Power Gen's News Updates 1/21

Video Highlights
	Watts Bar 2 nuclear unit begins testing of individual plant systems Sale of three Texas gas-fired power plants to Blackstone complete EIA: Cold weather sets records for natural gas storage withdrawals, prices and demand Basin Electric signs wind energy PPA View Now Share:

Top Stories
	EIA: Cold weather sets records for natural gas storage withdrawals, prices and demand In the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that during the week ending January 10, record-highs were set for the U.S. natural gas market due to cold weather. Read More Share:
	Watts Bar 2 nuclear unit begins testing of individual plant systems Work on the 1,100 MW Watts Bar nuclear power plant Unit 2 has shifted to completion and testing of individual plant systems, plant operator Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) said. Read More Share:
	FutureGen clean coal power plant receives final approval The FutureGen clean coal project received the final approval it needed in order to begin construction. Read More Share:
	Another leak found in Fukushima nuclear Unit 3 building Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan found another water leak in the Unit 3 reactor building on Jan. 18. Read More Share:

Industry News
	Monticello nuclear power plant shut down for repairs Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) shut down the 600 MW Monticello nuclear power plant to repair a heat exchanger in the reactor coolant system. Read More Share:
	NextEra to use PV technology for Blythe solar power project The California Energy Commission gave unanimous approval for the 485-MW NextEra Energy Blythe solar power plant, a proposed $1.13 billion renewable energy installation. Read More Share:
	TransCanada sells waste heat power plant company for $173.4M TransCanada Corp. (NYSE, TSX: TRP) reached an agreement to sell Cancarb Limited and its related waste heat recovery power plant to Tokai Carbon Co. for C$190 million ($173.4 million). Read More Share:
	Basin Electric signs wind energy PPA Renewable energy consulting firm RedWind Consulting procured a power purchase agreement between its client, Campbell County Wind Farm LLC, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Read More Share:

More Headlines
• Hydroplus wins contracts for two dam projects
• Soltage-Greenwood receives $40 million in equity funding
• Vydrotech Inc. to enhance G2GO Unit
• Ameren Missouri appoints new SVP chief nuclear officer
• Five companies picked to bid on Canada transmission project
• GDF Suez Energy North America names new SVP of Strategy.html
• Second nuclear unit in China to double plant capacity
• Namibia uranium mining company stake sold to chinese company

Industry Trends

China to Buy Stake in Namibia Uranium Mine

Deal With Australia's Paladin Energy Furthers Beijing's Nuclear Ambitions

By

Rhiannon Hoyle

connect

Jan. 20, 2014 1:59 a.m. ET

SYDNEY—China National Nuclear Corp. agreed to buy a large stake in one of Africa's biggest uranium mines, giving the state-owned power generator better access to cleaner-burning energy.
A unit of CNNC agreed to buy 25% of the Langer Heinrich operation in Namibia from Paladin Energy Ltd., the Australian uranium producer said Monday.
CNNC is...

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304027204579331800563476352?goback=.gde_46854_member_5831029683436666881#!

Your questions answered: thorium-powered nuclear

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/in-depth/your-questions-answered-thorium-powered-nuclear/1017776.article?goback=.gde_46854_member_5831035254768414721#!

Seven criteria for seeing through pseudoscience claims

Seven criteria for seeing through pseudoscience claims

Asahi Shimbun; January 20, 2014

"There are people who are peddling devices that they claim can easily eliminate radiation. Even if such devices are not based on any established scientific knowledge, the sellers could easily make them look genuine to untrained eyes."

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/views/opinion/AJ201401200008

Steeling Ourselves for More Coal

Why Explosive Steel Manufacturing in China Matters

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/steeling-ourselves-for-more-coal/

Animal Planet’s Bogus Account of Chernobyl Wildlife

Fission for Scare Tacticshttp://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/animal-planets-bogus-account-of-chernobyl-wildlife/

Miracle WIPP Nuclear Waste Worth Its Salt — for a Billion Years

Miracle WIPP

Nuclear Waste Worth Its Salt — for a Billion Years

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/miracle-wipp/

The Revolution Won’t Be Distributed

Most Renewables Deployment Centralized

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/the-revolution-wont-be-distributed/

Former BP geologist: peak oil is here and it will 'break economies'

Industry expert warns of grim future of 'recession' driven 'resource wars' at University College London lecture

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/dec/23/british-petroleum-geologist-peak-oil-break-economy-recession?CMP=twt_gu&goback=.gde_4107653_member_5830967930174607360#!

NRC Blog Update: Moving Forward on Updating Cost vs. Benefit Analysis

Moving Forward on Updating Cost vs. Benefit Analysis

Leave a Comment Posted by Moderator on January 21, 2014

Alysia Bone

Rulemaking Project Manager

 

 What are the costs and benefits of the NRCs’ safety regulations? It’s a question we regularly ask as one way to make sure our regulations make sense.
We’re in the process of updating two cost-benefit guidance documents — NUREG/BR 0058 and NUREG/BR 0184 – at the direction of the Commission and after receiving public input. Our update plan is now available online. Our goal is to make sure we are using the right tools to compare costs and benefits so we implement changes that reduce risks and enhance safety in a responsible way.
The updated guidance will do a number of new things. It will include the cost for replacing the energy generated by nuclear power plants. It will also improve the method for putting a dollar amount on health impacts from radiation. We’ll revise terms and definitions for consistency across the agency, and we’ll look at how we use more subjective factors in cost-benefit assessments. We expect these changes will bring our cost-benefit process up to date and help us make more consistent decisions for reactors as well as other licensed activities.
NRC staff experts have been working on this in response to the Commission’s direction for a paper on our approach to considering the economic consequences of a potential nuclear accident. The Commission was responding to the staff’s August 2012 paper and recommendations, which were based on a review of the agency’s economic consequences process in place at the time of the 2011 Fukushima accident. The 2012 staff paper described where considerations of economic consequences fit in the NRC’s review of new reactor licenses, renewal of existing licenses, or major changes to our safety regulations. That earlier paper recommended updating the cost-benefit guidance used to perform these analyses.
In the plan to update cost-benefit guidance, we’ve committed to presenting any identified potential policy issues to the Commission for its consideration. As the staff further develops these potential policy issues, staff will hold public meetings to receive feedback from industry and members of the public, before advising the Commission.

LNG exports year in review: Unfreezing regulatory approvals

LNG exports year in review: Unfreezing regulatory approvals The year 2013 was the year in which the DOE finally resumed issuing authorizations allowing LNG exports to non-FTA countries. The year started with a contentious debate over the merits of a study DOE commissioned to evaluate the impacts of LNG exports on the US, included involvement by members of Congress, and finished with DOE restarting its authorization of LNG export projects. http://www.ogfj.com/articles/2014/01/lng-regulatory-prospects-for-2014.html?cmpid=EnlOGFJJanuary212014.html

US senators request review of crude oil transportation safety

US senators request review of crude oil transportation safety
In the wake of a series of explosive US train derailments containing crude oil, US Senators John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, have written a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz urging prompt and decisive action on crude oil transportation. http://www.ogfj.com/articles/2014/01/us-senators-request-review-of-crude-oil-transportation-safety.html?cmpid=EnlOGFJJanuary212014.html

Miami 2017 - Marcellus gas heading to Florida

New plan to transport Marcellus gas to Florida
 Spectra Energy and NextEra Energy’s planned Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline from near Transco Station 85 in southwestern Alabama to near Orlando in central Florida will do more than provide additional gas-delivery capacity to Florida and the welcomed redundancy of a third pipeline to the Sunshine State. The big news is that Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise project by July 2017 will enable large volumes of Marcellus-sourced gas to be shipped south along the Transco pipeline all the way to Station 85. That (and Sabal Trail) will give Marcellus producers access to major gas users as far south as Miami. http://www.ogfj.com/articles/2014/01/miami-2017-marcellus-gas-heading-to-florida.html?cmpid=EnlOGFJJanuary212014.html

Radioactive Contaminated Water Leaks (Update) December 2013

Fukushima Contaminated Water (Update)

• Science & Technology Office

Tokyo

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft

Confédération suisse

Confederazione Svizzera

Confederaziun svizra

Embass

y of Switzerland in Japan

Science & Technology Office Tokyo

The figure in this document has been replaced to address some inquiries we received. The original picture, taken from public source, was merely meant to illustrate how the groundwater flows from the mountain side under the crippled power plant and into the ocean. The depth of the core was not in scale. Although it was not our intention, we acknowledge and regret that it caused some misunderstanding.

-

January 21, 2014

Radioactive Contaminated Water Leaks (Update)

December 2013

Even though the situation at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power

plant remains uncertain and many years of cleaning up still lie ahead with a major impact on Japan’s econom y and the Tohoku population, the frequently reported water leaks do not seem to be the main concern as radiation measurements show:

The influence of contaminated water is limited within the port of the NPP,

anarea smaller than 0.3 km2

http://www.stofficetokyo.ch/reports/201312_Contaminated_Water.pdf

http://enenews.com/image-published-embassy-japan-shows-fukushima-melted-fuel-deep-underground-photo

Japan: New Leak Detected at Crippled Reactor

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/world/asia/japan-new-leak-detected-at-crippled-reactor.html?_r=0

What Nuclear can learn from the Aerospace Industry

As the nuclear supplier base shrinks the need to reduce variations in quality assurance models worldwide become ever more important. Like the Aerospace industry, nuclear is starting to move more towards a more internationalized model, breaking down barriers between regions and regulatory bodies.
In light of this, we spoke to the WNA, Performance Review Institute (PRI) and SAE International, to understand the internationalization program which is currently in development, leading from the aerospace model.
You can access the full white paper by clicking here.
Gain insight into:

• How an internationally recognized quality control system can increase efficiencies throughout the nuclear community, saving you time and capital.
• What lessons can be learnt from the same program applied to the aerospace industry, to ensure you fully understand the rationale, objectives and benefits.
• Where the likely roadblocks will be so you can prepare your business for the program and gain voting status.

I hope you find the information useful, let me know if you have any questions.
Many thanks

Jamie Davies

Industry Analyst
Nuclear Energy Insider
+44 (0)207 422 4345
Jdavies@nuclearenergyinsider.com

Latest on F. Daiichi unit #3 Reactor Building internal leakage

Tepco posted the following this morning concerning the discovery of water flowing across the first floor on F. Daiichi unit #3. They seem confident it is water used to cool the damaged fuel.

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1233734_5892.html

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic power prices react to winter freeze and natural gas constraints

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=14671

Demand in ERCOT grew 2.1% in 2013

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/demand-in-ercot-grew-21-in-2013/217449/

Enviros want Obama to end 'all of the above' energy policy

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/enviros-want-obama-to-end-all-of-the-above-energy-policy/217438/

Integrys to sell Michigan utility for $299M

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/integrys-to-sell-michigan-utility-for-299m/217430/

China Releases Graphic Showing Nuclear Attack Wiping Out Western US

http://downtrend.com/robertgehl/china-releases-graphic-showing-nuclear-attack-wiping-out-western-us/

The Stuxnet Attack On Iran's Nuclear Plant Was 'Far More Dangerous' Than Previously Thought

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/stuxnet-was-far-more-dangerous-than-previous-thought-2013-11#ixzz2r2hFrQYK

http://www.businessinsider.com/stuxnet-was-far-more-dangerous-than-previous-thought-2013-11

Nuclear engineer warns on articles that downplay Fukushima health effects

http://nuclear-news.net/2014/01/21/nuclear-engineer-warns-on-articles-that-downplay-fukushima-health-effects/

Some recent examples include:

• New York Times: Fukushima Radiation (Still) Poses No California Risk
• L.A. Times: West Coast radiation from Fukushima disaster poses no risk, experts say
• San Francisco Chronicle: Coast getting little radiation from Fukushima disaster
• Fox San Diego: Experts say West Coast radiation from Fukushima disaster poses no risk
• NPR Affiliates: Scientists: Stop Worrying About Fukushima Radioactivity In Fish
• Times-Standard: Gov’t officials say radiation not a threat to West Coast

Full broadcast available here

Power Electronics Smooth Solar Transition

New devices address instability caused by high penetration of distributed solar.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/523386/power-electronics-smooth-solar-transition/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_source=newsletter-daily-all&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20140121

Trash, Trees, and Taxes The High Environmental & Economic Costs of Germany's Energy Transition

Trash, Trees, and Taxes

The High Environmental & Economic Costs of Germany's Energy Transition

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/germanys-energiewende-a-cautionary-tale/

Fukushima Child Thyroid Issue

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-child-thyroid-issue.html

Iran halts part of uranium enrichment efforts; West loosens sanctions

The moves are small first steps toward a deal to try to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capability.

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-iran-nuclear-20140121,0,1256493.story#ixzz2r2fYlGt1

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-iran-nuclear-20140121,0,1256493.story#axzz2r2fTeWxo

Study: Area will need 10,000 nuclear workers in 10-year span

http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20140118/AIK0101/140119455/0/FRONTPAGE

Vernon Asks: When A Nuclear Plant Leaves, What Can We No Longer Afford?

http://digital.vpr.net/post/vernon-asks-when-nuclear-plant-leaves-what-can-we-no-longer-afford

Why Europe’s Greens Are Wrong, in Two Charts

Why Europe’s Greens Are Wrong, in Two Charts
http://www.the-american-interest.com/blog/2014/01/20/why-europes-greens-are-wrong-in-two-charts/

News

Pakistan in Talks to Acquire 3 Nuclear Plants From China

The 3 Large Plants Would Cost Some $13 Billion and Would Cement Strategic Regional Alliance

By

Saeed Shah...

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304757004579332460821261146?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304757004579332460821261146.html

Vehicle-to-Grid: The Next Frontier of Energy Storage | Los Angeles ...

Vehicle-to-Grid: The Next Frontier of Energy Storage | Los Angeles ...

Daniel Freedman - Since the dawn of the renewable energy revolution, utilities and clean energy advocates have viewed renewable energy technologies as a necessary ...http://lasustainability.org/plug-in-electric-vehicles-and-the-next-frontier-of-energy-storage/

EuPD: German solar PV installers considering storage

solarserver.com

EuPD: German solar PV installers considering storage

solarserver.com - A majority of German solar photovoltaic (PV) installers are considering expanding their product range to offer energy storage, according to an analysis ...http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2014/kw04/eupd-german-solar-pv-installers-considering-storage.html

Grid-Connected Energy Storage Is Set To 'Explode'

Grid-Connected Energy Storage Is Set To 'Explode'

Renew Grid - Market research firm IHS estimates that only 340 MW of commercial grid-connected energy storage systems (ESS) were installed across 2012 and ...
http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10712

Cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals

Cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report

---

Last week's widespread, record-breaking cold weather had significant effects across virtually all segments of the U.S. natural gas market. The frigid temperatures led to record highs in demand, storage withdrawals, and prices.
The week ending January 10 posted a record-high net withdrawal of 287 billion cubic feet (Bcf) from underground, natural gas storage facilities. The January 10 withdrawal is the largest for the 20 years for which data exist and the latest in a season already characterized by withdrawals much larger than average. This week's storage withdrawal was the second record-breaking weekly stock draw this season; the withdrawal of 285 Bcf for the week ending December 13 exceeded the previous record of 274 Bcf from January 2008. Cumulative net withdrawals, as of January 10, 2014, exceeded the previous record levels posted during the 2000-2001 heating season. Bentek Energy estimated stock draws hit 57.1 Bcf on January 6, and then 67.9 Bcf the following day. The next-highest draw was 52.9 in February 2011.
High storage withdrawals were expected to meet surging demand for heating from the residential, commercial, and electric power sectors, with analyst estimates, as published by Bloomberg, ranging between 278 and 321 Bcf. The cold weather also impacted natural gas production. Freeze-offs occurred in the parts of the Marcellus Shale in northeastern Pennsylvania and in the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas, according to Bentek Energy. Dry natural gas production dropped to 61.9 Bcf on January 8, the lowest level since September 2012, and has been gradually increasing since then, reaching nearly 66 Bcf as of January 16.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report
Note: Data above reflect withdrawals between October 31 and January 10. 2008-13 average = 780 Bcf.

---

In the Northeast, where more than half of homes use natural gas as their primary space-heating fuel, several pipelines issued critical notices and operational flow orders (OFOs) to prevent system imbalances. Additionally, Texas Eastern Pipeline, a major interstate pipeline supplying the Northeast, issued a force majeure (which frees both parties from upholding contractual obligations in the event of extraordinary circumstances) following unplanned maintenance at a compressor station in Pennsylvania.
Natural gas prices in the Northeast spiked to between $30 and $40 higher than the benchmark Henry Hub price. On the Transcontinental Pipeline's Zone 5 line, which serves Mid-Atlantic customers, prices reached $72.43/MMBtu on Monday. Prices in New York and New England also rose far into the double digits, with Transco's Zone 6 delivery point, serving New York City, at $56.59/MMBtu, and the Algonquin Citygate, serving Boston, at $34.14/MMBtu.
The extreme cold temperatures that affected Northeast natural gas markets during the first half of last week arrived earlier in the Midwest, where about 68% of households use natural gas for heating. While it is common for prices to spike in the Northeast during times of high demand, Midwest prices are normally close to Henry Hub prices, as the region does not typically have major supply bottlenecks. Prices at the Chicago Citygate rose to levels almost $10/MMBtu greater than Henry Hub prices on Friday, January 3, as temperatures in the Midwest dipped to levels that prompted the Chicago Zoo to bring its polar bear indoors. Both ANR Pipeline and NGPL, major interstate pipelines that send natural gas to the Midwest, issued OFOs, and many other pipelines in the region issued critical notices that curtailed normal gas-flow scheduling to maintain balance on their systems.

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=14651

Related articles

• Extreme Cold Causes Record-High Natural Gas Storage Withdrawals
• U.S. Gas Output at Record High, but Growth Pace Slows

Iran, US, Europe start implementing nuclear deal

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAN_NUCLEAR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-01-20-04-40-38&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=*Morning%20Brief&utm_campaign=mb%2001-20-14

Chinese investment in Langer Heinrich

Chinese investment in Langer Heinrich
China National Nuclear Corporation has agreed to buy a 25% stake in Paladin's Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia, entitling it to a corresponding share production.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/ENF-Chinese-investment-in-Langer-Heinrich-2001144.html

TEPCO: Fukushima leak likely water used to cool nuclear fuel

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201401200049

Radioactive water leaking at Fukushima Daiichi
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140120_07.html

L353 - The Challenge of High Heat Flux Components for Fusion Power

L353 - The Challenge of High Heat Flux Components for Fusion Power

http://events.imeche.org/EventView.aspx?EventID=2274

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis Update for January 14th to January 16th, 2014

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/fukushima-nuclear-crisis-update-for-january-1/blog/47923/

Future of Nuclear Energy in Emerging Markets: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Future of Nuclear Energy in Emerging Markets: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Forum on Energy’’s Emerging Market Series takes a country-by-country look at the future of nuclear power in emerging markets. While many are rolling back their use of nuclear energy in the wake of Fukushima, there still seems to be a clear effort by emerging nations to make nuclear energy a major part of their future. Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, China, Turkey, India and Finland are just a few of the nations Forum On Energy will highlight in its Emerging Market Series.
http://forumonenergy.com/2014/01/14/future-of-nuclear-energy-in-emerging-markets-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia/

Spending Too Little on Energy R&D

A leaked UN climate report suggests we’re spending far too little on clean energy.

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/523786/despite-funding-boost-were-spending-too-little-on-energy-rd/

IAEA Head Reports Status of Iran’s Nuclear Programme

IAEA Press Releases

Press Release 2014/02

IAEA Head Reports Status of Iran’s Nuclear Programme

20 January 2014 | Vienna - The following is a statement by Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency:
"I have reported today to the Board of Governors the status, as of 20 January 2014, of Iran’s nuclear programme in relation to the Joint Plan of Action agreed between the E3/EU3+3 and Iran on 24 November 2013.
"I am pleased to note that the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action has started today. This is an important development.
"The IAEA is ready to undertake monitoring and verification in relation to the nuclear-related measures set out in the Joint Plan of Action. For this purpose, I have requested the convening of a Board of Governors meeting later this week to seek its endorsement."

Remarks by IAEA Deputy Director General Tero Varjoranta

Mr Tero Varjoranta, IAEA Deputy Director General for Safeguards, speaks with journalist on 20 January 2014 at the Agency's headquarters. (Photo Credit: D. Calma/IAEA)

Story Resources

• IAEA and Iran Focus Page
• Listen to this story

The following is an edited transcript of remarks to media today by Tero Varjoranta, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards:
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. As I'm sure you all already know, we have issued the first status report today to the Board of Governors, showing the factual situation as of today in the country. We had a very busy weekend. The weekend in Iran went very well - good cooperation. We could do our work in a very effective manner. So if you have any questions at this point in time I can take a few before I have to go and continue the hard work that is only now beginning."
Q. Can you confirm that Iran has implemented what they have promised?
A. "Yes, I can confirm that."
Q. Can you elaborate a little bit more on what you have confirmed?
A. "Well, for example they have stopped producing the 20 percent uranium. They have also ceased to use the tandem configuration of centrifuges; in other words, the interconnections have been removed from the place. The dilution process of the 20 percent uranium has started and the conversion process of the same type of uranium is also ongoing. So these are a couple of major examples."
Q. Are the cascades previously used to enrich to 20 percent in Fordow now enriching to 3.5 percent instead, or have these cascades been idled?
A. "Right now of course the situation is that the cascades are kind of taken out ... so the production itself has stopped."
Q. What arrangements have been made for IAEA inspectors and increased access?
A. "We have a very robust system in place with Iran. Nothing is dependent on one single thing only - we have different processes in place. As is the case with all safeguards approaches to any facility in the world, of course these details are something that we do not disclose."
Q. What is the extra cost?
A. "We are expecting six million euros to be needed for this Joint Plan of Action for the next six months that has started now. That will roughly double the size of the inspection team that we have in place as of today."

Details of Iran’s Implementation of Nuclear Deal – IAEA Report

 http://atomicreporters.com/2014/01/20/details-of-irans-implementation-of-nuclear-deal-iaea-report/

Tepco Probes Cause of Latest Radioactive Water Leak at Fukushima

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-20/tepco-probes-cause-of-latest-radioactive-water-leak-at-fukushima.html

Nuclear Energy’s Role in Sustainable Development

http://www.triplepundit.com/2014/01/nuclear-energys-role-sustainable-development/

Carnival of Nuclear Energy 192

Carnival of Nuclear Energy 192 By Will Davis on Jan 19, 2014 10:27 pm It’s time for the 192nd Carnival of Nuclear Energy, in which the world’s top pro-nuclear bloggers and authors entertain and inform us with their best posts and stories. The field is wide this week – so let’s get right to it! … Continue reading → Read in browser »

More to read: Video Matinee: Plant Vogtle Nuclear Construction? It’s BIG!! An Ethos of Nuclear Reactor Safety Introducing Allison Miller, ANS Young Members Group Chair A Century of Technology – Remarks by Richard Rhodes Carnival of Nuclear Energy 191

Radiation issue ignored in nuclear spin

http://www.iol.co.za/business/opinion/letters/radiation-issue-ignored-in-nuclear-spin-1.1633529#.Ut2lMhko4_I

Need for Environmentally Sustainable Nuclear Power Drives Demand for Traveling-Wave Reactors

Need for Environmentally Sustainable Nuclear Power Drives Demand for Traveling-Wave Reactors, According to a New Trend Report Published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1689864#ixzz2qysgD6hH

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1689864

Scotland's tidal energy potential is greater than a nuclear power plant

http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/news/national-news/124098-scotlands-tidal-energy-potential-is-greater-than-a-nuclear-power-plant.html

Water and the Future of Energy

Water and the Future of Energy

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST

California is in the midst of an epic drought. It is one of 11 western states (Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, and Kansas are the others) that the U.S. government declared to be “primary natural disaster areas” due to drought.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/eliashinckley/329471/water-and-future-energy

Why Germany's Nuclear Phase Out is Leading to More Coal Burning

Why Germany's Nuclear Phase Out is Leading to More Coal Burning

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST

In 2012 Germany's Environment Minister opened a new lignite power plant, arguing the following: “If one builds a new state-of-the-art lignite power plant to replace several older and much less efficient plants, then I feel this should also be acknowledged as a contribution to our climate protection efforts.”read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/robertwilson190/328841/why-germanys-nuclear-phase-out-leading-more-coal-burning

How Smart Grid Technology Can Build a Better Utility Industry Future: Part 1

How Smart Grid Technology Can Build a Better Utility Industry Future: Part 1

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:30 AM PST

The utility industry is changing fast -- but where is it going? Each year analysts at IDC offer their predictions for utility industry trends for the coming year and up to five years hence. Here are their first five predictions, and how they related to smart grids and smart grid technology.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/caseynovak1/327446/how-smart-grid-technology-can-build-better-utility-industry-future-part-1?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Growth of LNG Fuel in Maritime Shipping

Posted January 20, 2014

http://theenergycollective.com/ed-dodge/329406/growth-lng-fuel-maritime-shipping?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

International marine science organization releases report on radiation in Pacific Ocean

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043585_Fukushima_radiation_Pacific_Ocean_marine_science_organization.html#ixzz2qypn92p9
http://www.naturalnews.com/043585_Fukushima_radiation_Pacific_Ocean_marine_science_organization.html

EU could cut emissions by 40 percent at moderate cost

EU could cut emissions by 40 percent at moderate cost
Potsdam, Germany (SPX) Jan 20, 2014 - This is a key finding from an international multi-model analysis by the Stanford Energy Modeling Forum (EMF28) and comes at a crucial time, as the European Commission is set to announce next week its plans whether to scale up its efforts on emissions reduction in the next decade. However, beyond 2040, according to the scientists the costs risk to rise substantially. Technological innovation woul ... morehttp://www.energy-daily.com/reports/EU_could_cut_emissions_by_40_percent_at_moderate_cost_999.html

Global warming's biggest offenders

Global warming's biggest offenders
Montreal, Canada (SPX) Jan 20, 2014 - When it comes to global warming, there are seven big contributors: the United States, China, Russia, Brazil, India, Germany and the United Kingdom. A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that these countries were collectively responsible for more than 60 per cent of pre-2005 global warming. Uniquely, it also assigns a temperature change value to each country that reflect ... morehttp://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Global_warmings_biggest_offenders_999.html

Germany eyes swift cuts in renewable energy subsidies

Germany eyes swift cuts in renewable energy subsidies
Berlin (AFP) Jan 19, 2014 - Germany's new energy minister has outlined cuts in subsidies to producers of renewable energy as the country wrestles with soaring costs from its nuclear power exit, according to a document obtained by AFP Sunday. Opposition MPs and the solar energy sector have already criticised the reforms due to be discussed by conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel's new "grand coalition" cabinet with the ... morehttp://www.solardaily.com/reports/Germany_eyes_swift_cuts_in_renewable_energy_subsidies_999.html

Palisades shut down for maintenance

Michigan Radio

Palisades shut down for maintenance

HollandSentinel.com - The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant near South Haven remains offline today ... It is now in the top category of the NRC's recent assessment of the 102 ...http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140120/NEWS/140129977/1994/NEWS

I&M starts billing for nuclear project

	I&M starts billing for nuclear project Muncie Star Press - In 2005, I&M received license renewals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow units 1 and 2 to continue operating until 2034 and 2037.http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20140120/NEWS01/301200007/Cook-Nuclear-Plant?nclick_check=1

Key facts about Xcel's Monticello Nuclear Power Plant

Key facts about Xcel's Monticello Nuclear Power Plant

Minneapolis Star Tribune - License: Operating license expires in 2030 under a 20-year extension from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; awaiting final approval to run at ...http://www.startribune.com/business/241148921.html

Cost of EU energy widens over trade partners

The gap in energy costs between Europe and its leading trading partners is widening, according to an official paper to be released by Brussels that shows industrial electricity prices in the region are more than double those in the US and 20 per cent higher than China’shttp://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2d259852-8201-11e3-87d5-00144feab7de.html?ftcamp=crm/email/2014?ftcamp=crm/email/2014120/nbe/ExclusiveComment/product_a2___a3__/nbe/ExclusiveComment/product&siteedition=intl#axzz2qyl5Mxwf

Nuclear power clobbers the polar vortex

http://www.the-weinberg-foundation.org/2014/01/17/nuclear-power-clobbers-the-polar-vortex/?goback=.gde_3360244_member_5830024845991108609#!

Fukushima Update 1/21

Fukushima Updates  today-

Some primary containment leakage may have been found in F. Daiichi unit #3... 198 spent fuel bundles have been transferred out of F. Daiichi unit #4... The F. Daiichi Emergency Response Center was opened to the Press on January 15... An important pamphlet on radiation has been posted by Robert Hargraves... Children’s teeth from Fukushima Prefecture are being checked for Strontium-90... Residents of Fukushima Prefecture’s Odaka district have approved rural low level waste storage... Tohoku Electric Co. says the geologic anomalies near the Higashidori station are not seismic... Tokyo gubernatorial candidate and former PM Morihiro Hosokawa firmly opposes nuke restarts... A newspaper study shows a third of Japan’s local assemblies want an end to nukes.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

Sabotage at TMI - a real life whodunit

On January 18, I started a serial now titled Sabotage at TMI. Parts 1, 2, and 3 have been published with more to follow.

You can find them at 

http://atomicinsights.com/three-mile-island-initiating-event-may-sabotage/

http://atomicinsights.com/sabotage-started-tmi-part-2/

http://atomicinsights.com/sabotage-tmi-part-3/

Federal Mediators Issue Statement On Tentative Agreement at NY Nuclear Facility

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=7434975&access=EH

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Meets with N.J. Business Leaders to Discuss Need for Reliable, Resilient Electric Grid

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=7434718&access=EH

Fire and Risk: Environmental Impact Assessments in the Stone Age

Fire and Risk:

Environmental Impact Assessments in the Stone Age

http://nukepowertalk.blogspot.com/2014/01/fire-and-risk.html

Carnival of Nuclear Energy 192

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2014/01/19/carnival-of-nuclear-energy-192/

Wind Energy Of No Use In The Pacific Northwest

Wind Energy Of No Use In The Pacific Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, hydroelectric load-follows wind, wiping out any emissions or cost benefit. Over the last several years, we have spent about $5 billion and impacted over 50,000 acres of pristine public land for the privilege of throwing away 9 billion kWhrs of carbon-free energy every year. We can be smarter than this.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/01/18/wind-energy-of-no-use-in-the-pacific-northwest/

Get used to heat waves: Extreme El Nino events to double

http://phys.org/news/2014-01-extreme-el-nino-events.html#nwlt

Editor's Note

Dear Readers
I took the weekend off. Will resume posting on Monday. I can't begin to tell you how
full the email inbox is. You will see it then.

Michele Kearney