Archive for January, 2012

Opinions:

• AIKEN STANDARD: Two Years Later And We're Back To Square One
• HERITAGE: Blue Ribbon Commission Misfire — Misses Opportunity for Real Reform
• BRAD PLUMER: No, We’re Not About To Enter Another Ice Age

Japan:

• Japan, TEPCO Heading For Showdown Over Electricity Rate Hike
• TEPCO Ordered To Prevent New Fukushima Water Leaks

People, Poltics:

• Iowa Governor Terry Branstad Supports Funding Nuclear Plant Through Legislation
• Shimkus: No Targeting of GOP Candidates on Yucca
• Markey Turns up Pressure on American Centrifuge
• Energy Department Rejects SRS Advisory Board Request For Nuclear Waste Inventory
• DOE Laboratory's Million Degree Laser Could Usher In Age Of Fusion Energy

Business:

• Exelon Shuts Byron Nuclear Plant Unit After Power Loss
• Protesters Sue TVA Over Costume Ban At Meetings

International:

• French Government Report: Extending Reactors the Least Cost Option
• Russia Commissions New Centralized 'Dry' Interim Fuel Storage Facility
• Virtual Reality comes to UK's Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Best Of The Blogs:

• NRC Quickly Applies New Information to Technical Reviews: NRC BLOG

Opinions:

• Entergy: Separating Myths from Facts on Indian Point

Japan: 

• Noda to Davos: Japan 'Is Recovering' From Fukushima
• Japanese Scientists Study Environment Surrounding Fukushima
• TEPCO Finds 14 Water Leaks At Fukushima Likely Cause By Cold Weather

People, Politics:

• India Hired U.S. Firm to Lobby on Nuclear Deal
• Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul Aims to Bolster Confidence in Nuclear Energy
• The Vermont Yankee Challenge: A Moment Of Firm Decision – Or Indecision?
• Sen. Murkowski: No White House Muscle Behind ‘Clean’ Energy Standard

Business:

• Andhra Uranium Mine Set To Fuel Nuclear Power Output To 7-Year High

International:

• Noda to Davos: Japan 'Is Recovering' From Fukushima
• A Vast Canadian Wilderness Poised for a Uranium Boom
• South Korean President To Visit Turkey, Nuclear Cooperation On Agenda
• Westinghouse, Czech Metrostav Partner On CEZ Nuclear Tender
• Central Europe Nuclear Energy Issues Come into Focus
• Operation of Baltic Nuclear Plant in Kaliningrad Postponed To 2017
• Estonia's Participation In Lithuanian Nuclear Plant To Be Determined By Midsummer 2012
• Iran Offers to Extend U.N. Nuclear Inspection

• UN Nuclear Agency Considering Fukushima Office

• Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul Talk Yucca
• U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council on BRC: No 'Silver Bullet' for Yucca — Need for FedCorp 'Crystal Clear'
• What Sweden Can Teach The U.S. About Nuclear Storage
• Missouri House Takes New Look At Ameren Expansion

• A New Generation Of Nuclear Plants Puts All Eyes On Shaw's Power Group
• Progress Nixes Report that It Plans to Cancel Crystal River Construction Project
• A Financial Look At Plant Vogtle Nuclear Projects
• New Plant Vogtle AP1000 Reactors On Verge Of Final OK
• Next Up in Nuclear: Small Modular Reactors

• Forget Global Warming: UK Met Office Figures Show No Warming In 15 Years
• Japan's Plutonium Stockpile Builds As Nuclear Fuel Cycle Policy Hits Dead End
• UN Nuclear Inspection Gets Under Way In Iran

Opinions:

• THE ATLANTIC: In the Nuclear World, DOE Abandons Real Transparency For A 'False' Social-Medium Friendly 'Kind Of Transparency'

Japan: 

• Post-Nationalized TEPCO To Solicit Capital To Update Thermal Generators

People, Politics:

• Ener1 Stimulated Solar Bankruptcy Sirens Sing from Solyndra Songbook
• After VY Ruling, Public Service Board Set To Restart Hearings
• DOE, NNSA, Others Hold Forum to Discuss SRS Status and Future

Business:

• Blue Castle Holdings Rebuffs Reported Linkage to SEC-Investigated Leaddog Capital
• Areva To Supply Filtered Containment Venting Systems For Cernavoda Nuclear Plant In Romania
• Graham Corporation Sees Orders Of $21.9 Million For New Nuclear Energy Facilities

International:

• Japan Nuclear Capacity Now Hovering at 6 Percent
• Nuclear-Free Japan by April Roils Debate on Reactor Restarts, Blackout Risk

Japan:

• Japan Aims To End Decontamination Work In Some Evacuation Areas By 2014
• Decontamination Schedule Sheds No Light On When Evacuees Can Return

People, Politics:

• Iowa Senate Gives First OK To MidAmerican's Nuclear Fee
• VIDEO: Rep. Shimkus Leads House on Tour of Nuclear Storage Sites Around the US
• Advocates Voice Support For Calvert Cliffs’ Third Reactor
• Solyndra Loan Review: White House To ‘Take Some Time’ On Report

Business:

• Savannah River Site Leaders Predict Bright Nuclear Future
• More American Centrifuge Project Lay-offs
• Westinghouse Launches Canadian Subsidiary
• World Nuclear Association: AREVA's Ups and Downs
• Energy Northwest To Spend $30-50 Million Over Five Years On Columbia Generating Station Upgrades

International:

• Japan's Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant To Resume Test Operations This Month
• China Denies October Accident With Experimental Fast Reactor
• Poll Finds New Nuclear Energy 'Best For Britain'
• Anti-Nuclear Movement Growing In Asia
• Royal Navy Chiefs: Nuclear Subs Will Stay In Scotland

Opinions:

• THE SEATTLE TIMES: Washington Delegation Must Fight For Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository

Japan:

• TEPCO To Spend 1 Tril. Yen Over 10 Years Toward Scrapping Reactors
• IAEA Examines Japan's Nuclear Reactors
• Advisor: Japan Post-Fukushima Reactor Checks ‘Insufficient’
• Experts Cast Doubt On Japanese Nuclear Plant Tests

People, Politics:

• American Nuclear Society Statement On Blue Ribbon Commission Report
• Sec. Chu: BRC A Critical Step Toward Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Disposal
• How To Find A New Nuclear Storage Site? Woo A Town
• NYT: Is Spent Nuclear Fuel Really Waste?
• Lawmakers Prep For Nuclear Waste Report Probes — Maybe Bills
• Feds: Company Backing Utah Nuclear Plant Is A Fraud
• Parent of Obama-backed battery maker goes bankrupt

Business:

• Nuclear Company Urenco Plans For Growth In 2012
• NRC Staff: Renewables Can't Replace Proposed Calvert Cliffs-3 Nuclear Plant

International:

• EDF Energy: New Nuclear Has 'Lots Of Support' Locally In UK
• Japan: Summer Power Cuts Avoidable Even Without Nuclear Restarts
• 'Indo-Pak Civil Nuclear Cooperation Possible’

Opinions:

• REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER: Obama's Groundhog Day Energy Promises
• ROBERT ZUBRIN: Newt v. Mitt on Energy

Japan:

• Japan Losing Hope For Its Pricey 'Dream Reactor'
• Japanese Town's Dependence On Nuclear Plant Hushes Criticism

People, Politics:

• BRC: U.S. Waste Management Program Broken: Situation Damaging, Costly & Urgent — ‘Clear Break’ Needed From DOE
• Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future Issues Final Report to Secretary of Energy
• House Science Committee:  ‘American taxpayers deserve to see the results of their $15 billion investment in Yucca Mountain’
• House Energy Committee:  ‘Yucca Mountain remains the most shovel-ready, thoroughly studied option’ – Hearing Scheduled
• AREVA:  Think Real and Sustainable Fuel Cycle Solutions:  World is Moving Forward – ‘U.S. Should Join and Lead this Effort’
• Panel Urges ‘Consent-Based’ Approach to Nuclear Storage
• Panel: Search For Nuclear Storage Site Could Last Up To 20 Years
• Blue Ribbon Commission Suggests Nuclear Storage Program Overhaul
• Panel Says US Must Begin Now To Find Replacement For Yucca Mountain
• BRC Urges Permanent Nuclear Storage Strategy
• Vermont Yankee Case Could Cost Vermont AG His Job
• Extra Scrutiny Urged On Design Of Hanford Vitrification Plant
• Obama-Backed Electric Car Battery-Maker Files For Bankruptcy

Business:

• Areva Sales Slip As Mining Cushions Fukushima Blow
• Areva Reports Fall In 2011 Revenue On Nuclear Concerns
• Progress Energy Looking To Cancel Main Construction Contract For Levy County Nuclear Plant
• New Nuclear Safety Standards Could Cost Energy Northwest $30 Million

International:

• UK NDA still considering GE-Hitachi fast reactors for plutonium disposition
• Germany Loses Billions In Search For Alternative Energy
• Russian Nuclear Fuel Manufacturer TVEL Plans To Grow And Diversify

Best Of The Blogs:

• BRC Releases Final Report On Spent Fuel: IDAHO SAMIZDAT

Japan:

• Japan's TEPCO One Step Away From Being Nationalized Amid IAEA Inspection
• IAEA Experts Begin Inspection Of Japan's Fukushima
• Residents Of Japan's 'Nuclear Alley' Conflicted On Restart Of Reactors

People, Politics:

• Blue Ribbon Commission Poised to Release Final Report on U.S. Spent Fuel Management
• Key Lawmaker Thinks Iowa Nuclear Bill Will Pass
• Obama Heads West To Sell Energy Plan
• Energy Secretary To Tout Obama's Energy Plans In New Mexico
• Video: PopAtomic TED Talk – Using Art for Nuclear Power Education

Business:

• GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Continues Preparations for Finland ESBWR Bid
• Marylanders: New Calvert Cliffs Reactor will bring jobs
• NRC Says Flood Barriers May Not Protect TVA's Nuclear Plants

International:

• Naoto Kan: Japan’s Al Gore?
• Japanese Utility To Halt Nuclear Reactor Leaving Only 3 In Service
• China’s State-Owned Guangdong Nuclear Looks to Contend For Second Turkish Nuclear Plant
• CEZ May Seek Partner for $10 Billion Temelin Reactor Project

Best Of The Blogs:

• TVA’s Countdown To MOX Fuel: ANS NUCLEAR CAFE
• NRC’s Waste Confidence Update: IDAHO SAMIZDAT

Japan:  

• Japan Needs All The Help It Can Get With Fukushima Clean-Up

People, Politics:

• Nuke Us:  The Town That Wants America's Nuclear Waste
• Obama Wants A 'Clean Energy Standard.' What Does That Mean?
• Bingaman Preps ‘Clean’ Power Plan After SOTU Shout-Out
• Energy Looms Large In Obama's Agenda — And Re-Election Plans
• Obama Reignites Energy Incentives Debate At State Of The Union
• White House Details $5 Billion In Clean-Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits

Business:

• UraMin: Failed Uranium Deal Complications Continue to Swirl
• Southern Co. To Spend Up To $18.4 Billion Over Three Years On New Nuclear, Other Projects
• New Energy Plan Could Boost Small Reactor Research At SRS
• US Energy Demand To Outstrip Nuclear Growth

International:

• Japan's Former Premier Takes Antinuclear Campaign to Davos
• USA Balances Nuclear Trade And Proliferation Concerns By Taking 'Case-By-Case' Approach
• Trade Figures Reveal Cost Of Japan's Nuclear Shutdown

Best Of The Blogs:

• UK Wasting An Opportunity With PRISM Reactor: IDAHO SAMIZDAT

Opinions:

• HOLMAN W. JENKINS, JR.: How Green Became Obama's Albatross

Japan: 

• TEPCO Fleet Down to One Operating Reactor with Latest Scheduled Outage
• Report: Japan Authorities Minimized Fukushima Worst Case Potential Scenario
• Fukushima No.1 Plant Witnesses Rise In Radioactive Release
• Japan Taking Center Stage At Fukushima

People, Politics:

• Obama Tells Congress He Wants 'All Of The Above' Energy Strategy
• President Obama Chides Congress For Failing To Pass ‘Clean Energy Standard’
• Obama Steers Clear Of Climate Change Talk In Speech
• Republicans Accuse Obama Of Delay in GM Volt Fire Announcement 

Business:

• Shares of Cameco Corporation and Uranium Resources Skyrocket as Demand Finally Picks Up
• Georgia Power Reports Favorable Fourth-Quarter Returns Based on Nuclear Expansion
• Exelon Profit Up 16%, Helped By Gains Tied To Nuclear Decommissioning Trust 

International:

• Report: UK Cool To Plans For Sellafield Plutonium Reactor
• Obama Administration Drops Demand on Countries' Fuel Production for Nuclear Pacts
• Japan, Ukraine To Launch Talks On Nuclear Cooperation This Week
• Canada Exploring Plans To Bury Spent Reactor Fuel In Ontario