Japan:
¶ A citizens group that has been monitoring radiation in Fukushima Prefecture says its readings are consistently higher than the figures the government released. It is suggesting the government somehow manipulated the data it released and purposely misinformed the public. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ Despite claims to the contrary, generating electricity with coal continues a long decline in Germany, and the country continues to export power, even though several nuclear plants were closed. Renewable resources are now contributing more than either nuclear or hard coal. They may surpass soft coal this year as well. [Renewable Energy World]
¶ Chinese solar panels have been selling at below cost, helping to drive the boom in solar power. That may end soon. What effect it will have on the solar electric market is less certain. [Washington Post]
¶ The UK may be facing higher electric costs and blackouts by 2015, because coal plants will be closed early, according to the energy regulator. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ An ongoing news issue is that NRC whistleblowers are accusing the agency of concealing details of a possible problem from the public. A forty-year-old 385 foot tall earth dam, which supplies cooling water, is upriver from the Oconee nuclear plant. If it fails, the plant could be flooded, and its three reactors damaged. [Greenville News]
¶ Those who have a little extra time may want to visit some of the thirteen homes and businesses on the Solar Tour in Fairbanks. It is from 10:00 to 4:00 today, Alaska time. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner]
¶ New York’s Lincoln Center will be getting its electric supply entirely from wind power. [North American Windpower]
¶ According to Boeing’s Chief Technology Officer, the airline industry is “begging” for biofuels to power its fleets. [Agri News]
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