Japan to Reconsider Nuclear Phase Out 

 Who didn't see this coming, Japan has been relying on Nuclear energy for decades and never had any intention of phasing it out. They were on course to increase the nuclear output when Fukushima happened. To let one accident sway the energy plan of an entire country makes little sense and the powers that are now in control understand that. Increase oversight,learn the lessons needed and restart the reactors.

TOKYO—Japan's new trade and industry minister said the government will consider scrapping a plan to phase out nuclear power by 2040—a promise made by the previous administration—and could reopen nuclear plants that pass stringent safety tests and consider allowing 40-year-old plants to remain open.
The move represents a shift from the stance taken by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party during its campaign for the lower house election, in which the pro-business LDP called for creating "a society that doesn't depend on nuclear power." But the country's recent sharp economic slowdown, and the need to dispel concerns about energy shortages before next summer's upper house election, have led the LDP to become more vocal about the need for nuclear power, despite strong public resistance following last year's nuclear accident.

For the original story click the link below.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323300404578207110812336482.html

Last 24 hours have 'killed' French nuclear -

2-Enel pulls out from French EPR nuclear project. Last 24 hours have 'killed' French nuclear - analyst.

This is not good news for European Pressurized  Reactor being built in Flamanville but don't let this over the top headline (which are so prevalent in the media when discussing nuclear) bother you too much. French nuclear energy will continue without ENEL. 

For the complete story follow the link below.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/04/enel-edf-idUSL5E8N4DIJ20121204 

First British nuclear licence in 25 yrs.

 Despite the massive influx of anti nuclear sentiment and protests by organizations like Stop new nuclear uk http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/ and the near hysterical ramblings of anti nuclear activist Helen Caldicott or the self serving,self promoting antics of Chris Busby and Arnie Gundersen  Britain has issued its first nuclear license in 25 years.  This to me illustrates that the world may see all the protests, we may read of those chained to each other on the roads of nuclear plants, we may watch all the fear filled media circus reports spouting NUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON  at the drop of a hat but in reality most understand that nuclear energy has been quietly supporting our ever increasing need for power. I applaud Britain in its wise decision to continue its relationship with nuclear energy.

For the original report without my opinion click the link below and as always GO NUCLEAR ENERGY!!

http://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=820557

 

Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers No. 124 is now at atomic power review .

Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers No. 124

Atomic Power Review is proud to present the 124th Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers.  This rotating event, appearing at the best pro-nuclear blogs every week, showcases selected entries from those blogs and allows anyone interested to see just what was on the minds of those behind the blogs during the past week.

Followers of the Carnival are all too well aware that entry to the event when hosted here is predicated upon the requirement that those who enter take a look at some photograph or drawing and try to guess what it is they've seen before leaving the park, as it were.  Today is no different.  So, What is this?

To find out visit this link. http://atomicpowerreview.blogspot.com/

Uranium Plant Using Laser Technology Wins U.S. Approval.

 RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A nuclear power partnership of General Electric and Hitachi has received federal approval to build the first plant to enrich uranium for use in commercial reactors using a classified laser technology. 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a license to General Electric-Hitachi Global Laser Enrichment this week to build and operate a uranium enrichment plant near Wilmington, N.C., deploying the laser technology instead of costlier centrifuges.

The approval alarmed some advocates of nuclear weapons control, who say they fear that allowing companies to use the cheaper and easier technology could increase the risk of it falling into the wrong hands.

“We think the approval of the license was done without due consideration of proliferation,” said Edwin S. Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “We’re already grappling with how to cope with Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability” and the laser technology “could make the problem of global proliferation intractable and uncontrollable.” 

For the full story follow the link below.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/business/energy-environment/uranium-plant-using-laser-technology-wins-us-approval.html?_r=0

Seiko R-Wave Silver Tone Atomic Digital Travel Alarm Clock - Qhr017slh (Google Affiliate Ad)

 

Atomic Insights Smoking Gun.LNG ship builders and their financial backers stoke nuclear fears

Smoking gun: LNG ship builders and their financial backers stoke nuclear fears

Rod Adams ·



It’s been a while since my last ‘smoking gun’ report so it might be worth a brief reminder of what that categorization means. For Atomic Insights, the tag ‘smoking gun’ means a story that includes evidence of fossil fuel related interests working to oppose nuclear energy development, usually at a specific project. Some of the stories require reading between the lines written in order to see the evidence, others are easier to recognize.
Yesterday, a friend posted a link to a Bloomberg story with a headline that made the link between nuclear opposition and fossil fuel profits pretty clear – Japan’s Nuclear Exit Extending Record Profit for Golar: Freight. The story includes several juicy quotes indicating just how important it is for the LNG shipbuilding industry and the bankers/investors who back it to do everything they can think of to encourage more people to turn away from beneficial use of nuclear energy.


http://atomicinsights.com/2012/09/smoking-gun-lng-ship-builders-and-their-financial-backers-stoke-nuclear-fears.html#more-13052

123rd CARNIVAL of NUCLEAR ENERGY BLOGGERS IS AT THE HIROSHIMA SYNDROME.

 Stop by The Hiroshima Syndrome Blog for the latest in nuclear energy information.

 

The Hiroshima Syndrome is proud to host this week’s Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers, listing the reports posted by the internet’s most prominent nuclear bloggers during the past week. The Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers has existed for more than two years and is a mainstay of nuclear information for thousands of interested readers.

 

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

 

  

 

Nuclear fusion. The future of nuclear energy ?

Nuclear fusion is very close to the point where the amount of energy produced by the system equals or surpasses what's been put in.
Sandia scientists say that magnetically imploded tubes called liners, intended to help produce controlled nuclear fusion at scientific "breakeven energies or better, have functioned successfully in preliminary tests.
It's a key test of a concept called Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF),based on magnetic fields and laser pre-heating.

http://www.tgdaily.com/general-sciences-features/66235-nuclear-fusion-nears-efficiency-break-even.


Check out the cool nuclear earrings. I think I will get some for Mrs. Roadie.

Environmental astroturfing. The beginnings of the buzzword "astroturf".

Once again I see the catch phrase "astorturfer" being thrown about to support an anti nuclear diatribe on twitter so I decided to do some research on the origins of it. What I found is the environmentalist movement is extremely guilty of of being big businesses pawns all while putting on a Earth friendly face. I have supplied some links that show the depths of deceit used to push an agenda.

Here’s an interesting item from an environmentalist group opposing the Pebble Mine project in Alaska. They’re running a road show, not in Alaska, but in mainland cities to try and stir up the masses. Sign a petition,win a prize.http://wizbangblog.com/2011/10/19/enviromentalists-astroturfing/

What does New York Alliance for Environmental Concerns advocate for? Whom does Citizens for Fire Safety Institute represent?
Both, it turns out, work on behalf of businesses that produce or use chemicals. Lobbying always has an element of spin, but some organizations make it easy to misunderstand whom they speak for or what they stand for.http://www.cityandstateny.com/albany-astroturf-lobby-groups-names-story/.


Environmental Groups Tout Their Astroturfing Campaign As “Unanimous” Opinion.http://wizbangblog.com/2012/08/14/environmental-groups-tout-their-astroturfing-campaign-as-unanimous-opinion/

.

Disinformation and anti-propaganda campaign against Thorium and LFTR reactors.http://pche-sts.blogspot.com/2012/05/disinformation-and-anti-propaganda.html.

 

The Astronomical Rise of Astroturfing

So, with all the astroturfing currently going on how can you spot the astroturfers? 
A research group at the Indiana University has developed a program called Truthy that allows anyone to track cases of “astrotweeting”. Any search term can be entered into Truthy and the program will scan the Twitter API and build a model of how the search term originated. The group have even provided a selection of handy templates to help you decode the data!
http://neurobonkers.com/2012/01/09/rise-of-the-astroturfer/.

 So the next time someone calls you an "astroturfer" you can be better informed of where this started.

 

 

 

Carnival of nuclear energy 121 is at Next Big Future.

Stop by, take a look, leave a comment.


http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/09/carnival-of-nuclear-energy-121.html

Meeting on Browns Ferry plutonium plan Thursday

A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the conference room of Calhoun Community College’s Aerospace Training Center. Representatives with the Tennessee Valley Authority will also be present.


http://enewscourier.com/local/x1023274041/Meeting-on-Browns-Ferry-plutonium-plan-Thursday


"Nuclear Globe" (Google Affiliate Ad)

The unknown link between the military and clean energy technology.

Rare Earth metals used in wind turbines also used by the military.

A tongue in cheek headline like those used too often when describing nuclear energy.

The term rare earths refers to a group of minerals with chemically similar properties that are important in the manufacture of a wide range of high-technology products. They are used to make a variety of electronic goods, including smartphones and flat-screen televisions, and can be found in specialized industrial products like drills, components for electric automobiles and MILITARY equipment. They are also crucial to new clean energy technologies, ranging from compact fluorescent light bulbs to electric cars to giant wind turbines.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/r/rare_earths/index.html.

"12W T2 Compact Fluorescent Coil Bulb in Warm White (Set of 4)" (Google Affiliate Ad)"12W T2 Compact Fluorescent Coil Bulb in Warm White (Set of 4)" (Google Affiliate Ad)

If it is nuclear related it is fair game.Mars rover Curiosity is the latest anti nuclear target.

Curiosity's dirty little secret.

Curiosity runs on plutonium from a Soviet-era nuclear weapons plant.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/curiositys-dirty-little-secret-20120828-24xvn.html#ixzz25Nv3Pxwn

Korea to Build Nuke Fuel Storage Facility

The government has decided to build an intermediate storage facility for spent nuclear fuel by 2024 as hopes fade of persuading the U.S. to let Korea reprocess its own spent fuel rods.

Currently, spent nuclear fuel is stored in temporary storage facilities in nuclear power plants, but the government decided to build an intermediate facility since they will reach saturation by 2016. 

Read the full story here.http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/09/03/2012090300585.html.

 

La Crosse Technology Analog Atomic Wall Clock (Google Affiliate Ad)

The 119th weekly Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Yes Vermont Yankee

The Carnival is the collective voice of blogs by legendary names that emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy.

If you want to hear the voice of the nuclear renaissance, the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is where to find it.

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2012/08/26/119th-carnival-of-nuclear-energy-bloggers/.

EDF seeks Chinese nuclear partners.No word on the search for American partners.

EDF, the French utility, is trying to link up with a Chinese company to build new nuclear reactors in the UK, amid growing concern about the rising cost of nuclear energy.

 http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2a1207ee-f54a-11e1-b120-00144feabdc0.html#axzz25MkdtpeK.

Wind energy's ghosts.

Wiwo...wiwo...wiwo.  
The sound floats on the winds of Ka Lae, this southernmost tip of Hawaii's Big Island, where Polynesian colonists first landed some 1,500 years ago.
Some say that Ka Lae is haunted -- and it is. But it's haunted not by Hawaii's legendary night marchers. The mysterious sounds are "Na leo o Kamaoa"-- the disembodied voices of 37 skeletal wind turbines abandoned to rust on the hundred-acre site of the former Kamaoa Wind Farm.

http://hawaiifreepress.com/main/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1698/Wind-Energys-Ghosts.aspx.

Startup NuScale holds its own in game of nuclear giants. Are SMR's the future of nuclear energy?

Nuclear power startup NuScale Power LLC is competing against some of the biggest names in the business for a U.S. federal grant to develop the next generation of nuclear reactors -- and it is playing the safety card.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/31/us-nuclear-smallmodular-nuscale-idUSBRE87U0RC20120831.

COLD WAR RELIC IN NUCLEAR POLICY

 Here is an opinion piece by David Repka  regarding the NRC's no foreign ownership policy. Is it an antiquated relic from a different era ? I believe it is.



these cases reveal the statute itself as a Cold War relic that may now stand as a significant impediment to foreign investment in major U.S. infrastructure projects. Other provisions of the Act assure that no license may be issued by the NRC if the license would be “inimical” to safety and security of the United States. The FOCD provision in the Atomic Energy Act — one that may prevent foreign investment in projects otherwise controlled by U.S. companies — raises significant policy questions and appears to be inconsistent with the current global nature of the nuclear energy industry.

http://www.winston.com/siteFiles/Publications/Energy_Trends.pdf.

EDF given 60 days to find domestic partner. Calvert Cliffs 3 hangs in the balance.

The US nuclear regulator has taken the unusual step of denying a licence to EDF of France to build and operate a new reactor at Calvert Cliffs in Maryland, in the latest blow to hopes of an American “nuclear renaissance”.
The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, part of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, denied the application on the grounds that foreign companies, such as EDF, are not allowed to control US nuclear plants.

EDF has known about this for years.The first I heard about it was in 2011.http://www.somdnews.com/article/20110713/NEWS/707139549/1074/1074/nrc-panel-grills-unistar&template=southernMaryland.

 http://www.somdnews.com/article/20120831/NEWS/708319556/1074/nrc-licensing-board-denies-calvert-cliffs-unit-3-project&template=southernMaryland.

It would seem that EDF has no intention of building unit 3 at Calvert Cliffs.

Here is the latest article.http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c32090e4-f393-11e1-b3a2-00144feabdc0.html#axzz25DGzVmcW.

Dresden nuclear plant Unit 2 down for maintenance

Exelon Corp. says one of its nuclear reactors at the Dresden Generating Station in Morris, Ill. has been taken offline for maintenance.
Spokesman Bob Osgood says Unit 2 was taken down Thursday afternoon so crews can work on small water tubes within the unit's condenser and perform other routine maintenance.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-31/dresden-nuclear-plant-unit-2-down-for-maintenance

Southern Expects First Nuclear Milestone After NRC Review

Let the building begin,people need jobs to survive.

 

 Southern Co. (SO) expects to pour the first “nuclear concrete” for its $14 billion atomic construction project in October, a milestone it can reach only if federal regulators condense into two months a license amendment review that normally takes about a year. 

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-31/southern-expects-first-nuclear-milestone-after-nrc-review 

I would like to share my appreciation for Meredith Angwin in recommending       my  blog.  She has shown herself to be a dedicated and articulate nuclear energy advocate.

I wish her nothing but the best in what at times seems a difficult position to take.

You can view her blog here.

http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2012/08/welcome-to-new-blogs-from-nuke-roadie.html#.UECjlHnDPMo

Federal regulators denied a license Thursday to the French-controlled company for a proposed third nuclear reactor at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Southern Maryland, giving the company 60 days to find a U.S. partner.

Will unistar  find a domestic partner or will Maryland lose a third reactor at calvert cliffs ?

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-calvert-cliffs-denied-20120830,0,2877914.story

Three mile island safely shuts down to repair a pinhole leak.

Exelon “deserves credit’’ for taking the plant offline during a season of peak energy demand, said Eric Epstein, chairman of TMI-Alert, a nuclear energy watchdog.

http://www.pressandjournal.com/articleDetail.aspx?id=5314

Astroturfing, It is the latest buzz word used by anyone with a weak defense.

I see this term used as a last ditch effort  constantly when the opposing side (that would be anti nuclear energy in my case) can not dispute the facts presented. It is a tactic that seeks to discredit the person when discrediting the facts is impossible. In my years promoting nuclear energy as safe,clean and abundant I have been personally verbally attacked ,  my family has been threatened, I have been called every name you could imagine yet nothing irritates me more than the dismissive comment "Astroturfer". It is akin to the hand in the air "Whatever" comment I used to get from from my children when they could not defend themselves for some misdeed that I was aware of. It is a juvenile response to authority ( intellectually or physically) that I now find myself ,amongst others, having to deal with again. I follow nuclear energy very closely weather it is news,tweets,facebook,etc and I constantly challenge any facts I see as distorted or outright lies and  what I have learned is the anti nuclear contingent will use any tactic they can to further their agenda. They will use the emotional sides of good people as fodder to feed off their fears and insecurities, they will use mothers as willing pawns by raising their maternal instincts to a height unimagined with suggestions of horrible deaths for their children and they will use children as a shield to any retorts.Granted this is the most extreme of anti nuclear opponents tactics but I see it time and again. It is becoming all to familiar. Still, the term astroturfer stands out among them all. If you find yourself being called that you must understand that you have made a point that your opponent can NOT dispute or discredit. Maybe with time others will see it also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

Palisades nuclear plant returned to service.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/30/palisades-nuclear-plant-returned-to-service/

Nuclear power generation in Indiana got a boost Tuesday when Mike Pence, the GOP candidate for governor, said the time has come for it to be part of the conversation regarding Indiana’s future energy needs.  

 

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120828/NEWS07/120829496 

The Search For Nuclear Happiness

By Meredith Angwin


I am a nuclear advocate, and sometimes I find myself thinking, Why am I doing this nuclear activism thing? Do I like confrontation? Do I like it when I get a hate email?

NRC officials with police escort evacuate meeting in Brattleboro VT

Do I like to go to contentious Nuclear Regulatory Commission meetings where the NRC people are intimidated into leaving the room? Or to Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel meetings where opponents ask endless questions about nuclear safety? The answer is no. I don’t like to go to such meetings!
http://ansnuclearcafe.org/

Nuclear row splits French government

François Hollande under pressure over economy, eurozone treaty and minister's comments that nuclear power was the future.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/28/nuclear-row-splits-french-government?newsfeed=true 

Coffey County Lake still has plenty of water to maintain normal operations at the plant for the foreseeable future.The lake plays an important role in providing water to cool the reactor of the state’s only nuclear power plant. The Wolf Creek Power plant uses the 5,000-acre Coffey County Lake to directly cool the power plant.


 http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/aug/27/diminishing-reservoir-levels-raise-nuclear-plant-a/

Limerick nuclear plant subject of two hearings tonight

.http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120828/OPINION01/120829415/limerick-nuclear-plant-subject-of-two-hearings-tonight-

Nuclear Energy Proponent Criticizes Natural Gas, Upsets Some Delegates.

A nuclear energy expert from Maryland found himself under fire from some members of the state's Republican delegation during his Monday breakfast speech after criticizing natural gas fracking and its viability as a primary energy source. Finally , someone that speaks his mind.
 http://somd.com/news/headlines/2012/15852.shtml

Frog Mutations [and the Fukushima Butterfly Mutations]

Frog Mutations [and the Fukushima Butterfly Mutations] 

 According to studies and a documentary released by PBS, the world is currently experiencing the greatest mass extinction since the dinosaurs.  We are losing frogs of all types worldwide in a dramatic fashion, and many of those that are left are exhibiting never before seen mutations.  And the primary cause identified is the effect of mass amounts of hormones, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers used worldwide by homes, businesses, cities, and the agricultural and farming industries.

http://thingsworsethannuclearpower.blogspot.com/2012/08/frog-mutations-and-fukushima-butterfly.html 

Bulgaria picks Westinghouse to study new nuclear unit.

 Bulgaria has relaunched its nuclear power programme, hiring Westinghouse to prepare a proposal for a third reactor at its Kozloduy site, having shelved plans to build a new plant at Belene in March after failing to attract foreign investors.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/27/bulgaria-nuclear-kozloduy-idUSL5E8JR68820120827

 

 

 

 

Atomic Energy chief seeks media’s help for awareness about nuclear plants.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/atomic-energy-chief-seeks-medias-help-for-awareness-about-nuclear-plants/994194/.

Aging nuclear plant troubles regulators but not neighbors.

 It is interesting to see the different opinions on nuclear energy. It seems that those more familiar with it are less fearful of it.This is a concept that nuclear plant owners and the NRC need to grasp.The advertising budget needs to be increased,the industry must fight back against the torrential influx of bad press.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120827/METRO/208270344#ixzz24ngOxFGe

Operator of troubled Calif. nuclear plant prepares to pull fuel from damaged reactor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/operator-of-troubled-calif-nuclear-plant-prepares-to-pull-fuel-from-damaged-reactor/2012/08/27/a3783ad8-f09d-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html.