted uranium. All these are crimes that they themselves talked about, not me, they said that they are crimes. But they do it.
Nothing helps. Yes, of course it takes a toll on us. It is the same with the depleted uranium. It contaminates the area. Is that bad? It's very bad.
Doronow: By the way, Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said: "No, nothing like that will happen."
Putin: Yes, we know what that is. The areas are still contaminated.
And what happened in this context? Has this affected the situation so far? The British have been supplying these grenades for a long time. Has this changed anything on the battlefield? No. Now they want to deliver F-16. Does that change anything? No. This only prolongs the conflict.
In November, the election process begins with them, they must show results at all costs. And they urge the Ukrainians to continue fighting, no matter what they say publicly, because they don't care about the Ukrainians. Strangely enough, today's Ukrainian leadership has no pity for its own people, they just throw them in the oven, just like that, that's all.
Does that change anything? I don't think so, certainly not. Will it prolong the conflict? Yes, it will.
But that's not what worries us, they know no boundaries. I want to tell you a story.
Recently, the FSB killed several people on our territory in a military collision and captured the rest. It turned out that it was a sabotage group of the Ukrainian secret services. The interrogations are ongoing. What do they show? Their task was to damage one of our nuclear power plants, to blow up power lines, high-voltage lines, in order to finally disrupt the operation of the power plant. And this is not the first such attempt. In the interrogation, they testified that they were prepared under the guidance of British instructors. Do they even understand what they are getting into or not? Are they provoking us to some kind of retaliatory strike against Ukrainian nuclear plants, nuclear power plants?
Do the British leadership and the Prime Minister even know what their intelligence services are doing in Ukraine, or do they perhaps not know it at all? I think it is possible that the British intelligence services, for their part, act on the instructions of the Americans. We already know who is the beneficiary in the end. Do they know what they'm playing with, or not? I have the impression that they simply underestimate the situation.
Doronow: They didn't have Chernobyl.
Putin: You know, I know that according to my words, there will be another outcry: "This is another threat, a nuclear blackmail" and so on. I assure you that what I have just said is the complete, absolute, pure truth.
These bastards sit with us and make statements. I know the possible reaction: "Everything they say, they say under a gunpoint." No, that's not true, and the British intelligence services know that I'm telling the truth. But I'm not sure if the British leadership even understands what's going on.
These things are really worrying because, as they say, they do not know their limits, and this can lead to serious consequences.
Doronow: But we are aware that we will not attack the nuclear energy supply.
Putin: I told you that they might provoke us to these actions.
End of translation
Westinghouse and Energoatom agree AP300 SMR cooperation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Westinghouse and Energoatom agree AP300 SMR cooperation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Ukraine's Energoatom and the US firm Westinghouse have signed a memorandum of understanding relating to the development and deployment of AP300 small modular reactors in Ukraine.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
California gets off sidelines in federal lawsuit to stop Diablo Canyon life-extension - ExchangeMonitor
California gets off sidelines in federal lawsuit to stop Diablo Canyon life-extension - ExchangeMonitor: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.
Holtec signs PPA to restart Palisades nuclear power plant
Holtec signs PPA to restart Palisades nuclear power plant: The plant shut down for decommissioning last year.
NRC finds no serious issues with Centrus low-enriched uranium operation - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1
NRC finds no serious issues with Centrus low-enriched uranium operation - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.
White House howling over Putin-Kim Jong Un hug rings hollow - Responsible Statecraft
White House howling over Putin-Kim Jong Un hug rings hollow - Responsible Statecraft: What did Biden expect after pressuring South Korea to transfer weapons to Ukraine?
Joint UK-Japanese research on waste and decommissioning : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
Joint UK-Japanese research on waste and decommissioning : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Two research projects are to receive funding totalling GBP1 million (USD1.2 million) from UK and Japanese research councils to develop technologies to detect and process radioactive waste. The research will support work to decommission the UK's Sellafield plant and remove radioactive debris from the Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan.
Westinghouse and Energoatom agree AP300 SMR cooperation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Westinghouse and Energoatom agree AP300 SMR cooperation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Ukraine's Energoatom and the US firm Westinghouse have signed a memorandum of understanding relating to the development and deployment of AP300 small modular reactors in Ukraine.
Seaborg power barge considered for use in Indonesia : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Seaborg power barge considered for use in Indonesia : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Indonesian power company Pertamina NRE has signed a memorandum of understanding with Denmark's Seaborg to investigate the deployment of Seaborg's compact molten salt reactor Power Barge in Indonesia.
IAEA to run out of money within weeks, Grossi warns : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
IAEA to run out of money within weeks, Grossi warns : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: Member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency now owe more than EUR200 million (USD214 million), and Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has warned that unless payments are made, then in a month's time "we will run out of money ... I will not be able to pay salaries or for the lights ... we will grind to a halt".
Monday, September 11, 2023
Nuclear industry ready to help end-users cut emissions : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News
Nuclear industry ready to help end-users cut emissions : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: The nuclear industry has the solutions to assist end-users - from the shipping industry to data centres - in reducing their carbon emissions and meeting their decarbonisation goals, panellists at World Nuclear Symposium 2023 said.
Orano gives updates on uranium enrichment plans and Niger situation : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Orano gives updates on uranium enrichment plans and Niger situation : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: Orano has revealed plans to extend enrichment capacity at its Georges Besse II uranium enrichment plant, and has begun the regulatory process to produce HALEU there. Separately, the company has confirmed it is "reorganising" work at its Niger operations to mitigate logistical impacts following the recent coup.
Boston bans use of fossil fuels to power the construction of public buildings - Global Construction Review
Boston bans use of fossil fuels to power the construction of public buildings - Global Construction Review: Boston’s mayor’s office has issued an executive order forbidding the use of fossil fuels during construction and major renovation projects on city-owned buildings.
In Blow to Renewables, Ninth Circuit Mostly Upholds FERC's PURPA Reforms | Insights | Holland & Knight
In Blow to Renewables, Ninth Circuit Mostly Upholds FERC's PURPA Reforms | Insights | Holland & Knight: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Sept. 5, 2023, issued a critical ruling upholding certain reforms the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued in 2020 to its regulations implementing the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), 16 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.
Could Advanced Reactors Make Carbon Capture Systems More Viable? | Department of Energy
Could Advanced Reactors Make Carbon Capture Systems More Viable? | Department of Energy: A new U.S. Department of Energy report finds promise in pairing nuclear reactors with direct air capture system.
Biden and Modi to make progress on GE jet engines, nuclear - White House | Reuters
Biden and Modi to make progress on GE jet engines, nuclear - White House | Reuters: The White House expects to see meaningful progress on GE jet engines and civil nuclear technology in upcoming bilateral talks between U.S. President Joe Biden and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Thursday.
Net Zero Nuclear campaign launched, seeking to triple capacity by 2050 : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
Net Zero Nuclear campaign launched, seeking to triple capacity by 2050 : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: World Nuclear Association and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Atoms4NetZero and the UK government, have launched the Net Zero Nuclear initiative seeking "unprecedented collaboration between government, industry leaders and civil society" ahead of COP28.
Demand for uranium for reactors seen jumping 28% by 2030 -report | Reuters
Demand for uranium for reactors seen jumping 28% by 2030 -report | Reuters: Demand for uranium in nuclear reactors is expected to climb by 28% by 2030 and nearly double by 2040 as governments ramp up nuclear power capacity to meet zero-carbon targets, the World Nuclear Association (WNA) said in a report on Thursday.
US furthers overseas support for coal-to-SMR projects : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
US furthers overseas support for coal-to-SMR projects : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Proposals from the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia have been selected to receive US support for coal-to-small modular reactor feasibility studies under Project Phoenix. The USA is also to set up a 'one-stop shop' to support countries in Europe and Eurasia that are approaching SMR deployment decisions.
Wind Energy Will Never Be Affordable | RealClearPolicy
Wind Energy Will Never Be Affordable | RealClearPolicy: There is a financial crisis in the wind industry. You can see it in headlines like Support for offshore wind sinks as costs soar, and The ill wind of offshore wind projects. At the Telegraph, Matt …
Sunday, September 10, 2023
UK Government Invests £650 million in Fusion Projects | Neutron Bytes
UK Government Invests £650 million in Fusion Projects | Neutron Bytes: UK Government Invests £650 million in Fusion Projects Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kyoto Fusioneering Form Strategic Alliance Germany Allocates $1 billion Investment in Fusion Intel and Dell P…
Centrus to Begin HALEU Production in October | Neutron Bytes
Centrus to Begin HALEU Production in October | Neutron Bytes: Centrus to Begin HALEU Production in October WNA Nuclear Fuel Report – Nuclear Revival is Driving Demand Cameco Expects Uranium Production Shortfalls Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Takes …
23aug-Sukhankin-Lackenbauer-AC-Russia-upload.pdf
23aug-Sukhankin-Lackenbauer-AC-Russia-upload.pdf
Economic and UtilitiesNationalNews
PH gov’t set to sign ‘123 nuke deal’ with US
BY Myrna M. Velasco
Sep 10, 2023 00:21 AM
At a glance
The '123 Agreement' with the US government is a highly essential covenant that will allow Filipino companies to have access to the small modular reactors (SMRs) and other nuclear technologies of the US companies that are being eyed for installations as part of the energy future of the Philippines.
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