Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, November 11, 2023
Small modular reactor project cancellation draws local responses | Energy Central
Small modular reactor project cancellation draws local responses | Energy Central: The Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and NuScale Power Corporation announced Wednesday that they would not move forward with a plan to build six 77-megawatt nuclear power modules at Idaho National Laboratory. The Carbon Free-Power Project would have been “the nation’s first-generation small modular reactor nuclear plant,” according to UAMPS. The move is a significant
NuScale Calls It Quits in Idaho | Energy Central
NuScale Calls It Quits in Idaho | Energy Central: Nuscale Calls it Quits in Idaho
Deal to build pint-size nuclear reactors canceled | Science | AAAS
Deal to build pint-size nuclear reactors canceled | Science | AAAS: NuScale Power’s small modular reactors promised cheaper nuclear power, but costs soared and utilities balked
Nuclear Fuel Market: China's Sphere of Influence Expands to Uzbekistan | Energy Intelligence
Nuclear Fuel Market: China's Sphere of Influence Expands to Uzbekistan | Energy Intelligence: As the US prepares to authorize a domestic fuel bank, Chinese demand is making further inroads in Kazakhstan expanding its reach to Uzbekistan.
Friday, November 10, 2023
Controlled burns in California could reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire by 60 percent | The Hill
Controlled burns in California could reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire by 60 percent | The Hill: Deploying low-intensity burns could reduce the initial risk of catastrophic wildfire by more than 60 percent, while helping protect the area for at least six years, a new study has found. To be effective, wildland fuel treatments need to occur in an ongoing, period manner, as opposed to a one-time intervention, according to the study, published Friday…
Hopes of US Nuclear Renaissance Sink With NuScale - Bloomberg
Hopes of US Nuclear Renaissance Sink With NuScale - Bloomberg: The company, a bellwether for the move toward small modular reactors, has foundered on the most familiar of obstacles: time and money. But renewables didn’t do it any favors.
Nuclear reactor deal collapse challenges Portland company’s clean energy plan - OPB
Nuclear reactor deal collapse challenges Portland company’s clean energy plan - OPB: A Portland company announced Wednesday it was canceling a partnership that would have delivered the first small modular nuclear reactors in the country, potentially changing the renewable energy landscape and revitalizing the nuclear power industry in the United States.
Is advanced nuclear in trouble? What’s next after NuScale cancellation. - E&E News by POLITICO
Is advanced nuclear in trouble? What’s next after NuScale cancellation. - E&E News by POLITICO: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says projects are still moving forward, but concerns are rising about a ripple effect.
Hungary says Romania to continue to allow nuclear fuel transport : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Hungary says Romania to continue to allow nuclear fuel transport : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said after talks in Romania that the country will continue to allow the transport of Russian nuclear fuel to Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant.
Study to consider SMR deployment at Halden : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Study to consider SMR deployment at Halden : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: A new company, Halden Kjernekraft AS, has been founded by Norsk Kjernekraft, Østfold Energi and the municipality of Halden to investigate the construction of a nuclear power plant based on small modular reactors at Halden. A research reactor once operated in Halden, in Norway.
SMR project in Romania under scrutiny after NuScale drops similar one in US | Romania Insider
SMR project in Romania under scrutiny after NuScale drops similar one in US | Romania Insider: The small nuclear reactor (SMR) technology and the SMR project in Romania came under scrutiny after NuScale dropped one of his projects in the US because of the excessive costs that increased by 53% and made it economically inefficient. The price at which NuScale intended to sell power produced...
HII, Babcock to help build Australia's AUKUS nuclear submarine enterprise - Breaking Defense
HII, Babcock to help build Australia's AUKUS nuclear submarine enterprise - Breaking Defense: Babcock Australasia's Sir Nick Hines said the companies envision an "AUKUS passport" to more easily track skills of the workforce for the subs, allowing the countries to trade workers and fill gaps quickly.
Consortium to speed up development of lead-cooled SMRs : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Consortium to speed up development of lead-cooled SMRs : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Five partners from Belgium, Italy, Romania and the USA have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development, demonstration and commercialisation of lead-cooled small modular reactors.
Disputes over safety, cost swirl a year after California OK'd plan to keep last nuke plant running | AP News
Disputes over safety, cost swirl a year after California OK'd plan to keep last nuke plant running | AP News: More than a year after California endorsed a proposal to extend the lifespan of its last nuclear power plant, disputes continue to swirl about potential safety risks and future costs tied to the decades-old reactors.
NuScale cancels first-of-a-kind nuclear project as costs surge - E&E News by POLITICO
NuScale cancels first-of-a-kind nuclear project as costs surge - E&E News by POLITICO: The Oregon-based company and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems terminated an agreement for six small modular reactors.
Failed U.S. Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development
Failed U.S. Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development: The abrupt failure of the leading small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) project in the United States is shining a light on public subsidies that might keep similar technology under development in Canada, even if it’s prone to the same cost overruns that scuttled NuScale Power Corporation’s Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) in Utah.
US nuclear power suffers new setback as Idaho reactor partnership ends
US nuclear power suffers new setback as Idaho reactor partnership ends: It's "unlikely that the project will have enough subscription to continue toward deployment."
NuScale shares plunge as it cancels flagship small nuclear reactor project
NuScale shares plunge as it cancels flagship small nuclear reactor project: It's a big setback for the nuclear industry's dream of small modular reactors. But NuScale insists it learned a lot over the last 10 years it spent developing the Carbon Free Power Project.
Hopes of US Nuclear Renaissance Sink With NuScale - Bloomberg
Hopes of US Nuclear Renaissance Sink With NuScale - Bloomberg: The company, a bellwether for the move toward small modular reactors, has foundered on the most familiar of obstacles: time and money. But renewables didn’t do it any favors.
Japan, South Korea to build supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia - Nikkei Asia
Japan, South Korea to build supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia - Nikkei Asia: TOKYO -- Japan and South Korea will build a supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia together, the neighbors' latest move to expand their base of coopera
How China's BYD went from bargain battery maker to Tesla's biggest rival - Nikkei Asia
How China's BYD went from bargain battery maker to Tesla's biggest rival - Nikkei Asia: TOKYO/HONG KONG -- It was just before 11 a.m. on Oct. 25, at the start of the Japan Mobility Show, the country's premier auto extravaganza held in Tok
What the War in Gaza Means for Saudi Arabia | Foreign Affairs
What the War in Gaza Means for Saudi Arabia | Foreign Affairs: Israeli-Saudi normalization is on hold—but not off the table.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
This Bold Plan to Kick the World’s Coal Habit Might Actually Work | WIRED
This Bold Plan to Kick the World’s Coal Habit Might Actually Work | WIRED: Novel climate-financing deals are promising to shut off dirty energy plants in developing countries and retrain their staff to work in the green economy.
Court upholds Biden’s approval of Willow oil project | The Hill
Court upholds Biden’s approval of Willow oil project | The Hill: A federal court Thursday upheld the Biden administration’s approval of a massive oil drilling project in Alaska, over objections from environmentalists. Judge Sharon Gleason, an Obama appointee, upheld the approval, finding that the Biden administration took adequate steps to assess the project’s impacts in areas challenged by the plaintiffs. Under the Willow Project, which the…
NuScale cancels first-of-a-kind nuclear project as costs surge - E&E News by POLITICO
NuScale cancels first-of-a-kind nuclear project as costs surge - E&E News by POLITICO: The Oregon-based company and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems terminated an agreement for six small modular reactors.
Small Nuclear Reactor Contract Fails, Signaling Larger Issues with Nuclear Energy Development in U.S. | Union of Concerned Scientists
Small Nuclear Reactor Contract Fails, Signaling Larger Issues with Nuclear Energy Development in U.S. | Union of Concerned Scientists: The termination of NuScale's contract signals the broader challenges of developing nuclear energy in the United States.
AI is about to completely change how you use computers | Bill Gates
AI is about to completely change how you use computers | Bill Gates: In 5 years, agents will be able to give health care advice, tutor students, do your shopping, help workers be far more productive, and much more
US and Japan partner on sodium-cooled fast reactor tech - Power Engineering International
US and Japan partner on sodium-cooled fast reactor tech - Power Engineering International: Japan Atomic Energy Agency and TerraPower have expanded their collaboration to develop sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) technologies.
Centrus Makes First HALEU Delivery to U.S. Department of Energy
Centrus Makes First HALEU Delivery to U.S. Department of Energy: /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Centrus Energy Corp. announced that it has made its first delivery of High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) to the U.S. Department of...
A Milestone for Clean Energy and the NRC | The Breakthrough Institute
A Milestone for Clean Energy and the NRC | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
A Nuclear Renaissance Is the Best Path Forward | RealClearEnergy
A Nuclear Renaissance Is the Best Path Forward | RealClearEnergy: For decades, the fruits of the fracking revolution, plus our newly minted status as the world’s top net exporter of natural gas, demonstrated that American consumers were swimming in b
PG&E files application to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operating until 2045
PG&E files application to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operating until 2045: Tuesday, PG&E submitted an application to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant running 20 years after its scheduled closure date, meaning the plant could operate until 2045.
Engineer Pleads Not Guilty to Bombing PG&E Transformers (1)
Engineer Pleads Not Guilty to Bombing PG&E Transformers (1): A San Jose man was arraigned on a federal indictment accusing him of destroying two PG&E Corp. energy facilities in California last winter.
San Jose man accused of damaging PG&E transformers with explosives appears in court – NBC Bay Area
San Jose man accused of damaging PG&E transformers with explosives appears in court – NBC Bay Area: A San Jose engineer was arraigned Tuesday on an indictment for allegedly destroying energy facilities in the city with fire or explosives, federal prosecutors...
Engineer Pleads Not Guilty to Bombing PG&E Transformers in California - BNN Bloomberg
Engineer Pleads Not Guilty to Bombing PG&E Transformers in California - BNN Bloomberg: A San Jose man was arraigned on a federal indictment accusing him of destroying two PG&E Corp. energy facilities in California last winter.
Israel agrees to four-hour pauses in Gaza military operations | The Hill
Israel agrees to four-hour pauses in Gaza military operations | The Hill: The White House said on Thursday that Israel has agreed to pause military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip for at least four hours at different times to allow for the evacuation of civilians from the conflict zone. “We understand that Israel will begin to implement four hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza…
Consortium to speed up development of lead-cooled SMRs : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Consortium to speed up development of lead-cooled SMRs : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Five partners from Belgium, Italy, Romania and the USA have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development, demonstration and commercialisation of lead-cooled small modular reactors.
Idaho SMR project terminated : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Idaho SMR project terminated : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and NuScale Power Corporation have mutually agreed to terminate the Carbon Free Power Project. The project to build NuScale small modular reactor units at a site near Idaho Falls had been pencilled in for operation by 2029.
Palestinian minister urges IAEA chief to take measures to neutralize Israel's nuclear threat to Gaza
Palestinian minister urges IAEA chief to take measures to neutralize Israel's nuclear threat to Gaza: Palestinian minister urges IAEA chief to take measures to neutralize Israel's nuclear threat to Gaza
Riyad al-Maliki calls for international condemnation of Israeli minister’s remarks that there is possibility of using nuclear bomb against Gaza
UN nuclear chief says nuclear energy must be part of the equation to tackle climate change
UN nuclear chief says nuclear energy must be part of the equation to tackle climate change: Nuclear energy must be part of the equation to tackle climate change, the U.N. nuclear chief said Wednesday. Climate-warming hydrocarbons still supply more than 80% of the world’s energy, even after the trillions of dollars spent in the green transition of the past 20 years, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency told the U.N. General Assembly. Over a quarter of the electricity from nuclear power is low-carbon electricity and global carbon dioxide emissions would be considerably higher without nuclear power, Grossi said.
Illinois Senate approves plan to allow new nuclear reactors | AP News
Illinois Senate approves plan to allow new nuclear reactors | AP News: The Illinois Senate has approved lifting a 36-year-old moratorium on new nuclear power installments.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Hamas-Israel War Threatens Major Regional Energy Projects | OilPrice.com
Hamas-Israel War Threatens Major Regional Energy Projects | OilPrice.com: Experts are warning that there could be "a severe degradation of the investment climate" as well as serious energy flow disruptions if war breaks out along Israel's northern border with Lebanon and Iran becomes involved
Normalization with Israel 'still on the table': Saudi minister
Normalization with Israel 'still on the table': Saudi minister: The Saudi minister rejected the possibility of using oil as leverage to force a ceasefire in Gaza
Last nuclear power plant in California may run for another 20 years. Here’s what changed
Last nuclear power plant in California may run for another 20 years. Here’s what changed: The power plant currently produces about 9% of California’s electricity supply.
In Line with State’s Direction, PG&E Requests Federal Extension of Diablo Canyon Power Plant Operations - PGE Currents
In Line with State’s Direction, PG&E Requests Federal Extension of Diablo Canyon Power Plant Operations - PGE Currents: AVILA BEACH — In line with state law and the Governor’s direction to ensure electrical reliability across California, PG&E
The Race for Electric Vehicles Drives New Geopolitical Rivalries - Bloomberg
The Race for Electric Vehicles Drives New Geopolitical Rivalries - Bloomberg: Welcome to Balance of Power, bringing you the latest in global politics. If you haven’t yet, sign up here.
Mitsubishi Electric in line to be key supplier for U.S. Navy radar - Nikkei Asia
Mitsubishi Electric in line to be key supplier for U.S. Navy radar - Nikkei Asia: WASHINGTON/TOKYO -- U.S. defense contractor RTX is finalizing a deal to procure a major component from Japan's Mitsubishi Electric for an advanced mis
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Should… | The Breakthrough Institute
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Should… | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
Advocates fear NH clean energy proposal would pit nuclear against solar, wind – New Hampshire Bulletin
Advocates fear NH clean energy proposal would pit nuclear against solar, wind – New Hampshire Bulletin: Climate and clean energy advocates in New Hampshire say a pending proposal to define nuclear power as clean energy could undercut solar and wind power in the state.
In Line with State's Direction, PG&E Requests Federal Extension of Diablo Canyon Power Plant Operations
In Line with State's Direction, PG&E Requests Federal Extension of Diablo Canyon Power Plant Operations: /PRNewswire/ -- In line with state law and the Governor's direction to ensure electrical reliability across California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)...
How America’s grid modernization stakes echo Eisenhower’s interstate revolution | Utility Dive
How America’s grid modernization stakes echo Eisenhower’s interstate revolution | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.
Offshore wind projects face economic storm. Cancellations jeopardize Biden clean energy goals | The Hill
Offshore wind projects face economic storm. Cancellations jeopardize Biden clean energy goals | The Hill: WASHINGTON (AP) — The cancellation of two large offshore wind projects in New Jersey is the latest in a series of setbacks for the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry, jeopardizing the Biden administration’s goals of powering 10 million homes from towering ocean-based turbines by 2030 and establishing a carbon-free electric grid five years later. The…
Texas voters to decide whether to put billions toward gas power plants | The Hill
Texas voters to decide whether to put billions toward gas power plants | The Hill: This Election Day, Texas voters will decide whether or not to open up billions of dollars to support natural gas power plants. Proponents of the measure tout it as a way to improve the state’s electric grid — which infamously failed in a massive winter storm in February 2021, leading to the deaths of 246 people, or more than 750 according to one investigation. “After Winter…
European Commission to create SMR Industrial Alliance : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
European Commission to create SMR Industrial Alliance : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: In response to calls from the nuclear industry, research community and nuclear safety regulators, the European Commission will establish an Industrial Alliance dedicated to small modular reactors in early 2024, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has announced.
Oil & gas industry slams nuclear waste site proposed in Permian Basin
Oil & gas industry slams nuclear waste site proposed in Permian Basin: Holtec International proposed to build a facility to temporarily store spent nuclear fuel rods in southeast New Mexico, amid an active oilfield.
Russia test-fires nuclear-capable missile, Kremlin says
Russia test-fires nuclear-capable missile, Kremlin says: The Pentagon said the launch isn't a threat and the Kremlin gave the U.S. advance notice.
Monday, November 6, 2023
Containment shell in place for Chinese SMR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Containment shell in place for Chinese SMR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The steel containment dome was successfully hoisted into place at the ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project at the Changjiang site on China's island province of Hainan, China National Nuclear Corporation has announced.
Innovation in Wildfire Mitigation: PG&E Deploys Its First 100% Renewable Remote Grid
Innovation in Wildfire Mitigation: PG&E Deploys Its First 100% Renewable Remote Grid: /PRNewswire/ -- Today, leaders from Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pepperwood Foundation, BoxPower Inc., Sonoma Clean Power, Franklin Energy, and the...
Visiting the world’s largest fusion reactor - Asia Times
Visiting the world’s largest fusion reactor - Asia Times: This is the second installment in Asia Times Science Editor Jonathan Tennenbaum’s series “Fusion Diary.” For an introduction to the series, readers are
James Hansen is back with another dire climate warning - E&E News by POLITICO
James Hansen is back with another dire climate warning - E&E News by POLITICO: In a new paper, the influential climate scientist argues the Earth may be more sensitive to greenhouse gases than previously thought. Others are less sure.
Intermountain West Nuclear Energy Corridor Approved by U.S. Department of Commerce
Intermountain West Nuclear Energy Corridor Approved by U.S. Department of Commerce: U of I’s College of Engineering and a consortium of Idaho leaders in advanced nuclear energy innovation were recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
New partnership looks to nuclear for low-cost hydrogen generation
New partnership looks to nuclear for low-cost hydrogen generation: Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell tech, alongside electricity and heat from an SMR nuclear power plant, will be explored to produce hydrogen.
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