Japan:
¶ It remains to be seen how the change in government in Japan will change energy policy, but it appears support for renewables will remain. [Recharge]
… The LDP, which won the election, has agreed with the New Komeito party to reduce reliance on nuclear power. New Komeito’s stand was that it wanted a complete elimination of nuclear power. [MarketWatch]
¶ The head of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority says it will not be influenced by the change in government. [The Japan Times]
¶ The NRA says the Higashidori nuclear plant is sitting on an active fault. [Businessweek]
World:
¶ The Australian Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics forecasts that most of the country’s electric power will be solar by 2050. [Big Rigs]
¶ A new Indian liability law makes the builder of nuclear power plants potentially liable for any costs associated with an accident at the plant. Russian told Indian to expect the costs of new reactors to double if the law applies to reactors they are building. [Indian Express]
¶ A national museum of coal mining in Wales will get its electrical power from solar panels on the roof. [Energy Matters]
US:
¶ The NRC will examine further what might need to be done to deal with potential problems from solar storms. The storms could shut down the electric grid and destroy computers, leaving nuclear plants potentially without power. [PennEnergy]
… Preparation for solar storms could include a two-year power backup supply. [Nuclear Street]
¶ Kentucky Power announced it will retire the 800 MW Big Sandy coal-burning power plant in 2015. [Platts]
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