Blog Feed: Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes

The cabinet has yet to approve a key safety plan The expansion of China’s civilian nuclear energy plan rests on the approval of a plan by the Ministry of Environmental Protection that would increase the safety of the nation’s nuclear plants. New nuclear projects and some that have started work, but are not far along, remain suspended until the Cabinet gives a green light. According to Zhang Guobao, former head of the National Energy Administration, it is unclear when the plan will be take [..] > read more

Jaczko resigns

Published on 2012-05-22 00:03:13

NYT: Gregory Jaczko to Resign as chairman, NRC Update 5/22/12: Here in Washington, DC, at the Platts SMR conference, several nuclear energy executives checked their smart phones about the news, shrugged, said they were relieved, and went back to the business to working on issues related to their companies. If anything there was a sense of relief. Perhaps the inevitability of Jaczko's departure is best captured by the fact that no one mentioned it from the podium or in the Q&A for any of the se [..] > read more

At Platts SMR Conf this week

Published on 2012-05-20 10:11:30

I'm on assignment for Fuel Cycle Week covering the Platts Small Modular Reactor conference in Arlington, VA, Mon 5/21-Tue 5/22. Give me a shout via Twitter @djysrv if you will be there. Blogging will be light the rest of the week and through the Memorial Day weekend. # # #Idaho Samizdat ~ http://djysrv.blogspot.com > read more

105th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-05-19 08:57:45

The 105th Carnival is up at ANS Nuclear Cafe The Carnival is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy.If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it.Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Next Big Future, and CoolHandNuke, as well as several other popular nuclear energ [..] > read more

A timely correction to nonsense about Fukushima spent fuel

Published on 2012-05-16 16:32:29

A crowd sourced response published at ANS Nuclear Cafe corrects serious misinformation about spent fuel at Fukushima Fukushima Tag Cloud Led by Will Davis at Atomic Power Review, a group of nuclear bloggers and analysts has crafted response to information posted by Robert Alvarez about spent fuel at Fukushima and the structural integrity of reactor #4. It has been analyzed and labeled for what it really is - alarmist nonsense. > read more

Svinicki nomination at the Senate

Published on 2012-05-15 19:38:36

The White House finds itself in the role of supporting a Republican for reappointment to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission The pretzel politics of life in Washington took on new twists this month. The White House nominated sitting NRC Commissioner Kristine Svinicki for another term over the objections of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) > read more

104th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-05-13 05:31:37

The Carnival is up at Atomic Power Review. Futuristic view of Digital InstrumentationImage Source: Forbidden Planet 1956 The Carnival is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, [..] > read more

Supercritical CO2 turbine being developed for SMRs

Published on 2012-05-11 14:09:19

A former scientist at Sandia National Lab is bringing the technology to market Temperature / Pressure ranges for > read more

Watts Bar: Fairytale or True to Life Story

Published on 2012-05-10 04:19:25

The project will come in three years late and $2.5 billion over budget This is my updated coverage from Fuel Cycle Week V11:N471 May 3, 2012, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC Once upon a time an ailing king abandoned one of his castles. He said it was too expensive to keep up more than one court. Besides, the peasants weren’t bringing in the sheaves, which made the whole kingdom’s economics shaky. Then a new king arose, who was wiser in the ways of castle up [..] > read more

Cameco Bullish On Japan Comeback

Published on 2012-05-10 04:05:54

The country's nuclear utilities aren't selling off their uranium This is my updated coverage from Fuel Cycle Week V11:N471 May 3, 2012, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC Tim Gitzel, Cameco CEO In the midst of reporting excellent financial results for 1Q2012 during a May 1 conference call for financial analysts Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel said he believed Japan would restart its nuclear reactors—and soon. “The fleet will come back online,” he said, adding that th [..] > read more

Reactions to reactor restart remarks about San Onofre

Published on 2012-05-08 22:21:14

Southern California Edison says no plan submitted to NRC yet If you've been following the saga of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), you know that last week Ron Litzinger, President of Southern California Edison (NYSE:EIX), which owns and operates the twin 1100 MW nuclear reactors, told > read more

103rd Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-05-07 15:10:12

The Carnival is up at Yes Vermont Yankee. The Carnival is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Next Big Future, and CoolHandNuke, as well as several other popular nuclear energy blog [..] > read more

Darlington back on the front burner?

Published on 2012-05-07 15:05:26

Two reactor designs are in the running – again Anyone who follows the perilous path the future of nuclear energy has taken in Canada’s Ontario province knows that plans to build new nuclear reactors can be announced and shelved on the whims of whatever political party is in office. Never mind that it takes a decade from start to finish to plan, design, license, and build a nuclear reactor. This time Canada’s current Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver says he has approved Ontario P [..] > read more

Surfing the waves of misinformation about SONGS

Published on 2012-05-07 09:47:47

Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-Calif) wiped out in his remarks about the future of nuclear energy in his home state Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-Calif) is an avid surfer The perils of an incomplete technical briefing for an elected official were starkly apparent this week in California where a Los Angeles Congressman mixed up passive safety in GEN III+ LWRs with can't fail the fuel properties of 4th generation fast reactors. In swimming out to meet a traveling wave, Rep. Dana Rohrbacher > read more

Progress reboots Florida reactors back to the future

Published on 2012-05-03 11:08:43

Utility cites lower than expected customer demand, economic down turn, uncertainty over potential carbon regulation, and low natural gas prices A segment of this blog post appeared in the News Briefs section of Fuel Cycle Week, V11:N471, 05/03/12 published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. > read more

No easy road for U.S. nuclear new build

Published on 2012-05-03 05:24:09

Getting the NRC license is just the first step Last December, Southern Nuclear had plenty to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission had just approved the safety certification for the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor, setting the stage for a decision on February 9, 2012, to issue licenses to build and operate two of them. As Southern began mobilizing the full scope of its construction activity at its Vogtle site in Georgia, two issues arose that appeared inevitable bas [..] > read more

New twists for UK nuclear new build

Published on 2012-04-30 11:49:55

China and Russia seek opportunities after German utilities withdraw from the market China's State Nuclear Power Corp., a government owned enterprise, is in talks to fund the Horizon nuclear power project originally organized by German utilities RWE and EON. The Chinese firm is said to be in talks with Toshiba, which owns Westinghouse, to come up with $10 billion for the first two reactors and up to $60 billion for completing several multi-reactor power stations in the UK. The Westinghouse [..] > read more

Far west follies

Published on 2012-04-26 14:14:23

AEHI, a penny stock firm, pursues development of a nuclear reactor in rural Idaho Sustained attention by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission isn't the best advertisement to attract investors to buy a firm's stock. > read more

Can TVA handle a third reactor this decade?

Published on 2012-04-25 16:37:02

B&W wants to build an SMR at Clinch River This is an updated report based on my coverage published in Fuel Cycle Week April 19, 2012, V11:N469, by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC Note to readers > read more

San Onofre on comeback trail

Published on 2012-04-24 09:32:43

Chief Nuclear Officer says plant will reopen Southern California Edison (SCE) has completed tube inspections on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Unit 2. The plant staff is developing a plan to bring both reactors back online. SCE informed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) late last week that it has completed additional inspections of the 19,454 tubes. It has identified wear in two of the tubes in Unit 2 that is similar to the type of wear found in Unit 3. Peter [..] > read more

Jaczko denies everything

Published on 2012-04-20 17:28:23

When a > read more

Competition heats up for DOE SMR funding

Published on 2012-04-20 08:55:20

Westinghouse gets support from Missouri for 225 MW reactor The race to win $452 million in cost shared funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for licensing and technical support to bring a small modular reactor (SMR) to market by 2022 got a new entry April 19. Westinghouse has partnered with Ameren to submit a proposal based on the reactor vendor’s design of a 225 MW SMR. The proposal won enthusiastic support from elected officials, including Governor Jay Nixon, with the promise of [..] > read more

Bad moon rising over NRC post

Published on 2012-04-19 10:09:10

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) goes full throttle with opposition to reappointment of NRC Commissioner Kristine Svinicki The way to derail policy in Washington is to pull the spikes holding the rails to the ties Breaking news > read more

Argh! Debunking some nuclear nonsense

Published on 2012-04-17 10:00:41

Once again it is time to spit on your hands, rub them together, and raise the black flag of contention to respond to deliberate attempts at creating fear, uncertainty, and doubt Critics of nuclear energy can and do raise useful issues that need attention. The lessons learned for the global industry coming out of Fukushima include the importance of having a strong, independent regulatory safety agency not compromised by role ambiguity or too close for comfort relationships, organizationally an [..] > read more

Two tales of the prudent investor

Published on 2012-04-15 19:14:05

Fence sitting is a practical strategy while you count your chickens if conditions aren't right to make up your mind Counting fence sitting chickens In the world of regulated utilities, the issue of what constitutes a "prudent investor" has long been a concern of rate commissions. These appointed bodies evaluate everything from equipment purchases and maintenance to how many employees are hired relative to revenue. No utility wants to be on the receiving end of a finding by a rate commissio [..] > read more

100th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-04-14 18:45:24

Commitments kept across time and space result in recognition of a growing number of voices The 100th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Atomic Power Review This is a remarkable achievement based on the voluntary collaboration of the pro-nuclear bloggers of North America. > read more

Nuclear start-ups have stretch goals

Published on 2012-04-12 20:40:37

The desire is for independence and to innovate with great results Conceptual drawing of a > read more

TVA digs in to deliver two reactors

Published on 2012-04-11 08:07:27

Delays at Watts Bar 2 push back start up at Bellefonte This is my updated coverage from Fuel Cycle Week, April 5, 2012, V11:No.467, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. While the rest of the country focuses on the NRC’s approval of four new Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at two sites, the Tennessee Valley Authority has its own in-house version of the nuclear renaissance and right now it is running late. TVA CEO Tom Kilgore told the utility’s board of directors in [..] > read more

Talking Turkey about nuclear energy

Published on 2012-04-10 10:00:45

New deals continue to emerge with multiple countries Industry analysts say we are living in the “post Fukushima era” when it comes to nuclear energy. > read more

99th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-04-09 11:50:50

This week’s carnival is up at NEI Nuclear Notes This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Next Big Future, and CoolHandNuke, as well as several other popular nuclear energy [..] > read more

NRC: No timetable for restart at San Onofre

Published on 2012-04-07 22:16:49

The visit by NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko gives California Senator Diane Feinstein a chance to throw a curve ball in the form of the 50 mile evacuation zone It was opening day for baseball around the U.S. last week, but at Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), it was looking a lot more like an instance of the legend of the Mighty Case striking out. The utility still does not know what's causing the early and excessive wear on hundreds of steam tubes for t [..] > read more

Japan moves to restart reactors

Published on 2012-04-07 12:16:28

With 53 of 54 nuclear reactors closed as a result of the Fukushima crisis, the nation's economy is in a dangerous tailspin. > read more

Kudankulam hot start within reach

Published on 2012-04-05 05:35:51

Tamil Nadu provincial government support pulls the rug out from under protest groups The long running controversy over the start of NPCIL’s Russian-built twin 1,000-MW VVER reactors at Kudankulam, in India, may be coming to an end. The provincial government of Tamil Nadu, India’s southern-most state, said on March 20 that it was dropping its opposition to hot start and also withdrawing support from local anti-nuclear protests. > read more

Another blogger for nuclear energy

Published on 2012-04-02 08:20:52

Digital advocacy for energy density NGNP Alliance launches blog It provides an online forum for fast moving developments in the use of process heat from nuclear reactors in industrial production Jackson, Miss. – April 2, 2012 – The NGNP Alliance today announced the launch of a new blog http://www.ngnpalliance.org/wp-blog/ It will carry a wide range of news items on nuclear energy topics related to the vision and mission of the alliance. "The vision of the Alliance is to be a developer of new [..] > read more

NRC sets condiitons for San Onofre restart

Published on 2012-04-01 20:00:39

It could be a hot summer in Los Angeles and San Diego if the twin reactors aren't back online soon SONGS - aerial view Two 1100 MW nuclear reactors at Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) are offline until the utility can convince the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that excessive wear on some of the tubes in the steam systems won't make operations unsafe. The utility, Mitsubishi, which supplied the steam systems, and the NRC are crawling all o [..] > read more

Scana steams ahead with NRC licenses

Published on 2012-04-01 15:36:54

Two new Westinghouse 1100 MW AP1000 nuclear reactors will be build in South Carolina The U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Friday March 30 voted 4-1 clearing the way for the Office of New Reactors to issue combined construction and operating licenses (COLs) for two new nuclear reactors. The licenses issued last week are for SCE&G (Scana) and Santee Cooper to build two Westinghouse AP1000s at their V.C. Summer site 26 miles northwest of Columbia, SC. The applications for the licens [..] > read more

98th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-04-01 07:47:59

Nuclear renaissance picks up steam with NRC approval of twin AP1000s at Scana's V C Summer Station This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the > read more

Note to Readers

Published on 2012-03-31 20:58:20

Computer woes fixed What was supposed to be a one day swap of a five-year old desktop Windows XP machine for an Intel i-5 Windows 7 performer turned into a repair run lasting several days. Back in the bad old early days of personal computers, vendors set up burn in centers to test components of fully assembled machines. > read more

German utilities retreat from U.K. new build

Published on 2012-03-29 20:43:45

E.ON and RWE pack it in for Wylfa and Oldbury Two of Germany's biggest nuclear utilities slated to build Westinghouse 1100 MW AP1000 nuclear reactors at two sites in the U.K. have packed up and gone home. > read more

Surprise! U.S. thinks nuclear energy is a good idea

Published on 2012-03-27 08:30:17

A Gallup poll shows 57% of Americans favor its continued use A poll published by the Gallup organization shows that a majority of Americans continue to favor the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity for the U.S. According to the poll, the 57% who favor nuclear power this year is identical to the percentage measured in early March 2011 just before the Fukushima accident. The data come from Gallup's annual environmental survey, conducted March 8-11, 2012. The history [..] > read more

NRC sheepish over Colorado uranium letters

Published on 2012-03-25 19:48:33

Colorado regulators are red hot about the correspondence It is frequently the case that when a large regulatory agency stumbles, with help from someone with an agenda, that the news media will use a baseball analogy. It is called putting your foot in the bucket. Coaches refer to it as the misalignment of the batter's stance that contributes to strike outs. > read more

Is Progress Energy out of the woods on rates in Florida?

Published on 2012-03-25 09:00:35

The utility is still in hot water over repairs for Crystal River This is my updated coverage from Fuel Cycle Week V11:N464 March 15, 2012, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Progress Energy (NYSE:PGN) is a consumer advocate's headache in Florida and a lightning rod for rate protests by the elderly on fixed incomes. The utility has high costs, which it estimates to be in the range of $900 million to $1.3 billion, for repairs associated with the damage the firm did in [..] > read more

97th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-03-25 07:40:44

The 97th carnival of nuclear energy bloggers is up at Next Big Future This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Next Big Future, and CoolHandNuke, as well as several othe [..] > read more

Update on San Onofre for 2012 03 23

Published on 2012-03-23 03:35:56

Tubes found with excessive wear at Unit 2 The Los Angeles Times reported March 22 that excessive wear has been found on 129 tubes in the steam generator for Unit 2 at San Onofre. Previously, the problem of premature wear was limited to Unit 3. > read more

Updates on international nuclear energy programs

Published on 2012-03-21 15:07:59

Setback on financing at Temelin in Czech RepublicA report by an influential banking advisory firm has set back plans to build two new nuclear reactors at an estimated cost of $10 billion. The Prague-based firm of Candole Partners wrote in January the project, originally scoped to include five new reactors, isn't financially feasible due to low demand for electricity.Czech state-owned utility CEZ has disputed the analysis saying it has a short-term perspective and that demand for base-load power [..] > read more

California steaming at San Onofre

Published on 2012-03-20 19:26:29

It's tough being a nuclear plant operator in the land of extreme green politics Steam is generated in the secondary loop On February 1 Southern California Edison safely shut down Unit 3 at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) to begin dealing with what has turned into a marathon unplanned outage that continues some seven weeks later. The problem began when operators got indications of a steam generator tube leak. Their quick action to shut down the plant prevented any radiatio [..] > read more

Vermont Yankee dodges another bullet

Published on 2012-03-20 14:56:40

Federal judge: State can’t shut down Vermont Yankee over spent fuel Federal District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha ordered on Monday, March 19, that the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) cannot use the issue of spent nuclear fuel as a mechanism to deny a certificate of public good to the 40-year-old Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Murtha wrote that the PSB cannot prevent the plant, owned and operated by Entergy (NYSE:ETR), from continuing to operate because of the necessity of continuing [..] > read more

Iowa advances toward small modular reactors

Published on 2012-03-20 12:49:53

Legislation creating a favorable rate environment has better prospects for passage this year Efforts by MidAmerican Energy to convince the Iowa state legislature to enact a bill that would create new opportunities to build a small modular reactor got a boost this week. House File 561, which passed last year in the House by a vote of 68-30, was reported out of a Senate committee by a vote of 8-7 and is now awaiting floor action. If passed the legislation would allow MidAmerican to cover the c [..] > read more

Podcast: Four on Fukushima at Week 53

Published on 2012-03-19 07:59:06

From the U.S. perspective a low point is eight seconds of bull riding over Fukushima spent fuel pool #4 Image: Wikipedia The history of the Fukushima nuclear crisis will be significant in many ways, but perhaps two aspects of it stand out right now in terms of the U.S. response. The declaration by NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko that the spent fuel pool #4 was empty, on fire, and spewing radiation prompted a second message which was that a few thousands Americans in Japan should evacuate to a di [..] > read more

95th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-03-10 22:05:49

Atomic Power Review tag cloud The 95th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Atomic Power Review This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Next Big Future, and Co [..] > read more

Talking Fukushima one year on

Published on 2012-03-10 16:36:30

Now that the American Nuclear Society Fukushima report is out, here are a few additional notes First of all the full report is available either in sections or as an all-in-one PDF file from the special ANS Fukushima web site. Second, you can watch the full one-hour long streaming video of the National Press Club event held March 8 by clicking here. Third, I had an opportunity to talk via phone with the four members of the commission who participated in the press event March 8 to get some i [..] > read more

ANS Fukushima Report at National Press Club 10 AM today (March 8)

Published on 2012-03-08 06:55:46

The American Nuclear Society Special Committee on Fukushima will issue its full report on March 8 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, at� 10AM EST today, Thursday, March 8.� Live video of the press press conference will be available for viewing via this link. The event will also be live tweeted at the ANS twitter feed (@ans_org). The release of the ANS Special Committee on Fukushima report offers the opportunity to hear an independent, scientifically, and technically informed [..] > read more

U.S. nuclear renaissance not a sprint but a marathon

Published on 2012-03-07 17:09:23

Cheap natural gas prices push back some projects by 10-20 years This is my coverage from Fuel Cycle Week V11:N462, for March 1, 2012, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC In the past year the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has pushed back the schedules for two early site permits and two combined license applications, but there hasn't been so much as a peep of protest from the affected utilities. The agency's rationale is that none of the related plans, and schedule [..] > read more

Good news about nuclear energy – March 2012

Published on 2012-03-06 18:25:14

Mexico steps on the gas and opens options for new reactors It wasn't too long ago that the Mexican government was cancelling plans for up to 16 new reactors to provide electricity due to the discovery of massive new amounts of shale-based natural gas. However, Mexican Energy Minister Jordy Herrera now says the government will consider new reactors as part of its energy strategy through 2026. He told financial wire services March 1, "it is time to put nuclear power on the table," and added that [..] > read more

94th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-03-04 19:58:48

The Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at NEI Nuclear Notes This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. This week it features 21 posts from 14 blogs, a new record. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Ne [..] > read more

ANS panel reports on Fukushima lessons learned

Published on 2012-03-02 20:48:08

March 8: 10-11 AM EST Live from National Press Club: free video feed Live Twitter feed via: @ans_org American Nuclear Society to Issue Report on Fukushima for One Year Anniversary LA GRANGE PARK, Ill., March 2, 2012 -- The nation's premier professional society for the nuclear community, the American Nuclear Society (ANS), will unveil its "Special Report on Fukushima" in conjunction with the one year anniversary of the Japan earthquake and tsunami ANS Special Committee Co-Chair and former Cha [..] > read more

DOE signs three SMR firms to develop at SRS

Published on 2012-03-02 09:37:16

No federal funding is involved, but it offers access to infrastructure, skilled workers, and potential customers I've been covering this development at Fuel Cycle Week. This is a significant step forward in terms of DOE support for SMRs. Tom Sanders, PhD, a former ANS president, is the manager in charge of these efforts at SRS. He led the ANS Special Committee on SMRs during his term at ANS. Prior coverage on this blog Feb 2012 - SMR developers seek investors and first customers Feb 201 [..] > read more

Indian PM Singh alleges protests funded by US NGOs

Published on 2012-03-01 02:29:15

Kundankulam nuclear project jammed in new controversies Months of protests that have significantly delayed the hot start of twin Russian built 1,000 MW VVER nuclear reactors in Kudankulam (KKNPP 1-2) located in Tamil Nadu, India's southern-most state. Soon after Valentine’s Day India’s PM Mammohan Singh was quoted in an interview in the prestigious journal ‘Science’ published by AAAS alleging that U.S. NGOs are funding anti-nuclear protests at Kundankulam, the site of two nearly comple [..] > read more

Gates calls for energy R&D funding

Published on 2012-02-29 09:15:22

Software billionaire wants a leap in energy investment Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has some words of wisdom for the federal government when it comes to developing new energy technologies. The� former software CEO, who has funded a major foundation, and who is privately investing in a new reactor technology, wants the government to follow suit. Namely, says Gates to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, open your checkbook. Gates made these and related remarks at a major energy conference held thi [..] > read more

93rd Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-02-26 05:33:28

The Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Next Big Future This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat, NEI Nuclear Notes, Next Big Future, and CoolHandNuke, as well as several other pop [..] > read more

TVA uses supercomputers to look inside its reactors

Published on 2012-02-23 04:37:49

A partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory will yield results for years to come Living next door to the most powerful computers in the world offers the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) a unique opportunity to get answers� to important questions about its operating nuclear reactors. The utility has multiple reactors at three sites–Browns Ferry (three boiling water reactors), Sequoyah (two pressurized water reactors), and Watts Bar (one PWR).� And TVA is having its own mini nuclear ren [..] > read more

NRC Releases early Fukushima transcripts

Published on 2012-02-22 21:35:59

An exercise in transparency about the nuclear crisis in Japan is a distraction from the agency's regulatory oversight and safety mission in the U.S. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has released transcripts of discussions between senior U.S. managers and with one of their number on station in Japan during the early days of the Fukushima nuclear crisis. The NRC blog announcement describes the release as "3,000 pages of transcribed conversations from the agency’s emergency operat [..] > read more

SMR developers seek investors and customers

Published on 2012-02-22 11:33:51

First, they have to prove they can build one This is my updated coverage from Fuel Cycle Week, V11:N460 for 02/16/12 published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. This is the second of two articles. Bike Race Image: Library of Congress Developers of small modular reactors (SMRs) of both the light water and fast neutron flavors are in a race to get to market. The reason is a hypothetical SMR producing 100 MW electrical, costing $4,000/Kw to build, is not a 'bet the comp [..] > read more

Vermont Yankee in the Spotlight

Published on 2012-02-19 10:39:48

It is cast as central figure on CNN horror flick Steel engraving for the frontispiece to Frankenstein. by Mary Shelley, The novel first appeared in print in 1818. The administration of Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has several times declared the Vermont Yankee dead, but like the comical characters in the plot of the 1974 movie Young Frankenstein, the reactor keeps coming back to life. At least that’s how it must look to the governor and his "green energy" supporters. This week Shumlin s [..] > read more

NGNP Alliance selects Areva HTGR design

Published on 2012-02-18 11:42:27

An industry consortium seeks a sharper focus on process heat applications The Next Generation Nuclear Plant Industry Alliance Ltd. (NGNP Industry Alliance) announced this week that it has selected the AREVA Generation IV reactor concept as the optimum design for next generation nuclear plants. The AREVA design is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and would provide a source of nuclear energy with inherent safety features and zero greenhouse gas emissions. “Commercialization of [..] > read more

UK & France in major nuclear reactor deal

Published on 2012-02-17 14:18:57

UK Prime Minister Cameron deals directly with French President Sarkozy EDF, Rolls Royce, and Areva will benefit Two French nuclear giants, EDF and Areva, and Rolls-Royce, the flagship nuclear firm in the UK, are signing deals worth {l}500 million ($791 million) to build new nuclear reactors in the UK. (EDF press release) The deals are focused on the first new build at Hinkley Point in the UK. EDF has referenced the 1600 MW Areva EPR reactor design for that site. The UK government said in a [..] > read more

2013 Nuclear energy budgets in a time of deficits

Published on 2012-02-16 15:31:28

Expectations are limited as Congress looks for places to slash spending The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) find themselves, as usual, in the discretionary part of the federal budget. With programs not driven by entitlement laws, both agency's live under the perpetual threat of severe funding constraints. That's why the FY2013 budget request from the White House is a mixed bag. It is a relief that the President, who is nominally pro-nuclear, [..] > read more

Czechs temper expectations at Temelin

Published on 2012-02-16 02:05:35

Europe's biggest nuclear project is chopped from five reactors to two An ambitious plan to build five nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic worth an estimated $28 billion has been scaled back to just two units. The Czech Republic won't build the other three anytime soon, even though Germany and Poland may have been counting on those units to supply electricity. Germany has closed eight of its oldest nuclear reactors and will close another nine by 2022. Poland just delayed the start date of [..] > read more

Good News about Nuclear Energy – February 2012

Published on 2012-02-13 07:54:49

The NRC's decision to license Vogtle is a plus for investors Fitch Ratings, which determines the relative merits of various investment offerings, said Feb 10 is believes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's� vote to approve combined operating and construction licenses for Southern's Vogtle units 3 & 4, located in Georgia, is a significant milestone for the nuclear industry. It also said the decision will have limited impact on credit. In 2007 when Southern applied for the licenses, Standard & P [..] > read more

91st Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-02-12 08:50:57

The Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Yes Vermont Yankee This week it is titled “The Vogtle Edition” after the historic decision Feb 9 by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to grant combined operating and construction licenses for two Westinghouse 1100 MW AP1000 nuclear reactors.� This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival [..] > read more

SMR vendors seek $452M in federal funding

Published on 2012-02-10 19:08:11

Designs that can be licensed and enter revenue service by 2022 are sought This is an update to my coverage published in Fuel Cycle Week V11:N458 2/2/12 by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC The U.S. Department of Energy issued on Jan. 20 a draft Funding Opportunity Announcement that would provide $452 million in federal funds over five years to establish cost-sharing agreements with private industry to support the design and licensing of small modular reactors (SMRs). Typically, [..] > read more

NRC issues licenses for Southern's Vogtle project

Published on 2012-02-09 14:17:13

By a 4-1 vote the agency opens the door to $14 billion in new construction The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a 4-1 vote, with Chairman Gregory Jaczko dissenting, cleared the way for the Office of New� Reactors to issue to combined construction and operating licenses to the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) for two 1100 MW Westinghouse AP1000 model reactors. (NRC final order) The NRC certified the amended Westinghouse reactor design on December 30, 2011. Jackzo said in a [..] > read more

Things to watch for coming soon

Published on 2012-02-05 21:07:28

Sometimes it pays to look ahead The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will meet Feb 9 to vote on the licenses for two Westinghouse 1100 MW AP1000 PWR type nuclear reactors for Southern's Vogtle site. The agency is expected to approve the combined construction and operating licenses for the units which will be built at a site in Georgia. Assuming this is the outcome, the actions will be the first of their kind in more than three decades. A spokesman for Southern said the utility feel [..] > read more

90th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2012-02-04 20:11:58

Tag cloud for Atomic Power Review The 90th weekly edition of the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Atomic Power Review. This post is the collective voice of blogs with legendary names which emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy. If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at Yes Vermont Yankee, Next Big Future, Atomic Power Review, ANS Nuclear Cafe, Idaho Samizdat [..] > read more

International nuclear markets gain momentum

Published on 2012-02-04 18:50:28

China restarts approvals, moves to 3G designs The China Daily reports in its English language editions Feb 1 approvals of new nuclear reactor projects in China will take place at a pace of three-to-four projects per year. According to Xiao Xinjian, a nuclear energy industry expert, six projects that had already received approval prior to a year-long suspension over Fukushima-related safety checks will likely start construction in the second half of 2012. He said that the government is like [..] > read more

Tying the AP1000 up in knots at the NRC

Published on 2011-07-05 19:15:16

New U.S. reactor projects could languish if anti-nuclear groups succeed in pushing ’ Fukushima “Concerns” to stall the AP1000 Certification This is my updated coverage in Fuel Cycle Week for June 23, 2011, V10:N430 published by International > read more

Nuclear News Update for July 5, 2011

Published on 2011-07-05 10:42:24

Final UK Nuclear Proposals Back Eight Sites For Potential New-Build� (NucNet): The UK government today published its final proposals that name eight sites across the country as suitable for the construction of new nuclear plants by 2025. Pre > read more

Jaczko to visit Nebraska reactors to review flooding threats

Published on 2011-06-24 12:57:47

Field trip reported by Nebraska “watchdog” journalist citing Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb)Idaho Samizdat has learned that NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko (left) is “considering” a visit to the Ft. Calhoun and Cooper NPP to personally review measures > read more

Wheels up for ANS National Meeting June 26-30

Published on 2011-06-23 20:48:46

Fukushima and the future of the global nuclear renaissance will be topics of formal and informal conversations The American Nuclear Society national meeting takes place in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, this� coming week. I’ll be there. Tuesday night 6/ > read more

TVA’s basis for building Bellefonte

Published on 2011-06-23 04:33:19

The New York Times cites critics calling it a “salvage heap.” Apparently, it does not take much for the New York Times to unleash a strong shot of skepticism when it comes to reporting about building a new nuclear reactor or even completing one > read more

Associated Press Nukes the NRC on Reactor Safety

Published on 2011-06-20 19:46:51

A national wire story, the first of two, alleges the Nuclear Regulatory Agency has undermined safety at aging reactors. Is it true? A nuclear engineer with impeccable credentials says not so fast. On June 20 the Associated Press published the re > read more

Italy’s nuclear renaissance is gone

Published on 2011-06-19 20:29:55

A nationwide referendum is seen as a protest vote on corruption issues A binding vote by 57% of the Italian electorate rejected four ballot measures by a stunning 95% rate. One of them would have put Italy on a path to produce 25% of its electricit > read more

57th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2011-06-18 17:22:32

Debunking myths on the Internet Perhaps one of the more enduring cartoons that relates to the quality of information on� the Internet is one that states, “On the Internet no one knows you are a dog.”� It shows a drawing of two dogs sit > read more

Spiking conspiracy theories about Ft. Calhoun NPP

Published on 2011-06-16 18:38:52

The reactor is reported to be in no danger as the Missouri River hits flood stage The Missouri River flooding is bringing waves of concern nationwide about the safety of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant. (Photos) Business Insider, a news aggreg > read more

Webinar ~ Fukushima & Nuclear Power

Published on 2011-06-16 08:04:15

Fukushima and Nuclear Power: Can we live without it? Live Webcast June 29, 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT Register Now Following the earthquake and tsunamis that tragically impacted Japan in March, the unfolding crisis at th > read more

Nuclear energy & social media

Published on 2011-06-16 05:59:53

Who reads nuclear energy blogs? So, who is reading nuclear blogs? On the ANS Social Media listserv, I asked this question� recently and got some interesting results for the month of May 2011. Here’s a sample of the replies: Michele Kearny > read more

NYT - Japan’s Prime Minister micro-managed Fukushima crisis

Published on 2011-06-13 09:48:36

Distrust of the nuclear utility and government bureaucracy seen as too close to TEPCO cited as reason for some misguided interventionsThe Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, (right) personally interfered with crisis communications and gave technical > read more

56th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2011-06-12 18:53:50

The 56th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at NEI Nuclear Notes There will be fireworks this week as the House Energy & Commerce Committee holds hearings on about decisions made by NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko regarding the Yucca Mountai > read more

Find the future of fission after Fukushima

Published on 2011-06-11 06:45:04

Young people entering the nuclear energy field retain their idealism about it Let’s say that here in June 2011 you are 22 years old and have just graduated from a four-year nuclear engineering program with your B.S. in hand and are looking at the > read more

NRC IG Report – Jaczko withheld information on Yucca

Published on 2011-06-10 05:49:54

WSJ cites an “unflattering portrait” of the NRC and its leader The strange journey of the fate of the troubled Yucca Mountain spend fuel geologic storage site took along bizarre twist this week. NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko’s situation now lo > read more

Areva to push spent fuel recycling plans

Published on 2011-06-09 19:12:59

CEO Jacques Besnainou sees startup of effort by 2015 The head of the U.S. operation of French state-owned nuclear giant Areva told a breakfast meeting of news reporters hosted by the Energy Daily on June 6 that the solution to the U.S. bottleneck i > read more

Tackling TEPCO's water problem

Published on 2011-06-06 16:59:09

The utility has 15 million gallons of radioactive liquid created by efforts to cool its crippled nuclear reactors TEPCO is a bearer of a water problem that sets daunting challenges ahead of its ambitious plan to decommission the Fukushima reactor si > read more

TVA seeks green light to build Bellefonte

Published on 2011-06-05 16:53:23

The utility plans to invest $4-5 billion to complete the reactor One of the most dramatic resurrections of a stalled nuclear reactor construction project is unfolding in Hollywood, Ala. There the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is getting ready to > read more

Notes to Readers – June 2011

Published on 2011-06-04 16:13:12

A few things need to be said from time to time Guest blog posts Recently, this blog ran a guest blog post with the byline of a single contributor.� It turns� out the byline was a public relations point of contact for a white paper.� > read more

Germany’s Nuclear Energy Panic Attack

Published on 2011-06-03 10:04:51

Steep Rise in Energy Costs Likely If All 17 Reactors Are Closed This blog post is an update of my coverage published in Fuel Cycle Week V10:N426 May 26, 2011, by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Shortly after the extent of the da > read more

Questions about news media fundamentals and Fukushima

Published on 2011-06-02 17:16:34

The nuclear industry needs to understand that confidence building following the crisis in Japan is a global challenge The IAEA preliminary report on the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station in Japan is just the first of what will turn out t > read more

IAEA Report on Fukushima leaves no one in doubt

Published on 2011-06-02 16:06:58

It was the tsunami that killed the reactor complex A report by an international team of nuclear energy experts has blamed Japan for failing to adequately protect the Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex from the effects of tsunami waves.� Despit > read more

Critique of MIT Nuclear Fuel Cycle Report

Published on 2011-05-31 18:43:11

Fast reactors were given short notice. Technology choices are available. Guest Blog Post by: Tom Blees, Science Council for Global Initiatives Email Contact: tomsciencecouncil@gmail.com Introduction MIT (energy initiative) recently released a c > read more

54th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-05-29 11:21:14

There is more going on in the world of nuclear energy than the Fukushima crisisThis week there is continuing news from Fukushima, but there are also a diverse set of posts on nuclear energy topics.If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissa > read more

Modeling meltdowns in reactors and the media

Published on 2011-05-27 09:44:04

Computer predictions of failure at Fukushima World Nuclear News has a report that computer analysis of reactor damage at Fukushima has indicated more serious fuel melting has probably occurred than previously thought at units 2 and 3. Two simulatio > read more

Nuclear News Roundup for May 25, 2011

Published on 2011-05-25 10:47:40

Europe Agrees On Parameters For Nuclear Stress Tests 25 May (NucNet): After “intense and thorough deliberations” agreement has been reached on the parameters of stress tests for nuclear power plants in Europe, European commissioner for energy G > read more

New web site for Fuel Cycle Week

Published on 2011-05-24 07:39:06

The nuclear industry trade newsletter has an eclectic niche unmatched by its competition After four years of working as a reporter for Fuel Cycle Week, I continue to be amazed by the breadth of topics, and depth of coverage, the newsletter crams int > read more

Fukushima's limited impact on the global nuclear industry

Published on 2011-05-21 09:19:14

Except for a political panic attack in Germany, most other nations have the "full steam ahead" sign out for their new reactor projects There's been a lot of overblown rhetoric about the so-called "death" of the global nuclear renaissance. Anti-nucle > read more

Did Fukushima kill the nuclear renaissance in the U.S.

Published on 2011-05-20 17:34:18

The future of plans to build new reactors is not a case of black and white choices Germany's quick retreat from nuclear energy and Japan's consideration of the role of renewable energy sources in response to the Fukushima crisis raise the question > read more

Advice to the Blue Ribbon Commission

Published on 2011-05-19 01:37:33

The nation’s nuclear energy bloggers have their say about what to do with used fuel On May 13, 2011, the Department of Energy’s Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) issued draft recommendations based on the work of three subcommittees. The long-awaite > read more

Failure to Launch

Published on 2011-05-15 13:55:57

Blue Ribbon Commission opts for conventional wisdom A federal advisory committee on the future management of spent nuclear fuel has labored long to get it hands wrapped around the issue. This week the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Futu > read more

52nd Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2011-05-14 12:46:51

A collaborative effort celebrates a one-year milestone The 52nd Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at ANS Nuclear Cafe.� It is ironic that� cooperation among North American pro-nuclear energy bloggers would mark the first year of op > read more

TEPCO concedes severe fuel damage at Fukushima

Published on 2011-05-13 19:46:09

For the first time utility says fuel has "melted" and may be "crumbled" at bottom of the reactor pressure vessel for reactor 1 The fuel assemblies in Fukushima reactor unit 1 are only partially covered by water. A TEPCO spokesman, Junichi Matsumoto > read more

Kicking the spent fuel can down the road

Published on 2011-05-11 08:01:14

Failure to open Yucca Mountain set backs a solution by 20 years The Bloomberg wire service today has a report that the Department of Energy Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) will discuss options for management of spent nuclear fuel at its May 13 meeting. > read more

Will U.S. spent fuel find a home in Mongolia?

Published on 2011-05-10 15:14:12

Japan, U.S. plan a nuclear waste site in the remote desert state Reuters reports that Japan and the United States plan to work together to build a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Mongolia. The announced purpose of the site would be to take > read more

NY Times holds BBQ at NRC

Published on 2011-05-08 15:38:32

Nuclear regulator is roasted on a spit turned by its critics It’s a springtime Sunday afternoon in America. With warmer temperatures and more sunlight later into the evening, the great American tradition of holding a BBQ is being upheld for yet a > read more

ANS Social Media Meet Up June 28

Published on 2011-05-08 09:34:43

*** The session seeks sponsors *** A meet-up of anyone attending the ANS National meeting in Florida June 26-30 who is interested in the use of social media in the nuclear industry will be held Tuesday June 28th, from 6:30-9:00 PM at the Westin Dipl > read more

Three major utilities confirm plans are on track for construction of six new reactors

Published on 2011-05-07 12:46:01

Six reactors are under way in the U.S. Every time an anti-nuclear group talks about the Japanese crisis at Fukushima, in the next� breath they proclaim the death of the nuclear renaissance in the U.S. This claim is wrong as to the facts and wro > read more

Answering Helen Caldicott

Published on 2011-05-01 19:47:17

Cherry picking is for farmers In the OP ED pages of the New York Times, Helen Caldicott, a long-time anti-nuclear campaigner, writes “Unsafe at Any Dose” that physicists are ignoring health effects from ingested or inhaled radioactive materials > read more

Fukushima energizes foes of Davis-Besse

Published on 2011-04-28 14:44:14

Relicensing puts the Ohio reactor in the cross-hairs of its opponents This is my updated coverage based on an article published in Fuel Cycle Week V10;N412, April 21, 2011, by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC Trouble is coming to th > read more

Off Topic: Greek Geek Gears

Published on 2011-04-27 11:17:35

Video: Watch an Apple Engineer Recreate a 2,000-Year-Old Computer Using Legos Andrew Carol, an Apple engineer, has created a working model of the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,000 year old clock work, mechanism which accurately predicts eclipses. At th > read more

Will Fukushima increase interest in small modular reactors?

Published on 2011-04-26 10:41:44

The combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami illustrate the risks of putting all your eggs in one basket The architecture of energy distribution in major industrial nations like Japan, the U.S., France, the U.K. , and Germany is based on very > read more

Chernobyl at 25

Published on 2011-04-26 05:22:25

Just the facts please In the famous TV drama series "Dragnet," the lead character is Los Angeles Police Detective Joe Friday. While the actual drama in the show was tame by today's measure, one thing stood out which has met the test of time. It is > read more

Initial look at lessons learned from Fukushima

Published on 2011-04-25 16:16:15

A review of what went wrong, why, and what should be done in the future Guest Blog Post by: Akira T. Tokuhiro Ph.D * Following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and as high as ~14 meter tsunami, the Fukushima� Dai-ichi (D1) and Dai-ni (D2) Nuclear Po > read more

49th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up!

Published on 2011-04-25 06:36:30

Contrary to what the anti-nuclear crowd would like you to believe, the wheels have not come off the renaissance. The 49th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at Yes Vermont Yankee. The carnival features blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear b > read more

Quick note about rumors over Eagle Rock

Published on 2011-04-24 16:23:46

Companies building multi-billion dollar facilities don't do things on whimsLast week there were a flurry of rumors that Areva might be having second thoughts about the construction of its $2.4 billion uranium enrichment plant at a site located 18 mil > read more

International Isotopes on track for NRC license in 2012

Published on 2011-04-22 09:27:23

The firm has applied for a DOE loan of $97 million for a $125 million plant This is my coverage of International Isotopes in Fuel Cycle Week. April 14, 2011, V10:N420; published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Efforts to secur > read more

Ontario pension fund backs out of AECL deal

Published on 2011-04-22 09:26:03

Is AECL worth anything more than its parts? A fluid and confused political environment clouds the future This is an update to my coverage in Fuel Cycle Week V10:N414; March 3, 2011 by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. More than a > read more

Why is there irrational fear of radiation?

Published on 2011-04-21 02:34:59

Four perspectives on the need to change the way the significance of radiation numbers are explained to the public The crisis at the Fukushima nuclear reactor complex in Japan (right), caused by a record earthquake and equally record shattering tsuna > read more

NRG calls it quits for South Texas Project

Published on 2011-04-20 11:57:51

Key financing from Japan unlikely due to Fukushima crisis NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) pulled the plug on its development of twin 1,350 MW ABWR� reactors for the South Texas Project on April 19th.� The firm said in a statement that “multiple un > read more

Impact of Fukushima on new U.S. reactor projects?

Published on 2011-04-18 08:23:41

It's less than you think The Nuclear Energy Institute, the trade association for the utilities that own and operate the nation's 104 nuclear reactors, has some thoughts on how Fukushima might affect the nuclear renaissance on this country. In an > read more

48th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

Published on 2011-04-17 20:21:20

It’s online at ANS Nuclear Cafe This week discontinuous events evolving from the impact of an earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima continue to get focus of the nuclear energy blogsphere. TEPCO reported that post event inspections reveal that the > read more

Fukushima’s future blueprints are incomplete, danger persists

Published on 2011-04-15 21:59:25

Decommissioning plans must wait for stable reactor conditions The world’s biggest nuclear energy firms are lining up with proposals to clean up a historically huge radioactive mess at the Fukushima, Japan, reactor site. There six reactors in vario > read more

Stop the Sensationalism on MOX Fuel

Published on 2011-04-15 16:24:57

Guest blog post by Jacques Besnainou, CEO, Areva, Inc I am writing this essay today as a frustrated and fed up reader of nuclear-related stories originated by anti-nuclear organizations. While most recent reporting on the Fukushima reactors has bee > read more

Ohio nuclear workforce conference May 26th

Published on 2011-04-15 08:05:35

A one-day meeting to help overcome barriers to the nuclear renaissance On May 26, 2011, a Nuclear Workforce Training Needs Workshop will be held at The Ohio State University (OSU) sponsored by the OSU Nuclear Engineering Program. The concept for th > read more

USEC, TENEX Ink $2.8-Billion deal

Published on 2011-04-13 02:20:17

It's even more complicated than it looks. Chess anyone? This is my coverage published in Fuel Cycle Week V10:N418; 03/31/11, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Posting it here was delayed by the press of business related > read more

Economist seeks responses to nuclear energy debate

Published on 2011-04-12 12:17:31

Time to stand up to be counted This is to inform you that “The Economist” is conducting an online debate on nuclear� power – in which online voting is invited. Resolved� This house believes that the world would be better off without > read more

Fukushima accident rating from 5 to 7 on INES?

Published on 2011-04-12 01:14:29

It would make the disaster the most severe since Chernobyl The Kyodo News Service reports that the the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan released a preliminary calculation April 11 saying that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant had been releasing > read more

47th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-04-10 08:25:14

The 47th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at Cool Hand Nuke. The carnival features blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear bloggers and is a roundup of featured content from them. This week discontinuous events at Fukushima continue to get fo > read more

Fukushima nuclear crisis news update for April 9, 2011

Published on 2011-04-09 16:00:57

Japan considers wider evacuation zone, but water leak is stopped at reactor site The Wall Street Journal reports that the Japanese government is considering extending the evacuation zone around the devastated Fukushima nuclear reactor complex. Acc > read more

Cleaning up the reactor sites at Fukushima

Published on 2011-04-08 18:13:56

Getting the water out is the first priority Over at Atomic Insights blog my friend Rod Adams asks whether the radioactive water at the devastated Fukushima nuclear site in Japan is such a big deal. He writes, “ . . . a million gallons of water i > read more

Decommissioning Fukushima

Published on 2011-04-07 01:36:44

It has all the challenges of Three Mile Island plus there are four damaged reactors not just one The effort to contain the nuclear reactor crisis at Fukushima brings to mind the 1933 horror movie King Kong, in which a giant ape, escaped from captivi > read more

NRC threat assessment of Fukushima risks

Published on 2011-04-07 01:16:05

The 15 page document provides recommendations on how to mitigate them The New York Times reports today that a March 26 threat assessment by the Reactor Safety Team of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) warns that the crippled nuclear plant face > read more

Fukushima reactor status news for April 5, 2011

Published on 2011-04-05 12:44:47

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office As of 11:30AM (EST), April 5, 2011 Radiation Levels The concentration of radioactive nuclide > read more

Post Fukushima future of nuclear energy

Published on 2011-04-04 15:18:22

Three important reasons why the U.S. new build will continue Prognosticators of financial doom and gloom for the future of construction of new nuclear power plants in the U.S. say they have plenty of evidence to bolster their case. The main Japane > read more

Fukushima reactor status news for April 4, 2011

Published on 2011-04-04 11:29:01

Includes press release from TEPCO on discharge of radioactive water to ocean Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office As of 11:30AM (EST), April 4 > read more

Impact of MOX Fuel at Fukushima

Published on 2011-04-03 09:34:25

A plain English explanation Based on alarms raised by scientists in Japan and elsewhere about the use of mixed oxide fuel (MOX) in the Fukushima reactor #3, the American Nuclear Society (ANS) published a technical brief on the issue on March 25, 201 > read more

46th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-04-02 21:04:34

The discontinuous nature of current events suggests this graphic of a mobius strip as the� design basis for a roller coaster The 46th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at Next Big Future.� The carnival� features blog posts from t > read more

When man does not bite dog is news

Published on 2011-04-02 01:30:56

The issue of how reactors handle hydrogen gets aired In the annals of journalism, improbable news stories are categorized by the headline “Man bites dog.” It signals the reversal of the normal flow of events and challenges to the logic of daily > read more

Fukushima reactor status news for 2011 04 01

Published on 2011-04-01 12:51:28

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake Source: The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office As of 11:00AM (EST), April 1, 2011 · Radiation Levels o At 7:00PM (JST) on April 1, radiation leve > read more

Fukushima reactor status news for 2011 03 31

Published on 2011-03-31 11:07:47

(NucNet from World Nuclear Organization did not publish this morning) Source: The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office As of 11:00AM (EST), March 31, 2011 Radiation Levels At 8:51AM (JST) o > read more

Unhappy about management of spent fuel?

Published on 2011-03-31 09:31:36

Blue Ribbon Commission says that applies to just about everyone A government special study group that is looking at the future of management of spent nuclear fuel has released a summary of testimony it has heard over the past year. The staff report > read more

Fukushima reactor status update for 2011 03 30

Published on 2011-03-30 08:14:13

NucNet reports on the latest developments in Japan’s nuclear crisis (Note to readers: Today’s status reports are courtesy of NucNet a service of the World Nuclear Association.� Regular blog posts about nuclear energy will resume later this > read more

45th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-03-26 18:33:10

Special edition with a focus on Japan’s nuclear energy crisis Dedicated to nuclear reactor workers everywhere who's prayers are for their colleagues at Fukushima The Carnival is a weekly round-up of the best blog posts from the leading U.S. nucl > read more

Fukushima news & information updates

Published on 2011-03-25 20:36:49

Where to get the newsA 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami have damaged nuclear power stations in Fukushima, Japan. These links are sources of information and news about Japan’s nuclear reactor crisis in Fukushima. Humanitarian Assistanc > read more

Japan crisis could affect some U.S. new build

Published on 2011-03-24 11:40:38

There are no tsunamis in Texas but that’s where the impact could be felt first This is my coverage for Fuel Cycle Week for March 17, 2011, V10:N416 published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. It has been updated to reflect break > read more

Webinar notes from NFC Fukushima panel discussion

Published on 2011-03-23 08:26:26

A panel of experts discuss the latest news about Japan’s nuclear energy crisis These are my notes from the discussion that took place March 22, 2011, in an online webinar sponsored by Nuclear Fabrication Consortium (NFC), a coalition of manufactu > read more

The news media and Fukushima

Published on 2011-03-22 20:13:28

As expected it ignored reality to provide its own version of events Firms that advertise on television love the weather segment in the evening news. Everyone wants to know about it, and the possibility of offensive content is pretty low. A new d > read more

Webinar – The Facts about Fukushima Nuclear Crisis

Published on 2011-03-21 21:09:20

What happened in Japan? The Nuclear Fabrication Consortium (NFC) has assembled a panel of experts to talk about what� happened in Japan last week at the Fukushima nuclear power station. The webinar takes place Tuesday, March 22, online. It is > read more

Fukushima nuclear crisis unwrapped

Published on 2011-03-21 05:31:58

Some things to ponder as the situation comes under control As I write this on Sunday afternoon March 20, 2011, it appears the crisis involving six nuclear reactors in Fukushima, Japan, is headed toward cold shutdown. That's good news for the tens o > read more

Links for news on status of Japan’s nuclear crisis

Published on 2011-03-13 04:34:15

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake has affected nuclear power stations in Japan. ANS Nuclear Cafe begins at | 0800 | 2011 03 11 | a media clip service on breaking news about the status of nuclear energy facilities in Japan. The news reports are in descend > read more

Updates on Japanese nuclear reactors following 8.9m quake

Published on 2011-03-11 20:40:56

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake is affecting nuclear power stations in Japan. A media track of reports on the status of Japanese nuclear reactors has been running since 8 AM EST at the ANS Nuclear Cafe. The blog is published by the American Nuclear Soci > read more

Quake related nuclear news from Japan

Published on 2011-03-11 07:45:05

American Nuclear Society starts media tracking service An 8.9 magnitude earthquake is affecting nuclear power stations in Japan. ANS Nuclear Cafe blog begins at 0800 2011 03 11 a media clip service on breaking news about the status of nuclear ener > read more

NRC renews Vermont Yankee license

Published on 2011-03-10 21:40:22

Rock blunts scissor ~ the federal agency concludes the reactor is safe to operate for another 20 years In the classic strategy game of rock, scissors, paper, as it has played out in the dispute over the relicensing of the 600 MW Vermont Yankee nucle > read more

Three senators offer bill to build small reactors

Published on 2011-03-10 11:11:48

The Senate Nuclear Power 2021 Act promotes design standards Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced legislation to direct the Department of Energy to develop innovative, low-cost nuclear reactors. The Nu > read more

High five for GE-Hitachi new reactor design at NRC

Published on 2011-03-10 09:19:14

ESBWR gets final safety evaluation report GE-Hitachi is due a victory lap after learning this week that the NRC has issued the final safety evaluation report for the firm's 1,500 MW ESBWR reactor design. It is a major milestone toward certifying t > read more

Davis-Besse to flip its 2nd lid in 2012

Published on 2011-03-08 15:18:05

Replacement of the reactor vessel head will start in October 2011 FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) Nuclear Operating Company's Davis-Besse 893 MW PWR at Oak harbor, OH, near Toledo, will enter a fuel outage in October 2011, which is earlier than called for in > read more

TVA Energy plan will swap out coal for nuclear energy

Published on 2011-03-08 10:09:07

A 20-year look ahead is based on higher energy density and lower carbon emissions The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has published its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filing a copy with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The plan will > read more

Social media meet-up at ANS 2011 National Meeting

Published on 2011-03-07 20:05:44

The use of online tools to tell nuclear energy’s story is a rapidly growing field of practice The American Nuclear Society national meeting taking place in Hollywood, Florida, June 26-30, 2011 has an evening session on social media and the nuclea > read more

Chernoyl at 25

Published on 2011-03-07 19:29:21

Every nuclear reactor is not an accident waiting to happen The ANS Public Information Committee has published a set of slides on occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident (April 26, 2011). The slides are available in Powerpoint a > read more

U.S. new reactor plans snap, crackle, & pop

Published on 2011-03-03 14:37:32

Progress noted in Texas and Virginia The nuclear renaissance in the U.S. had some tough going in 2010. The low point of the year was Constellation's decision to walk away from the Calvert Cliffs III reactor project over a dispute with the federal go > read more

Is USEC a ward of the state?

Published on 2011-03-03 14:17:50

There’s a whole lot of hand holding going on in the Forrestal building and Valentine’s day was so last February The Department of Energy, not satisfied with its own due diligence on the pending loan guarantee for USEC’s $3 billion uranium enri > read more

What future for nuclear energy in Eastern Europe?

Published on 2011-03-03 03:03:35

Delays seen for new reactor projects in the Czech Republic and Romania The $25 billion five-reactor new build by state-owned Czech utility CEZ has been pushed back by another five years, according to English language media reports in Prague. In B > read more

Canadian Institute: 2nd Nuclear Symposium

Published on 2011-03-02 12:19:56

The Canadian Institute’s 2nd Nuclear Symposium will provide you with the essential� information you need to secure a bigger stake in the future of the Canadian and global nuclear industry.� Hear from an outstanding panel of experts on the > read more

Three more states weigh in for nuclear energy

Published on 2011-02-28 16:41:03

Legislative action taking place in Missouri, Indiana, and Iowa The promise of carbon emission free electricity may be realized in three states that previously had few prospects for pursuing it. On Feb 23 a Missouri House committee endorsed legi > read more

41st Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-02-28 07:31:31

The 41st Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at CoolHandNuke.� It� is "a weekly round-up� of the best blog posts from� the leading U.S. nuclear bloggers.� If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear� renaissance > read more

Iran unloads fuel from Bushehr reactor

Published on 2011-02-27 02:19:15

New York Times cites alarmist statements from U.S. nonproliferation experts The New York Times reports that Iran's commercial Bushehr nuclear reactor is having problems with start-up. According to the newspaper, Iran told the IAEA last week it is > read more

Can NNSA deliver on mixed oxide fuel?

Published on 2011-02-24 12:07:48

Three utilities are interested, but production may fall short of demand A very big "if" in the equation to measure the potential success of NNSA's MOX $4.6 billion MOX fuel plant being built in South Carolina is whether the fuel can be delivered to > read more

Spain scraps phase out of nuclear energy

Published on 2011-02-22 12:32:02

Government renews three of eight reactors for another ten years A long-standing Spanish government policy of phasing out the nation's 7.5 GWe of nuclear powered electricity (18% of total electricity) is being reversed both in the form of new policy > read more

Spent nuclear fuel is actually full of energy

Published on 2011-02-20 16:05:50

Former NRC official says the time has come revive long-dormant reprocessing program Failure to pursue a program for recycling spent nuclear fuel has put the U.S. far behind other countries. It represents a missed opportunity to enhance the nation's > read more

40th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-02-19 05:04:29

The nuclear fuel cycle is a frequent topic in the nuclear blogsphere The 40th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at ANS Nuclear Cafe.� The carnival� features blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear bloggers and is a roundup of feature > read more

Two new entries to market for small modular reactors

Published on 2011-02-18 11:21:53

Westinghouse and Holtec offer “passively safe” light water reactor designs Two new small modular reactor designs were announced this week, both using scaled down light water reactor (LWR) designs. The use of conventional reactor technologies w > read more

New York could lose Indian Point spent fuel case

Published on 2011-02-17 09:21:09

A ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of appeals may weigh in the balance New York may lose it lawsuit against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NY state attorney general sued the NRC claiming it needs to conduct an environmental impa > read more

Vietnam's nuclear ambitions quickly realized

Published on 2011-02-17 03:21:41

Russia and Japan will build the first 4 of 16 planned reactors Flying under the radar of global market intelligence reports, Vietnam has quietly inked deals with Russia and Japan to build 4 GWe of nuclear power generating capacity.� A total of > read more

New York finds new reasons to litigate over Indian Point

Published on 2011-02-16 13:28:52

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman gets two other states to join him New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman (right) announced Feb 15 that he is suing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) over storage of spent nuclear fuel for up to 60 yea > read more

Energy Secretary Chu 2012 budget briefing

Published on 2011-02-15 09:38:33

Video and slidesIdaho Samizdat ~ http://djysrv.blogspot.com > read more

Can nutmeg cure small modular reactor woes?

Published on 2011-02-11 17:14:44

The battle for market share is tough no matter what era you are in Guest blog post by Tamar Cerafici A few weeks ago I wrote about the SEC’s bird dogging activities in the nuclear industry. NuScale and its primary investor, Michael Kenwood Capita > read more

USEC, on Fiscal Tightrope, Assesses Risks, Opportunities

Published on 2011-02-11 17:14:06

What does DOE want in return for a loan guarantee? This is my coverage, as published, by Fuel Cycle Week V10:N410 of 2/3/11; International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Financially challenged USEC (NYSE:USU) could succeed in building the new > read more

Russia plans new 100 MW fast reactor

Published on 2011-02-09 14:58:49

It is a pilot for a commercial fast breeder NucNet: The Moscow division of Russian nuclear engineering company Atomenergoproekt (AEP) released design documents for the construction of a pilot industrial fast reactor, SVBR-100, (conceptual image ri > read more

The global pursuit for nuclear fuel

Published on 2011-02-09 07:33:41

Brazil plans expansion to uranium enrichment Brazil plans to invest $1.8 billion to expand its capability to enrich uranium for commercial nuclear reactors. A conservative estimates is this level of investment could add at least 1-1.5 million SWU/ > read more

Eastern Europe update – Poland up, Romania down

Published on 2011-02-09 07:33:06

Poland launches nuclear contracts bid process (NucNet) Polish electricity company Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) has launched two tender awards for the country’s new nuclear program, according to a Feb 6 company statement. Poland has a lot of di > read more

AECL update – win some, lose some

Published on 2011-02-09 07:03:50

AECL’s ACR-1000 Clears Final Phase Of Pre-Project Design Review (NucNet) The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has completed the final phase of its pre-project design review for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) advanced Candu re > read more

Turkey trots out Toshiba to try for Sinop

Published on 2011-02-08 11:16:54

Negotiations with South Korea failed to produce a deal The Financial Times reports that Toshiba is “confident” it will seal a deal to build a 5.4 GWe nuclear energy power station on a Black Sea coastal site near Sinop. According to the FT, Nori > read more

Two states lift long-term bans on new nuclear reactors

Published on 2011-02-07 13:21:26

Minnesota and Kentucky open options to secure their long-term energy security Winds of change are blowing for the better for nuclear energy in two states – Minnesota and Kentucky. Both states rely heavily on coal which makes what is happening al > read more

38th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-02-06 04:46:24

The first known nuclear energy blog post is chalk talk at EBR-1 in Idaho on December 21, 1951 The 38th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at Canadian Energy Issues.� The carnival� features blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear blogg > read more

Idaho judge keeps lid on AEHI spending plans

Published on 2011-02-05 14:00:45

The penny stock firm that wants to build a $6 billion nuclear reactor is back in business The improbable fortunes of Alternative Energy Holdings Inc (OTC:AEHI) took another surprising turn this week when U.S. District Court Judge Edward Lodge lifted > read more

U.K. will depend on France for nuclear revival

Published on 2011-02-03 00:22:19

EdF and Areva have to get organized at home The United Kingdom currently has 19 nuclear reactors producing just under 20 percent of the nation's electricity. All but one of the reactors has to be replaced by 2023. Development of new coal-fired > read more

Talking about a sputnik moment is a mistake

Published on 2011-02-01 20:28:21

The reason is you are not looking at the right country when it comes to progress with nuclear reactor technology The New York Times reported Feb 1 that during the great recession of 2008 the nuclear renaissance in the U.S. went into hibernation. It > read more

Skeptical about new NRC blog

Published on 2011-02-01 07:48:29

Transparency is good, but making it a success requires more than just one way communication The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided that having a blog is a good idea. To that end it has started publishing one at: http://public-blog.nrc- > read more

Andrus blasts Idaho spent fuel R&D plan

Published on 2011-01-30 10:59:24

Decades of distrust drive the former governor’s heated rhetoric Cecil Andrus (right) is a big man, politically and physically, which means that when he stands up and starts shouting a lot of people pay attention. The former Idaho governor did jus > read more

USEC seeks future operations at Paducah

Published on 2011-01-29 12:02:12

Revenue has dropped and the future of the new enrichment plant isn't on a firm financial footing This blog post is an expanded version of my coverage published in Fuel Cycle Week V10:N408 January 20, 2011, by International Nuclear Associates, Washin > read more

37th Carnival of Nuclear Energy blogs

Published on 2011-01-28 15:30:47

It is a weekly round-up of the best blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear bloggers If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it. Past editions have been hosted at NEI Nucle > read more

Brazil talks turkey with France, and so does Turkey

Published on 2011-01-24 15:59:19

When it comes to new nuclear reactor contracts, where you sit in world diplomacy matters Brazil and Turkey are two nations with growing economies that want nuclear energy to provide carbon emission free electricity for their factories, cities, and t > read more

Saskatchewan wants to buy small reactors

Published on 2011-01-23 21:10:53

The sparsely populated province thinks node balancing its far flung grid would work Brad Wall, the entrepreneurial provincial premier of Saskatchewan, (right) knows that just mining 20% of the world’s uranium supply won’t fuel the region’s eco > read more

36th Carnival of Nuclear Energy blogs

Published on 2011-01-22 07:13:00

The voice of the nuclear renaissance is found in a weekly wrap up The 36th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at ANS Nuclear Cafe.� It features blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear bloggers and is a roundup of featured content from > read more

SEC’s hand in future of small nuclear reactors

Published on 2011-01-21 10:41:12

Action against an investment firm funding NuScale could jeopardize its quest to commercialize a 45 MW light water reactor Guest blog post by Tamar Cerafici One month after charging Don Gillispie, CEO at Alternative Energy Holding Inc., with fraud > read more

SMRs sail into headwinds at SRS

Published on 2011-01-20 20:51:41

Licensing issues could push prototypes projects off courseAn innovative program to build prototypes of multiple designs of small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) is getting off to a rocky start. The anti-nuclear group Frie > read more

China waves caution flag on pace of nuclear new build

Published on 2011-01-19 19:58:22

A government policy groups says the country should avoid building too many units too quickly The Bloomberg wire service reported Jan 11 that the Chinese State Council Research Office published a policy paper in its Outlook Weekly that the country mu > read more

Nuclear news roundup for 01/19/11

Published on 2011-01-19 11:29:58

Green groups line up to shut down Davis-Besse in OhioAn unusual coalition of national anti-nuclear groups and locals from the Green Party of Ohio and Sierra Club have begun to organize efforts to deny the Davis-Besse nuclear power station a renewed l > read more

Japan puts India in a pressure cooker

Published on 2011-01-18 19:26:31

No deals for reactor components without nonproliferation commitments India's refusal to sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty may delay, or even stop, delivery of massive reactor pressure vessels from Japan Steel Works (JSW). India has plans to b > read more

AECL sale prospects quit talks

Published on 2011-01-17 15:40:27

Government rejects bargain basement bids by Bruce Power and SNC-Lavalin Group The Canadian government’s efforts to sell the commercial divisions of Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. (AECL) appear to have collapsed after the only two bidders, also both Ca > read more

35th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs

Published on 2011-01-14 16:49:28

The voice of the nuclear renaissance is found in a weekly wrap up The 35th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is up at NEI Nuclear Notes.� The� carnival features blog posts from the leading U.S. nuclear bloggers and is a roundup of featured > read more

U.S / Russia sign nuclear trade agreement

Published on 2011-01-13 13:50:19

American firms can now sell nuclear technologies to and team with Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy export projects 11 Jan (NucNet) The US and Russia have taken “a major step forward” in civil nuclear energy cooperation by bringing into for > read more

Reactors rising globally outside of Asia

Published on 2011-01-12 21:04:17

New builds advance in UAE, Brazil, and Switzerland In December it became abundantly clear that the nuclear renaissance does exist outside of Asia. Progress was reported in the Middle East, South America, and Europe. There was even some movement of > read more

NY Times offers online course about nuclear energy

Published on 2011-01-11 14:24:05

Reporter Matt Wald will cover recent advances in nuclear technology and the future of the industryAmerica is looking for electricity that is clean, safe, and cheap. Where does nuclear power fit in? For those who want to explore the history and prosp > read more

Duke deal with Progress would create $14 billion utility

Published on 2011-01-10 15:31:13

The two firms have a combined total of six Westinghouse AP1000 reactor license applications pending with the NRC Duke Energy announced Jan 10 it plans to buy Progress Energy for $13.7 billion in a deal that will create America’s largest utility wi > read more

Saturday morning cartoon

Published on 2011-01-08 19:10:47

It is more interesting than Winky Dink Areva, the French state-owned nuclear energy giant, has a new video out about the transition of energy from burning wood to harnessing the power of the atom. It is very cool stuff.The video is part of a new o > read more

Areva U.S. CEO updates nuclear bloggers 01/07/11

Published on 2011-01-08 07:46:09

Jacques Besnainou says the Calvert Cliffs III reactor project is alive and well Areva U.S. CEO Jacques Besnainou (left) told a conference call of nuclear bloggers on Friday Jan 7 that the Calvert Cliffs III reactor project is still moving forward. > read more

Idaho inks new spent fuel agreement

Published on 2011-01-07 20:06:21

It allows a national laboratory to test small amounts of commercial spent nuclear fuel In what looks like a ray of sunshine in the historically tense relationship between the Idaho National Laboratory and the State of Idaho, a new agreement expands > read more

The Russians are coming to India and so are the French

Published on 2011-01-06 03:55:59

The U.S. is being left behind in the race for market share To see where India's drive is headed to build 20 GWe of new nuclear powered electric generation capacity in the next 10 years, look at its aluminum and steel industries. As India relaxes i > read more

Canadian Uranium for December 2010

Published on 2011-01-04 19:47:26

Rising stock prices fuel lucrative private placements This is my extended coverage from Fuel Cycle Week, 12/16/10, V9:N405 published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. The relentless rise of the spot price of uranium over the pas > read more

China’s spent fuel reprocessing plan

Published on 2011-01-03 20:35:33

A state-run nuclear group may also be pursuing fast reactors The Associated Press and other wire services reported Jan 3 that China has begun to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. The technology, tested at the China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) plant in > read more

Proposed ~ an award for excellence in journalism covering the nuclear industry

Published on 2011-01-01 11:19:47

There is no shortage of coverage. The question is how good is it? This is a proposal for the American Nuclear Society (ANS) to annually make awards to the mainstream news media for excellence in coverage of nuclear science, engineering, and the glob > read more

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