Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Thursday, January 30, 2014

EnergyChat: Unraveling the President's State of the Union Address

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:59 PM PST

Last night, the President gave his State of the Union - a unique opportunity to argue for his policy agenda for the next year in front of the entire country and all of Congress. Climate change and clean energy have been a significant part of his previous five speeches and this year was no different.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/mstepp/333996/energychat-unraveling-presidents-state-union-address?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

The Pros and Cons of Exporting US Crude Oil

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the ranking member of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, issued a white paper earlier this month calling for an end to the current ban on US crude oil exports. Her characterization of existing regulations in this area as "antiquated" is spot on.read morehttp://theenergycollective.com/geoffrey-styles/333701/pros-and-cons-exporting-us-crude-oil?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Fukushima Update 1/29

Fukushima Updates today -

Woods Hole Institute says there is no detectable Fukushima Cesium in the Pacific Ocean along the American west coast... Tepco has begun work to form frozen earthen walls around the tunnels leading from turbine basements #1 through #4... Forested Hirono Town will try a new idea to reduce radiation levels... Much of Japan’s Press continues to try making nuclear energy the nation’s top issue... A nuclear emergency drill was held for Onagawa station and vicinity... Two lawsuits make headlines; one old and one new.

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

Costly Quest

http://online.wsj.com/news/interactive/BIGBETS0129

Congressional Research Service: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R41694.pdf

NRC Grants Ft. Calhoun License Amendment Request

by Moderator

Lara Uselding

Public Affairs Officer

Region IV

When someone sees the words Fort Calhoun and flooding in the same document, it gets attention. So we thought we’d provide some insight into a document -- issued this week -- with that very word combination.

Ft. Calhoun Senior Resident Inspector John Kirkland provides "boots on the ground" oversight at the plant.

The Fort Calhoun Station, located north of Omaha, Neb., and operated by the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), recently restarted after a long hiatus. But months before that happened, in April 2012, OPPD asked permission to implement a license change involving actions to protect the plant at high and low river levels.

On Jan. 28, 2014, the NRC granted the request and issued a license amendment officially changing when the plant should be powered down during a flood scenario. Simply put, the change involves powering down at 1004 feet mean sea level versus the previously set level of 1009 feet. In addition to setting the river rising to a lower level, the NRC document also specifies that the plant must shutdown within six hours of river levels dropping below 976 feet 9 inches mean sea level.

This all started back in 2010 when NRC inspectors identified concerns with the plant’s flood protection strategy. So this is not a newly identified item and it does not change the plant’s design basis flood. It is an official change to the plant’s license during flood conditions and provides a more conservative level of action.

It is important to note that prior to restart, the licensee made modifications to the plant and had plans in place to protect the plant from rising river levels.

There is still ongoing and important work being done by OPPD, NRC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate flood risks at the site in accordance with the post-Fukushima actions. The current target date for OPPD providing this information to the NRC is March 12, 2014. In the meantime, the plant is safe and has measures in place to respond to flooding events.

Moderator | January 30, 2014 at 1:02 am | Tags: Ft. Calhoun, NRC, nuclear power plant | Categories: Operating Reactors | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-1iG

NEI: Latest headlines from the nuclear industry

Here are the latest headlines from the nuclear industry;

Supply Chain

Small Modular Reactors

Expert opinion on advantages of SMRs in reply to report by I.E.E.R.

New Build

Decommissioning

Insight into Sellafield lifetime plan

Free Nuclear Networking Groups

Join our topic specific discussions on Linkedin now

Enjoy the rest of your week,

James Sampson
Nuclear Energy Insider
jsampson@nuclearenergyinsider.com

GE Hitachi, Feds Reach Settlement in False Claims ESBWR Lawsuit

http://www.powermag.com/ge-hitachi-feds-reach-settlement-in-false-claims-esbwr-lawsuit/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2823211&hq_l=9&hq_v=30108e0773

Idling of Two Coal-Fired Plants Will Cost Jobs

01.28.2014 | Aaron Larson

Big Rivers Electric Corp.—a member-owned, not-for-profit, generation and transmission cooperative serving western Kentucky—plans to idle two of its coal-fired power plants following the loss of its largest industrial load. http://www.powermag.com/idling-of-two-coal-fired-plants-will-cost-jobs/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2823211&hq_l=8&hq_v=30108e0773

Legal Deadline Set for EPA's Coal Ash Rule

01.29.2014 | Sonal Patel

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must issue a proposed revision of its Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D rules regulating coal combustion residuals no later than Dec. 19, 2014, under a consent decree reached between the agency and environmental…http://www.powermag.com/deadline-set-for-epas-coal-ash-rule/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2823211&hq_l=2&hq_v=30108e0773

Debris clearance at Fukushima

Debris clearance at Fukushima
A series of photographs showing progress in the removal of tsunami debris from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant has been released by Tokyo Electric Power Company.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Debris-clearance-at-Fukushima-3001144.html

US steam generator replacement a winner

US steam generator replacement a winner
As the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant prepares to begin work to replace its steam generators, the plant's operator is highlighting the benefits to the local economy from the operation.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-US-steam-generator-replacement-a-winner-3001147.html

Europe's Stark Renewables Lesson

Like Frankenstein, the EU has created a renewable-energy monster it does not know how to tame.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303553204579348470302047850

Benchmarking the Nuclear Community

In the build-up to the 5th Annual Nuclear Supply Chain Conference (5-6 May, Charlotte), we’re aiming to assess one of the major trends for 2013/14 – cost reduction strategies.
Utilities across the country are reducing costs; however one question which needs to be asked is where this deficit will be found in such a complex industry?
You can complete the five minute survey by clicking here.
The Industry Trends survey will enable you to have a clear indicator of where your operations measure against utilities from throughout the international community, and how colleagues are combatting this turbulent time.
To learn more about the 5th Annual Nuclear Supply Chain Conference, or to see this week’s featured speaker, the NRC's John Thorp, click here.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email me.
Many thanks
Jamie Davies

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

European Clearinghouse: Report on External Hazard related events at NPPs

http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/29309/1/ldna26104enn.pdf

IAEA Delivers Final Report on Remediation in Fukushima to Japan

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/fukushima/final_report230114.pdf ;

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2014/report-on-remediation.html

Coal-fired Brayton Point confirmed for shut down by 2017

Coal-fired Brayton Point confirmed for shut down by 2017
The owner of the 1,530 MW Brayton Point coal-fired power station in Massachusetts, confirmed the plant will be closed in 2017 against rejection of the plan by regional grid operator ISO New England.
Full Articlehttp://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2014/01/brayton-point-coal-fired-power-plant-confirmed-for-shut-down-by-2017.html

Nuclear Power Generation at the Crossroads

Nuclear Power Generation at the Crossroads

This IDC Energy Insights white paper examines the future of nuclear power across the globe, analyzes the role of IT in the design, permitting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants; and provides recommendations to plant owners on ensuring a secure and robust IT infrastructure. Download Now!
http://www.pennenergy.com/whitepapers/pennenergy-white-papers/2013/nov/nuclear-power-generation-at-the-crossroads.html

You Asked, We’re Answering Your Fuel Cell Questions

By US Department of Energy

Last week, I joined a panel of experts for a live discussion about fuel cells, covering everything you needed to know about this clean energy technology. We asked you to submit questions in advance and during the event, and we received more questions than we could answer. So now I am answering some of your questions

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2014/01/29/you-asked-were-answering-your-fuel-cell-questions/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=a6c755d011-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-a6c755d011-407304281

What Utilities Can Learn from Apple, Hybrid Cars and Telephones

By Jared Anderson

Google To Buy Smart Thermostat Maker Nest For 3.2 Billion

The changing utility business model in the face of distributed generation market acceptance is a major theme so far in 2014, and Google’s Nest acquisition is a clear signpost on this transitional landscape. It’s becoming increasingly clear that to lead the way in the new power generation and delivery space, utilities need to decide whether

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2014/01/29/what-utilities-can-learn-from-apple-hybrid-cars-and-telephones/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=a6c755d011-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-a6c755d011-407304281