To meet N.J. energy needs, look to nuclear

New Jersey should continue to focus on nuclear energy
Keeping New Jersey's nuclear plants running would help the state increase its clean-energy production and bring economic benefits, writes Scott Peterson, the Nuclear Energy Institute's vice president of communications. State officials should not hesitate to approve the license renewals of its nuclear plants, he writes. The state's four nuclear power plants produce 55% of its electricity. Courier-Post (Camden-Cherry Hill, N.J.)

Egypt plans to build first nuclear plant by 2019

Egypt plans to have first nuclear plant operational by 2019, and build 3 more by 2025 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Egypt-plans-to-build-first-apf-1424993263.html

Oyster Creek

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/nyregion/09nuke.html

Asbury Park Press

http://www.app.com/article/20101208/NEWS/12080378/Oyster-Creek-to-close-10-years-early-in-2019

Exelon Press release now with a public URL

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101208007016/en/Exelon-Retire-Oyster-Creek-Generating-Station-2019

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PSE And G's Linden Solar Farm Turns A Brownfield Green

PSE and G is developing the four ground-mounted solar farms on PSE and G-owned properties in Linden, Yardville (4.4 megawatts), Edison (2 megawatts) and Trenton (1.3 megawatts). Each will be among New Jersey's largest solar farms. The sites will utilize crystalline solar panel technology and have monitoring and communications functionality.

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/PSE_And_G_Linden_Solar_Farm_Turns_A_Brownfield_Green_999.html Linden NJ (SPX) Dec 02, 2010 Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE and G) is marking construction of its Linden Solar Farm on the doorstep of PSEG's Linden Generating Station. The 3.2-megawatt facility is one of four ground-mounted solar farms that PSE and G is developing as part of its $515 million Solar 4 All program. It is one of three solar farms being built on former brownfields that have been returned to a useful role. The Linden farm is one of more than 20 solar projects that PSE and G is developing through its Solar 4 All program, with a total investment of more than $140 million that will create almost 300 jobs and provide New Jersey with 30 megawatts of solar-generated power.
"The Linden Solar Farm shows how the benefits of solar power extend far beyond just producing clean, carbon-free electricity," said Al Matos, PSE and G's vice president of renewables and energy solutions.
"This project exemplifies PSE and G's environmental commitment and its leadership position in renewable energy. We are giving new life to a once-contaminated site."
"With our solar arrays here in Linden, as well as those in Edison and Trenton, we are helping to turn brownfields green - and give these long-dormant sites a new purpose," Matos continued.
"By the end of this year, these three solar farms will be providing enough electricity to power about 1,000 average-sized homes, while creating jobs and helping New Jersey to become a major player in the renewable energy sector."
The Linden Solar Farm will comprise 11,484 solar panels covering a little more than 10 acres of PSE and G property and will be connected directly to the electric grid for the benefit of all PSE and G electric customers. The solar farm will produce enough electricity to power about 525 average-sized homes.
PSE and G is developing the four ground-mounted solar farms on PSE and G-owned properties in Linden, Yardville (4.4 megawatts), Edison (2 megawatts) and Trenton (1.3 megawatts). Each will be among New Jersey's largest solar farms. The sites will utilize crystalline solar panel technology and have monitoring and communications functionality.
In addition, PSE and G is building a 1-megawatt solar system on the roof of its Central Electric headquarters in Somerset, N.J., and a 700-kilowatt solar system at its Edison Training and Development Center facility in Edison, N.J. There also are four solar systems built on the grounds of five Newark Public Schools as part of the Solar 4 All program.
The 20-plus projects under development will produce enough energy to power about 4,900 homes and eliminate 23,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions - the equivalent of removing nearly 2,800 cars from the road for one year.
PSE and G is using leading solar energy companies to help deploy solar farms across the state to help drive New Jersey's economic growth in this sector. Advanced Solar Products, a premier developer of solar energy projects, is responsible for the deployment of the Linden project.
State regulators approved PSE and G's Solar 4 All program in July 2009. The program involves a $515 million investment in 80 megawatts of solar power, creating green jobs and vastly increasing the amount of renewable energy capacity in the state of New Jersey
The program's first segment consists of installing up to 40 megawatts of pole-attached smart solar units in neighborhoods on utility poles in PSE and G's service territory, which includes the state's six largest cities and roughly 300 rural and suburban communities. This is the largest pole-attached solar installation in the world, with the smart solar units connected directly into PSE and G's electric distribution system.
The second segment of the Solar 4 All program focuses on 40 megawatts of centralized solar facilities, such as the Linden Solar Farm and other solar sites on PSE and G owned or leased properties.
The financial benefits that Solar 4 All produces - federal tax investment credits, sale of the energy and capacity, as well as monetizing the solar environmental credits (SRECs) - are returned to PSE and G electric ratepayers to reduce the overall cost of the program.

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PSEG Nuclear One Step Closer to Renewing Licenses for South Jersey Nuclear Plants Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues draft Environmental Impact Statements, public hearings scheduled for next month

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) yesterday said it has issued draft Environmental Impact Statements for the license renewal of the Hope Creek and Salem I and II nuclear units. It also said the option of a 20-license renewal should be left open to energy-planning decision-makers. New Jersey relies on nuclear to a much larger extent than other states, so the renewal decision could greatly affect the reliability of the grid.

In reviewing the renewal applications, the NRC staff found most of the environmental impacts are either small or moderate, according to Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the federal agency.
“At this point, they have not found any show-stoppers,” Sheehan said. The agency plans to hold public hearings on November 17 at the Salem County Emergency Services Building in Woodstown at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/10/1025/2123/

Salem County nuclear plant gets approval to produce isotope for medical use

PSEG Nuclear gets OK to produce Cobalt-60 radioisotope

 

The federal government has given PSEG Nuclear in Salem County, N.J., the green light to produce the Cobalt-60 radioisotope. The company has partnered with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in this initiative. The Clinton Power Station in Illinois is the only other facility to receive approval for the domestic production of Cobalt-60. The Press of Atlantic City

Cleanup of Radioactive Water at New Jersey Nuclear Plant Begins

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Cleanup of Radioactive Water at New Jersey Nuclear Plant Begins Company officials outlined plans to control any further migration of the tritium plume which is currently flowing uncontrolled towards the plant's discharge canal. READ MORE By / Environment News Service http://www.alternet.org/story/148336/cleanup_of_radioactive_water_at_new_jersey_nuclear_plant_begins

Former N.J. Gov. Christie Whitman ‘comfortable’ as a nuclear advocate

Whitman takes up role as ambassador for nuclear energy
Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman is an ambassador for the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, a group formed by the Nuclear Energy Institute. Whitman has been heading talks and giving speeches about nuclear energy's benefits. "Since I'm comfortable with nuclear power, it wasn't much of a stretch," she said. J. Scott Peterson, a spokesman for NEI, said the group hired her because of her expertise and because she is well-known. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.)

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Report: U.S. Senate's Inaction on Climate/Energy Bill Costing U.S. 1.9 Million Jobs, Including 600,000 in 10 States With Worst Unemployment Topping 10 Percent

With U.S. Falling Behind by Over $200 Million a Day in Clean Energy Investments, China is Clear Winner Due to Senate's Failure; More Than Half a Million Jobs Forfeited in 10 States With 10 Percent Unemployment or Higher; Analysis Highlights Impact of Senate's Failure on 20 States:  AR, CA, FL, IL, IN, MA, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, and VA.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- China and other leading nations have gained more than $11 billion in job-creating clean-energy investments – with the U.S. losing an estimated $208 million every day – since the U.S. Senate abandoned comprehensive clean energy legislation in late July, according to a new analysis from Small Business Majority, Main Street Alliance, American Businesses for Clean Energy and We Can Lead.
The analysis shows that, if left unremedied, the Senate's failure to act will cost the United States 1.9 million jobs – including 600,000 in the 10 states with joblessness in excess of 10 percent.   The report documents that, in the nearly two months since the Senate failed to act, clean energy investments already have started shifting away from the United States to China and other nations.
More at link.

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