Archive for the 'technology' Category
August 17, 2012
Technology:
¶ A new battery design uses paper industry waste for the cathode, reducing the amount and cost of metals needed. [EarthTechling]
Japan:
¶ More information is gradually becoming available about contamination and casualties of the Fukushima Disaster. There was a marked increase in the death rate in Japan after the disaster. Not counting accidental deaths from the earthquake and tsunami, there were 38,700 more in the year following the Fukushima Disaster than there were for the previous year. [Huffington Post]
World:
¶ The entire energy industry is changing because of the changes in the solar PV industry, which is now at 32 GW and growing rapidly. The old energy paradigm is being turned on its head, and utilities are facing enormous challenges. [The Australian]
¶ Thousands of cracks may have been detected in the Doel Unit 3 reactor vessel. [Power Engineering International]
… Belgian regulators have shut down a second reactor made by the same manufacturer as Doel Unit 3, fearing it may have the same manufacturing flaws. [EurActiv]
US:
¶ The clean energy sector now accounts for 1.7% of the Massachusetts workforce, employing 71,523 workers. This number is projected to grow by 12.4% in the coming year. [Wicked Local]
¶ US carbon dioxide emissions have dropped to a twenty year low, largely because a low price for natural gas has induced utilities to switch from coal to natural gas. [Morning Sentinel]
¶ Owners of Millstone are looking for ways to operate Unit 2 when water is at higher temperatures. There is some hope that equipment changes will help. [The Day]
¶ The Omaha Public Power District says it cannot reopen Fort Calhoun, so it is turning control over to Exelon Corp. [Omaha World-Herald]
¶ NRC Commissioner William Ostendorff is under investigation for attempting to pressure the NRC Inspector General to stop a safety investigation. [Huffington Post]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
August 14, 2012
Technology:
¶ The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory has issued a report saying fuel cell technology is advancing rapidly. [Hydrogen Fuel News]
Japan:
¶ TEPCO has removed the vessel head from Unit 4 at Fukushima Daiichi, as part of debris clearing so they can remove fuel from the spent fuel pool. [World Nuclear News]
World:
¶ Lithium-ion batteries may provide stable electric micro-grids in many parts of the world without electric service today. [Energy Harvesting Journal]
¶ German utility giant RWE increased its renewable power production by 29% year-on-year in the first half of 2012. One of its plants is a 750 MW coal plant that has been converted to run on biomass. [Recharge]
US:
¶ One of the two reactors at Millstone was shut down because the water in Long Island Sound was too warm. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ A bill before the California legislature would enable community renewable energy in that state. [KQED]
¶ Solar power in Vermont: Yes in my Back Yard! in Charlotte. [equities.com]
… A solar farm is being discussed for Bennington. [NorthJersey.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
August 11, 2012
Technology:
¶ Researchers at Berkeley have found a way to turn many kinds of metal oxides into PVs, possibly reducing costs. [Ars Technica]
Japan:
¶ The Onagawa nuclear plant was closer to the epicenter than Fukushima, and experienced a tsunami, but IAEA inspectors say the plant was “remarkably undamaged.” [World Nuclear News]
¶ Masao Yoshida, manager of Fukushima Daiichi at the time of the disaster, has spoken about the disaster for the first time in a video released to the public. [The Australian]
World:
¶ Cracks have been found in a Belgian reactor vessel, and it is shut down for closer inspection. [Energy News Live]
… The cracks may cause the reactor to be shut down permanently. Since the issue seems to result from faulty manufacturing, and many reactor vessels were built by the same manufacturer, regulators from a number of countries are meeting to review the situation. [Market Watch]
US:
¶ A huge sinkhole associated with leaking gas has appeared in Louisiana. The sinkhole may indicate collapse of a brine cavern in a salt dome. One and a half million barrels of liquid butane are stored underground in the area and there are natural gas pipelines nearby as well. Clearly, there is concern that a disaster of major proportions could happen. [CNN]
¶ President Obama is considering waving ethanol rules because of the bad corn crop, resulting from widespread drought. [gulfnews.com]
¶ San Onofre has more WORST fatal flaws than you can shake a stick at. [MWC News]
¶ Vermont Yankee has one of the reactors listed as suspect because it was manufactured by the Rotterdam Drydock Company, the maker of the cracked Doel 3 reactor. The cracks are said to be manufacturing flaws. [SimplyInfo]
¶ The case of a Certificate of Public Good for Vermont Yankee, now before the Vermont Public Service Board, may be affected by the NRC’s decision to halt licensing. [Brattleboro Reformer]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
July 31, 2012
Technology:
¶ An advance in colloidal quantum dot technology has produced a record-breaking solar cell. This technology produces electric power using a thin film instead of semiconductors, and is 7% efficient, making it competitive with current semiconductor technology. [R & D Magazine]
Japan:
¶ The debate in Japan over nuclear power is bringing into the open the question of whether Japan should have nuclear bombs. [Associated Press]
¶ Japan will cooperate more closely with foreign governments, especially the US and UK, on decommissioning and decontamination. [The Denki Shimbun]
¶ Masao Yoshida had emergency surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage. He was the head of Fukushima Daiichi at the time of the disaster there, and previously had to retire because of esophageal cancer. Officially, neither medical problem was due to the exposure he had to radiation. [The Japan Times]
¶ TEPCO has now passed to government control, in exchange for a ¥1 trillion ($12.8 billion) bailout. [Bloomberg]
¶ TEPCO may use a balloon to inspect the top floor of Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ Germany is now producing 25% of its electrical power from renewable sources. [GlobalPost]
US:
¶ Owners say San Onofre could have both reactors online by the end of this year, providing nothing else goes wrong. [Huffington Post]
¶ Jeff Immelt, CEO of GE, says nuclear power is so expensive it is “really hard to justify.” [Albany Times Union]
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Tags: Fukushima, Germany, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, solar power
July 27, 2012
Technology:
¶ Researchers have found technology that may make it possible to produce photovoltaic cells form virtually any semiconductor, without doping. The cells would have low cost and be highly efficient. [Electronics News]
Japan:
¶ Hokuriku Electric Power Co. has submitted plans to tunnel under a reactor at its Shika nuclear power plant to investigate a fault. Separately, it has confirmed that one of the reactors at the plant has had several tons of seawater leak into its pressure vessel, causing extensive corrosion. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ A Malaysian project addresses poverty in a sustainable and comfortable “smart village.” The village produces both energy and food of its own. [CNN]
¶ In Zimbabwe, solar power makes it possible to cut the electric bill, lower carbon emissions, and take a bath in the cold of winter. [AllAfrica]
¶ In Germany, 26% of electricity supplied in the first half of 2012 was from renewable sources. The “alternative energy” portion of production rose from 3.8% to 22% in ten years. [Clean Technica]
US:
¶ The Vermont Public Service board has denied requests from the Windham Regional Council and the New England Coalition in the case on the Certificate of Public Good for Vermont Yankee. [Brattleboro Reformer]
¶ The US House of Representatives passed a bill that prevents the NRC from taking any “significant regulatory action” until unemployment drops below six percent. [Las Vegas Sun]
¶ Vermont Yankee accidentally drained 2500 gallons of water from its spent fuel pool into a wastewater system. [vtdigger.org]
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Tags: Germany, New England Coalition, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, Vermont Yankee
July 24, 2012
Technology:
¶ Scientists are working on a way to prevent zirconium based cladding of nuclear fuel rods from reacting with steam. [Lincoln Journal Star]
Japan:
¶ A government report says the underlying cause of the Fukushima Disaster was belief in a “myth of nuclear safety.” Managers and officials simply did not believe a major accident was possible, so dangers were ignored, with both preventative measures and disaster preparations unaddressed. unaddressed[The Japan Times]
… The same report says TEPCO is still failing to ensure safety properly and is unwilling to examine the problems that caused the Fukushima Disaster. [Wall Street Journal]
… In addition, the report suggests all nuclear power plants are vulnerable to the same problems that underlay the Fukushima Disaster. [The Guardian]
¶ Many hospital patients being evacuated because of the Fukushima Disaster died because of lack of planning and preparation. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Consumers are avoiding beef from the areas around Fukushima. [The Japan Times]
… Nevertheless, octopus from the northern coast of Fukushima prefecture have returned to market. [The Japan Times]
¶ A citizen’s group has found high levels of radioactive cesium at the side of a river 178 km (110 miles) from the Fukushima Daiichi plant. [Infoshop News]
World:
¶ Falling costs of photovoltaics and lithium batters are bringing Australia to the point that off-grid power is economically competitive with grid-based power. [Newsmaker]
US:
¶ The Oyster Creek plant was shut down yesterday because of loss of offsite power. [Star Ledger]
¶ The governor of New Jersey has signed a bill to maintain encouragement of solar power in that state. [Bloomberg Business Week]
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Tags: distributed power, electric power costs, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
July 14, 2012
Technology:
¶ GE is building a factory for a new battery it says can balance grid loads. [The Green Optimistic]
Japan:
¶ The new Japanese nuclear regulatory agency will disclose documents so citizens do not need to request them. Records will be kept at meetings and made public. [The Japan Times]
¶ After calling a restart of the reactors at Niigata vital, the chairman of TEPCO has come to admit the restart faces trouble. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Barriers and buses blocked the way, but the 16th consecutive Friday protest of nuclear power in Tokyo was well attended. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ Regulatory capture of nuclear regulatory agencies is a global problem. [Huffington Post]
¶ The UK is taking title of four tonnes of German plutonium in the country for processing, and giving ownership of an equal amount to France in a title transfer. This means shipping is not needed, and security is enhanced. [World Nuclear News]
US:
¶ Entergy has developed a plan that it believes will convince Vermont the deep bedrock ground water under VY is safe, and so has agreed to resume testing of a well. [Brattleboro Reformer]
¶ The NRC is one of several US government agencies that will be offering retirement incentives to trim its workforce. [Government Executive]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Vermont Yankee
July 12, 2012
Technology:
¶ New amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells can capture power both as heat and electricity. [Ecoseed]
Japan:
¶ A doctor who has specialized in health of A-bomb victims is concerned about the symptoms he is seeing in Fukushima residents. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Ohi Unit 4 reactor will be restarted on July 19. [Kuwait News Agency]
¶ TEPCO says the debris in Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 have been removed. [Power Engineering]
World:
¶ Australian group Beyond Zero Emissions has a plan to make that country 100% renewable in ten years. [REVE]
¶ Ireland plans to get 40% of its electric power from renewables by 2020. [Environmental Expert]
US:
¶ Former New York City mayor Ed Koch wants Indian Point closed. [Metrofocus]
¶ A report from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board calls for prompt action because of deficiencies in safety and safety culture. [Huffington Post]
¶ The Palisades nuclear plant is producing power again after an unplanned shutdown to fix a leak in the safety injection refueling water tank. [Nuclear Street]
¶ Honeywell is evaluating safety upgrades at its Metropolis Works nuclear conversion facility. Completion of upgrades will take 12 to 15 months, during which time staff will be at 50%. [NASDAQ]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
July 6, 2012
Technology:
¶ Graphene added to photovoltaic cells may improve efficiency by over 50%, and double-sided cells could be 50% more efficient as well. [Home Heating Guide]
¶ A new wind turbine design is being built in the UK. It is intended to be mastless for urban installation. [Specifinder]
… The article does not have a picture, but one can be seen at the McCamley website.
Japan:
¶ This BBC article lists the main points and recommendations of the parliamentary report on the Fukushima Disaster. [BBC]
¶ The report puts safety of the entire Japanese fleet into question, by implying the other reactors are vulnerable. [Atlantic Wire]
World:
¶ Worldwide nuclear electric production dropped by 4.3% in the aftermath of the Fukushima Disaster. [Bloomberg Businessweek]
¶ A report from the Confederation of British Industry says the government can cut its deficit in half by embracing renewable energy. [Solar Power Portal]
¶ The International Energy Agency projects 40% growth in the renewable sector in the next five years, increasing from recent growth of around 20%. [Engineering News]
Palestinians are installing PVs to reduce dependence on Israel. [Al-Monitor]
US:
¶ Departing Chairman Jaczko says the agency may not be able to renew licenses for operating nuclear plants for “a few years” because of a federal court ruling, but the plants may continue to operate anyway. [Platts]
¶ The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still divided and does not know what to do about nuclear safety, according to departing chairman Jaczko. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ We can cut the price of solar power in half by cutting the red tape. [Forbes]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
July 3, 2012
Japan:
¶ After 15 months, 40% of the people evacuated from Okuma, in Fukushima Prefecture, have given up on the idea that they will ever return home. [Daily Yomiuri]
¶ Mitsui OSK has built a hybrid ship to use for ferrying cars. It has solar, battery, and diesel power systems. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ G24 Innovations is starting to sell photovoltaic cells built in a factory in Wales. They produce power from ambient light. [RECHARGE]
¶ GE is supplying a wind farm in Sweden with ten 2.75 megawatt wind turbines. [The FINANCIAL]
US:
¶ The Union of Concerned Scientists is requesting the NRC to rule that all spent fuel at US nuclear reactors be moved to dry cask storage, allowing only five years to cool in spent fuel pools. [San Diego Reader]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
June 20, 2012
A quote for today:
“By telling the naked emperor to go get dressed, the Court has delivered an overdue rebuke to the NRC’s bad habit of pushing for the nuclear power plants while postponing the problems, as we now know the Japanese to have done at Fukushima. It’s hard to see how federal and state officials can justify putting more taxpayer or customer money at risk on new reactor projects until this situation is resolved.” Former NRC Commissioner, Peter Bradford [International Business Times]
Technology:
¶ Scientists and regulators are trying to figure out what to do about the potential for solar storms to disrupt nuclear plants, the electric grid, communications, and so on. [AOL Energy]
Japan:
¶ TEPCO’s report on the disaster has been announced by the chairman of the committee drafting it. According to CNN, it draws the stunningly obvious conclusion that TEPCO was not prepared for what happened. [CNN]
¶ Industry minister Edano has apologized for the fact that the Japanese government failed to use radiation maps supplied by the US during the disaster, with the result that evacuees were put in the path of fallout. [Business Recorder]
World:
¶ Solar panels are reducing Australia’s mains electricity consumption. [Eco-Business]
US:
¶ According to the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, current renewable technology could supply 80% of the electrical power in the United States by 2050, but government agencies grossly underestimate the apparently exponential growth in renewables. [Washington Post]
¶ A protest is planned for July 1, in which anti-nuclear activists plan to swarm the gates at Vermont Yankee. [Valley Advocate]
¶ Workers at the Pilgrim plant will vote on a new contract. [Boston Globe]
¶ A total of 174 MW of solar panels were installed in New Jersey during the first three months of 2012. [NJ Spotlight]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, solar power, Vermont Yankee
June 18, 2012
Technology:
¶ The price of solar power has fallen to the point that it is becoming competitive with fossil fuels. [The Conversation]
¶ Energy storage is becoming increasingly important as the world switches to renewable power. [The Motley Fool]
Japan:
¶ In a press conference, the Japanese trade minister said the new regulatory agency, which is set to begin operations in August, will make its own decisions on the 48 reactors that remain idle, independently of the cabinet. If this is true, then it could be that no additional reactors will be started before fall. [The Daily Yomiuri Online]
¶ In the days following the Fukushima Disaster, the Japanese government received accurate radiation maps from the US Energy Department, but chose not to use them as people evacuated. Some went into areas with high radiation. [The Asahi Shimbun]
¶ The Japanese government approved billions of dollars of subsidies for renewable power. [Eco-Business]
¶ There is a building boom for solar electric installations in Japan. [Bloomberg BusinessWeek]
¶ Those who wish to return to widespread use of nuclear power in Japan do not have a clear path ahead. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ Worldwide wind generating capacity increased by 40 GW in 2011. [REVE]
¶ German utility company RWE AG has decided not to replace its German reactors with new reactors outside the country, but is thinking about cooperating with communities to build solar farms. It may enter the private consumer solar business, as well. [Wall Street Journal]
US:
¶ The US is now producing more renewable energy than nuclear. [geoharvey page]
¶ A former nuclear waste dump in Pennsylvania is being closely guarded by Homeland Security after nuclear materials there were found to include materials that should were more “complex” than expected. [Centre Daily Times]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power, wind power
June 16, 2012
Technology:
LCD makers may begin to switch to manufacturing solar cells. The result could be a price reduction to 30¢ per watt. [Article in Bloomberg]
Japan:
Prime Minister Noda says he wants to reduce Japan’s dependence on nuclear power. [Article in euronews]
Prime Minister Noda has ordered the restart of two Ohi Reactors. [Article in the New York Times]
Ruiko Muto lives a Thoreau-like life in a rural setting in Fukushima Prefecture. She is a bit of a hermit, making grass tea and acorn curry, and reading by an oil lantern. Now she is an important voice of the Fukushima protest movement. [Article in Asahi Shimbun]
World:
Geothermal energy could provide all the domestic heat and about 20% of the electricity for the United Kingdom. [Article in Electric Light and Power]
The British Energy Secretary says the U.K. is committed to its renewable power goals. [Article in iStockAnalyst]
The Natural Resources Defense Council has released a scorecard ranking G20 nations and their commitment to clean energy development. We refrain from comment on how the US does. [Article in EnergyBoom]
US:
The U.S. military wants to get 3 gigawatts of renewable generating capacity, and is willing to deal creatively to get it. [Article at AOL Energy]
Entergy has postponed an emergency drill at Pilgrim. Striking members of the plant’s union say this is an indication of Entergy’s valuing profits above safety of workers and the community. [Article in the Boston Globe]
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Tags: nuclear power, renewable power, solar power, wind power
June 14, 2012
Technology:
A new catalyst may lead to artificial photosynthesis and solar manufacture of fuels. [Article in Scientific American]
A new report indicates offshore wind costs may be reduced by a third by 2020. [Article in REneweconomy]
Japan:
The new Japanese nuclear regulatory body will review the 40 year operating limit. [Article in Power Engineering]
As the last of local politicians agree to the restart, Japanese media says restarting of the Ohi reactors may begin this weekend. [Article in the Washington Post]
World:
World nuclear production of electricity fell by 4.3% in 2011. [Article at Utilities-ME]
US:
Part of Seabrook’s administrative building had to be evacuated because of an ammonia spill. [Article in the Boston Globe]
An agreement among senators of both parties backs both nominees to the NRC board. [Article in the Wall Street Journal]
Davis-Besse is running again after refueling and maintenance. [Article in the Toledo Blade]
Nine states have joined with the New England Coalition and other advocacy groups to support Vermont in its appeal of Judge Murtha’s decision. [Article in Power Engineering]
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Tags: New England Coalition, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
June 13, 2012
Technology:
Scientists at the University of Utah believe they have found a way to protect electronic devices in highly radioactive areas. [Article in e! Science News]
Japan:
Experts warn of more pending disaster at Fukushima. [Article in the Hindu]
It will take at least five weeks to restart the Ohi reactors, which means the period of summer heat will be half over by the time they are online. [Article in the Japan Daily Press]
The sea walls at Ohi may be too short. [Article at Wall Street Journal Japan Realtime]
World:
Nuclear power is more costly than renewables. [Article from xinhuanet]
German utilities are suing the government for billions of Euros over the decision to abandon nuclear power. [Article in The Local]
US:
The senate will begin a hearing on nominations of Allison Macfarlane to chair, and Kristine Svinicki to serve on, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [Article in the Hill News Alerts]
The Palisades nuclear plant has gone offline for a small leak in the plant’s safety injection and refueling water tank. [Report from WSJM]
An NRC report indicates seven problems need to be addressed for Seabrook to be relicensed. [Article in the Newburyport Daily News]
Citizens of two small communities in Iowa pooled their resources and are now generating more electricity from wind than they consume. [Article in R&D]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
June 11, 2012
Technology:
Alta Devices has provided details on new solar film technology allowing for flexible, highly efficient photovoltaic cells. [Article in Compound Semiconductor]
Japan:
Inpex, the largest oil and gas company in Japan, is increasing its purchases of overseas assets. [Article in Financial Times]
The Japanese government expects that 18% of Fukushima evacuees will be unable to return home for at least another ten years. [Article in the Japan Times.]
A group of 1800 people have filed a criminal complaint against 33 TEPCO executives, saying they should be held responsible for the Fukushima Disaster. [Article in the Japan Daily Press]
A panel of scientists appointed by the governor of Fukui Provence has approved restart of the Oi reactors. [Article in the Business Week]
World:
Cuban officials say they will increase the share of renewable power in their electric production from 3.8% to 16.5% within the next eight years. [Article in Fox News Latino]
GE will be investing $900 million in wind generators in Turkey, over the next three years. [Article in REVE]
US:
Workers at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, who have been locked out during labor negotiations, say the plant is not safely run by people temporarily assigned to replace them. [Article at socialistworker.org]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, wind power
June 10, 2012
US:
A Duke Energy wind farm will soon house a 36 MW storage battery. [Article in OA Online]
Opinion:
Johnny Johnson, Prairie Island tribal council president, spoke to the press about a decision made by an appeals court on Friday. The decision instructed the NRC to review its practice of allowing in situ long-term nuclear waste storage. He said, “Today’s court decision is a strong signal to the federal government that rather than avoiding its responsibility and looking for ways to legalize long-term radioactive storage at temporary sites, the federal government needs to comply with the law to build a permanent repository and remove nuclear waste from Prairie Island.” The Federal Government needs to obey the law! Wow! The Federal Government needs to accept its responsibilities! Bravo!
The quote appears in an article in the Post-Bulletin, of Rochester, Minnesota.
Here, in New England, we have a lot of groups of people working to bring some sanity to the use of nuclear power. The New England Coalition (NEC) puts efforts into legal and legislative battles, and is among those who represent science based sanity before public boards and the NRC. The NEC has also provided legal and technical support to the states of Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and New Jersey, including support helping produce Friday’s court decision. Pilgrim Watch has worked tirelessly in court and before the NRC to close the Pilgrim nuclear plant. Many other groups, such as the Citizens Awareness Network, and Safe and Green, have worked to increase awareness among the public of the dangers they face for the sake of the profits of corporate owners and managers.
Johnny Johnson has eloquently reminded me once again that we are all in this together. Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim, and Indian Point take up much of my attention. Fukushima gives me bad dreams. But there are groups fighting the same fight in Minnesota, and, indeed, all over the world. Johnny Johnson has reminded me of the eternal and cosmopolitan nature of valuing responsibility and lawfulness, which our government and corporate leaders seem to have forgotten.
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Tags: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, renewable power, Vermont Yankee
June 7, 2012
Technology:
Costs of renewable energy are falling. [Article in REVE]
Japan:
The japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is saying the Mihama nuclear power plant’s No. 2 reactor is safe to run beyond 40 years, if it is allowed to do so. [Article in The Japan Times]
World:
The future of nuclear power in Europe, including France and the UK, is not bright. [Article in Chinadialogue]
US:
Ray Shadis, consultant for the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, explains why Vermont Yankee is vulnerable to flooding. [Article in the Commons]
Indian Point shut down because of a generator malfunction. [Article at CBS Money Watch]
The House of Representatives is giving Yucca Mountain $10 million to revive its license application. [Article in Platts]
We are seeing a large number of articles on wind projects in different states. They include a rural 12.6 MW wind farm in Iowa [Article in Power Engineering], a 212.8 MW wind farm in Michigan [Article in Bloomberg Businessweek], and a 235 MW wind farm in Oklahoma [Article in Bloomberg Businesweek].
The fire on the nuclear submarine Miami was caused by a vacuum cleaner. [Article at CNN].
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Tags: nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
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