Science and Technology:
¶ Researchers associated with the National Institute of Health have presented evidence of extensive biological harm to wildlife in radiologically contaminated regions at an Academy of Sciences symposium on medical and ecological consequences of the Fukushima accident. [Herald & Tribune]
World:
¶ The head of Siemens AG’s energy division favors of an overhaul of Germany’s EEG clean-energy subsidy law so that renewable generators get subsidies only when the produced electricity is in demand. [Power Engineering International]
¶ According to a poll recently conducted in Wales, 64% of people would favor a local wind farm, figure is more than double the 24% who said they would support shale gas locally and the 27% in favor of nuclear. [Power Engineering Magazine] (This is significant because there are already a large number of wind farms in Wales, so many people are answering the question based on experience.)
¶ According to new data complied by the Government, 82% of people in the UK support the use of renewable energy sources to provide the country’s electricity needs. [Energy Live News]
¶ Japanese utilities are losing billions of dollars per year because nuclear plants are offline, but the Nuclear Regulation Authority is waiting until July to release the new safety standard requirements that all utility companies will have to follow. [The Japan Daily Press]
US:
¶ Another coal-burning utility in the Southeast announced that a significant purchase of wind power will benefit ratepayers. Both utilities Georgia Power and Alabama Power report that the wind power contracts provide customers cost-savings and more stable electricity prices. [RenewEconomy]
¶ Researchers from the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have quantified the significant value that concentrating solar power plants can add to an electric grid. [Today’s Energy Solutions]
¶ The Colorado House has passed a bill to double the amount of renewable energy that the state’s rural electric cooperatives must use to 20 percent by 2020. The vote was 37-27. [Denver Business Journal]
¶ Operators of the San Onofre nuclear plant may decide to retire one or both reactors by year-end if regulators deny or delay a request to partially restart the plant, as outage costs surpass $700 million and uncertainties mount. [U-T San Diego]
¶ Plans for two new reactors at the South Texas Project nuclear facility hit a roadblock when the US NRC has ruled that a partnership between NRG Energy and Toshiba, through the holding company Nuclear Innovation North America, violated a U.S. law prohibiting foreign control. [Dallas Morning News]
¶ The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is challenging the constitutionality of the 2006 “early cost recovery” law before the Florida Supreme Court and calling for a full repeal in order to protect customer interests. [Fierce Energy]
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