Weird Articles:
¶ An article in Forbes states that Japan’s choice for electricity is either nuclear or fossil fuel, with no consideration for renewable energy aside from an offhanded dismissal. In the course of deciding in favor of nuclear, the author, a geologist, gives no consideration to the fact that many of the nuclear plants in Japan sit directly atop faults, and most are in danger from tsunamis, and the entire country is threatened by earthquake. While the article acknowledges the fact that the Fukushima plants were lost, there is mention of neither why this happened nor what the result was. [Forbes]
Japan:
¶ Thousands of people, including a large number of non-political citizens, protested nuclear power in Tokyo, surrounding the parliament building with a human chain. [The Japan Times]
¶ Citizens who wanted to voice their opinions on energy policy at eight public hearings overwhelmingly called for Japan to give up nuclear energy by 2030. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ The anti-nuclear candidate lost in the race for the governor’s office in Yamaguchi Prefecture, but in the process he forced his winning opponent to change his stand on nuclear power. [Bloomberg]
¶ A new Green Party has formed in Japan, motivated in part by the government’s failures both before and after the Fukushima Disaster, and its willingness to restart nuclear reactors. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Chubu Electric Power Co. said it expects to complete a tsunami wall and complete other steps to protect its Hamaoka nuclear plant one year later than planned. [Reuters]
US:
¶ California is experiencing impressive growth in renewable electric production. Currently, 13% is produced by large hydro, and 19% by other renewables (slightly more than the 18% the state’s nuclear plants would be delivering if they worked properly). The expectation is that the share of renewables other than large hydro will increase to 33% by 2020. [Clean Technica]
¶ When asked about NRC member Bill Magwood, Senator Harry Reid, known for his soft-spoken nature, said he was “one of the most unethical, prevaricating, incompetent people I’ve ever dealt with. … I will never, ever forget what a treacherous, miserable liar he is.” [Huffington Post]
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