Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Friday, May 3, 2024

US senator urges Biden to include safeguards in any nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabia | Reuters

US senator urges Biden to include safeguards in any nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabia | Reuters

U.S. officials wary of Chinese plans for floating nuclear plants - The Washington Post

U.S. officials wary of Chinese plans for floating nuclear plants - The Washington Post

New US sanctions against Russia target weapons development, ban uranium imports for nuclear power | AP News

New US sanctions against Russia target weapons development, ban uranium imports for nuclear power | AP News

Proving DRACO will deliver -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Proving DRACO will deliver -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Watch Diablo Canyon: California's Last Nuclear Power Plant | Earth Focus Season 5 | PBS SoCal

Watch Diablo Canyon: California's Last Nuclear Power Plant | Earth Focus Season 5 | PBS SoCal

The AP offers an outsider's view of the Catholic Church

The AP offers an outsider's view of the Catholic Church

PG&E Investors’ Wildfire Case Halt Must Be Reconsidered

PG&E Investors’ Wildfire Case Halt Must Be Reconsidered

PSEG to explore selling nuclear power to data centers

PSEG to explore selling nuclear power to data centers

The murky process of reopening Palisades and why it’s a turning point for nuclear | Great Lakes Now

The murky process of reopening Palisades and why it’s a turning point for nuclear | Great Lakes Now

Russia 'Launching Kamikaze Drones' over Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant: Video

Russia 'Launching Kamikaze Drones' over Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant: Video

Thursday, May 2, 2024

How Did the CPUC Decide to Deny CGNP Intervenor Compensation?

How Did the CPUC Decide to Deny CGNP Intervenor Compensation?

Diablo Canyon / US Court Rejects Climate Groups’ Challenge To Nuclear Station Extension

Diablo Canyon / US Court Rejects Climate Groups’ Challenge To Nuclear Station Extension

China, Russia space ‘militarisation’ could include nuclear weapon: US official | South China Morning Post

China, Russia space ‘militarisation’ could include nuclear weapon: US official | South China Morning Post

Stop It: VDH's Interview with Author Jeremy Carl - Victor Davis Hanson

Stop It: VDH's Interview with Author Jeremy Carl - Victor Davis Hanson

Feds, state agree on deadlines for treating Hanford’s tank waste -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Feds, state agree on deadlines for treating Hanford’s tank waste -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Nuclear rocket with 100,000 N thrust could offer fastest Mars trips

Nuclear rocket with 100,000 N thrust could offer fastest Mars trips

Is nuclear power more risky than renewables? - Power Engineering International

Is nuclear power more risky than renewables? - Power Engineering International

“A New Documentary Exposes the COVID 19 Response” - A Midwestern Doctor

“A New Documentary Exposes the COVID 19 Response” - A Midwestern Doctor

Coal to Nuclear Repowering_interactive.pdf

Coal to Nuclear Repowering_interactive.pdf

Why the Military Can’t Trust AI | Foreign Affairs

Why the Military Can’t Trust AI | Foreign Affairs

New US sanctions against Russia target weapons development, ban uranium imports for nuclear power | AP News

New US sanctions against Russia target weapons development, ban uranium imports for nuclear power | AP News

China declines to meet with US on nuclear arms control, US official says | Semafor

China declines to meet with US on nuclear arms control, US official says | Semafor

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

The Fight Over THAAD in Korea - CounterPunch.org

The Fight Over THAAD in Korea - CounterPunch.org

The Impotence of Antony Blinken, by Patrick Lawrence - The Unz Review

The Impotence of Antony Blinken, by Patrick Lawrence - The Unz Review

Five Things the “Nuclear Bros” Don’t Want You to Know About Small Modular Reactors - Union of Concerned Scientists

Five Things the “Nuclear Bros” Don’t Want You to Know About Small Modular Reactors - Union of Concerned Scientists

Why Faith Matters - The Catholic Thing

Why Faith Matters - The Catholic Thing

PG&E Set to Sell Power Assets to Global Investor KKR

PG&E Set to Sell Power Assets to Global Investor KKR

PG&E seeks KKR deal to help fund California wildfire prevention

PG&E seeks KKR deal to help fund California wildfire prevention

PG&E in talks with KKR to sell interest in Pacific Generation | Reuters

PG&E in talks with KKR to sell interest in Pacific Generation | Reuters

PG&E Seeks Approval to Sell Stake in Its Power Operations - The New York Times

PG&E Seeks Approval to Sell Stake in Its Power Operations - The New York Times

PG&E nears deal with KKR for stake in power business spinoff - WSJ (NYSE:PCG) | Seeking Alpha

PG&E nears deal with KKR for stake in power business spinoff - WSJ (NYSE:PCG) | Seeking Alpha

Artificial intelligence can help manage the grid but creates risks if deployed ‘naïvely,’ DOE warns | Utility Dive

Artificial intelligence can help manage the grid but creates risks if deployed ‘naïvely,’ DOE warns | Utility Dive

New agreements look to nuclear technology to decarbonise industrial operations : Corporate - World Nuclear News

New agreements look to nuclear technology to decarbonise industrial operations : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Brendan Bechtel on Rebuilding America’s Leadership in Nuclear Power | Bechtel

Brendan Bechtel on Rebuilding America’s Leadership in Nuclear Power | Bechtel

Nuclear Power Back in Global Spotlight as IAEA Joins 26th World Energy Congress | IAEA

Nuclear Power Back in Global Spotlight as IAEA Joins 26th World Energy Congress | IAEA

G-7 Nations Pledge to Reduce Reliance on Russia in Nuclear Push - Bloomberg

G-7 Nations Pledge to Reduce Reliance on Russia in Nuclear Push - Bloomberg

After Vogtle, what’s next for nuclear? - E&E News by POLITICO

After Vogtle, what’s next for nuclear? - E&E News by POLITICO

Reliable energy is a national security issue - Washington Times

Reliable energy is a national security issue - Washington Times

Opinion: Russia's nuclear giant is falling through the sanctions cracks

Opinion: Russia's nuclear giant is falling through the sanctions cracks

An Indigenous future for nuclear power in California? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

An Indigenous future for nuclear power in California? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Taxing big fossil fuel firms ‘could raise $900bn in climate finance by 2030’ | Climate crisis | The Guardian

Taxing big fossil fuel firms ‘could raise $900bn in climate finance by 2030’ | Climate crisis | The Guardian

G7 agrees to end coal use by 2035 – with a catch | CNN

G7 agrees to end coal use by 2035 – with a catch | CNN

3 energy questions hang over EPA’s carbon rule - E&E News by POLITICO

3 energy questions hang over EPA’s carbon rule - E&E News by POLITICO

The G7 set a 2035 target date for coal plant shutdowns | Semafor

The G7 set a 2035 target date for coal plant shutdowns | Semafor

US Senate passes act banning Russian uranium imports : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News

US Senate passes act banning Russian uranium imports : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News

"The Four Key Reasons Why The U.S. Will Never Stop Targeting Russia’s LNG Sector" | naked capitalism

"The Four Key Reasons Why The U.S. Will Never Stop Targeting Russia’s LNG Sector" | naked capitalism

Michael and Me - The Breakthrough Journal

Michael and Me - The Breakthrough Journal

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Unfinished business: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) for post-1971 U.S. uranium underground miners - PubMed

Unfinished business: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) for post-1971 U.S. uranium underground miners - PubMed

To find a place to store spent nuclear fuel, Congress needs to stop trying to revive Yucca Mountain - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

To find a place to store spent nuclear fuel, Congress needs to stop trying to revive Yucca Mountain - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Atomic Nucleus Excited with Laser: A Breakthrough after Decades | TU Wien

Atomic Nucleus Excited with Laser: A Breakthrough after Decades | TU Wien

The Surprising Variety in Where Americans Get Power

The Surprising Variety in Where Americans Get Power

How Israel violates International Law in Gaza: expert report – Mondoweiss

How Israel violates International Law in Gaza: expert report – Mondoweiss

Updated Mining Footprints and Raw… | The Breakthrough Institute

Updated Mining Footprints and Raw… | The Breakthrough Institute

Closed US Nuclear Reactors Could be Revived to Fight Climate Change - Bloomberg

Closed US Nuclear Reactors Could be Revived to Fight Climate Change - Bloomberg

Wyoming as a hub for new nuclear manufacturing and microreactor deployment? -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Wyoming as a hub for new nuclear manufacturing and microreactor deployment? -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Nuclear Is A Renewable Energy - by John Droz jr.

Nuclear Is A Renewable Energy - by John Droz jr.

[SocialMedia] 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals Upholds NRC Decision for Diablo Canyon -

[SocialMedia] 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals Upholds NRC Decision for Diablo Canyon - micheletkearney@gmail.com - Gmail 7:54 AM (2 hours ago) to Social Here's good news dated April 29, 2024. The 9th Circuit Upholds NRC's Timely Renewal Exemption For Diablo Canyon Plant in Case 23-00852. A Petition was docketed on May 4, 2023 by three groups ideologically opposed to nuclear power. Their Petition was denied on April 29, 2024. From the final two pages of the 36-page Decision text: (3) NRC incorrectly characterized the exemption as a procedural as opposed to a license extension that will expose the public to unevaluated accident risks. Petitioners insist that NRC must complete an environmental impact statement to renew or amend the license. We conclude that NRC’s issuance of the NEPA categorical exclusion is supported by the record. Despite Petitioners’ arguments to the contrary, there is nothing in the language of the categorical exclusion that limits its use to certain types of exemptions. See 10 C.F.R. § 51.22(c)(25). Additionally, NRC historically has approved timely renewal exemption requests using the very same NEPA categorical exclusion. As previously discussed, the Exemption Decision was not a license proceeding, and therefore a full environmental impact statement was not required. Again, Petitioners do not present any arguments of specific safety concerns with Diablo Canyon but only reference NRC’s general prior acknowledgement that operation after 40 years may present unique age-degradation concerns. Therefore, NRC did not act arbitrarily or capriciously in invoking the NEPA categorical exclusion when issuing the Exemption Decision. V. This is a singular case. In circumstances like these where NRC’s decision has the almost guaranteed practical effect of extending the operating timeframe of a license beyond its original expiration date, such a decision is directly reviewable in our court under our broad and liberal reading of the Hobbs Act. Additionally, we hold that at least two of the Petitioners have standing. We deny the petition, finding NRC’s grant of the Exemption and issuance of the NEPA categorical exclusion complied with the APA. NRC was not required to provide a hearing or meet other procedural requirements before issuing the Exemption Decision because the Exemption was not a licensing proceeding. NRC adequately explained why California’s changing energy needs constitute a special circumstance, and why the record supported its findings of no undue risk to the public health and safety. Despite Petitioners’ arguments to the contrary, there are no limitations on the types of exemptions that may be encompassed by a NEPA categorical exclusion, and NRC did not act arbitrarily and capriciously in its determination that this Exemption met the eligibility criteria in its categorical exclusion regulation. The petition is DENIED. ________________ This is good news regarding the continued safe operation of Diablo Canyon Power Plant beyond 2025. Please contact CGNP for a no-cost copy of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision. (Or use your PACER account to directly obtain a copy.) Gene Nelson, Ph.D. CGNP Senior Legal Researcher and President Californians for Green Nuclear Power, Inc. (CGNP) 1375 East Grand Ave Ste 103 #523 Arroyo Grande, CA 93420-2421 (805) 363 - 4697 cell Government@CGNP.org email https://CGNP.org website https://greennuke.substack.com Substack

Once Unthinkable Nuclear Plant Revival Is a Reality in US Shift

Once Unthinkable Nuclear Plant Revival Is a Reality in US Shift

Monday, April 29, 2024

Expanding advanced nuclear raises national security risks: IISTP report | Utility Dive

Expanding advanced nuclear raises national security risks: IISTP report | Utility Dive

Environmental groups consider rehearing in Diablo Canyon lawsuit

Environmental groups consider rehearing in Diablo Canyon lawsuit

Opinion | Someday soon China might dominate the hydrogen supply chain too | South China Morning Post

Opinion | Someday soon China might dominate the hydrogen supply chain too | South China Morning Post

Top German Greens officials accused of deception in nuclear phase-out advice

Top German Greens officials accused of deception in nuclear phase-out advice

The Aging Problem of Nuclear Power Highlighted by California's Diablo Canyon Plant | Globe Echo

The Aging Problem of Nuclear Power Highlighted by California's Diablo Canyon Plant | Globe Echo

California’s Diablo Canyon Plant Shows Nuclear Power’s Aging Problem

California’s Diablo Canyon Plant Shows Nuclear Power’s Aging Problem

General Atlantic and CVC halt south-east Asia deals as Gaza war boycotts intensify

General Atlantic and CVC halt south-east Asia deals as Gaza war boycotts intensify

Rapid expansion of batteries will be crucial to meet climate and energy security goals set at COP28 - News - IEA

Rapid expansion of batteries will be crucial to meet climate and energy security goals set at COP28 - News - IEA

US and Russia are vying to build Ghana’s nuclear energy plant | Semafor

US and Russia are vying to build Ghana’s nuclear energy plant | Semafor

Texas Grid Operator ERCOT Warns of Possible Emergency Next Week Due to Deficient Reserves | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila

Texas Grid Operator ERCOT Warns of Possible Emergency Next Week Due to Deficient Reserves | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila

Geoengineering Watch Global Alert News, April 27, 2024, #455 » Geoengineering Watch Global Alert News, April 27, 2024, #455 | Geoengineering Watch

Geoengineering Watch Global Alert News, April 27, 2024, #455 » Geoengineering Watch Global Alert News, April 27, 2024, #455 | Geoengineering Watch

Disaster experts explain how to protect yourself after a nuclear blast. : The Premier Daily

Disaster experts explain how to protect yourself after a nuclear blast. : The Premier Daily

Sodium Batteries From Michigan Challenge Lithium’s Grip on Energy Transition - Bloomberg

Sodium Batteries From Michigan Challenge Lithium’s Grip on Energy Transition - Bloomberg

Closed US Nuclear Reactors Could be Revived to Fight Climate Change - Bloomberg

Closed US Nuclear Reactors Could be Revived to Fight Climate Change - Bloomberg

Chilling map shows which 75% of US population would be 'killed' in nuclear war - Irish Star

Chilling map shows which 75% of US population would be 'killed' in nuclear war - Irish Star