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Citizens’ group promotes wind power in Switzerland

Wind power gains ground in Switzerland GenevaLunch Jessica Evans, 5 February 2010 New wind turbines at Saint-Brais, canton Jura, will raise Switzerland’s total annual renewable energy power production to 17.5 MW, according to Suisse Eole, the Swiss wind energy promotion association.

Switzerland has a limited number of wind turbines, but the Jura wind park is the first in the country to be financed by a broad citizen base: some 600 private investors are behind the two 2 MW turbines. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | climate change, EUROPE, renewable | , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s nuclear reactor safety features now too costly to compete with Korea’s nukes

It was speculated that those expensive features may have cost the company the UAE contract, and Areva has considered scaling back some of those additions for future designs.

Where Is Nuclear Power Really Heading?A Look at Obama’s Call for New Nuclear and the Reactors that Might Be Built by  solveclimate Dave Levitan – Feb 5th, 2010

“…….The cost issues surrounding safety have already come up internationally. The United Arab Emirates awarded a high-profile contract for a new plant to a South Korean company late in 2009, after the French company Areva had been positioned as the front-runner.

The Areva EPR reactor has some advanced safety features including a “core catcher” room that could help prevent compromised nuclear fuel from escaping the reactor, as well as an enforced shell that could theoretically withstand an airplane impact. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Nuclear Renaissance” just not happening

there have actually been very few new reactors started in recent years, and that nuclear energy as a percentage of global energy production has actually retreated since 2001.

NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE? Nuclear second coming could run out of steam – A Canadian think tank has challenged the idea that a nuclear renaissance is in full swing stating that new reactor construction is likely to be held back by a variety of issues : MineWeb Cameron French (Reuters) 05 Feb 2010TORONTO (Reuters) – Expectations of a sharp rise in nuclear generating capacity over the next two decades are likely overblown, a Canadian think tank said on Thursday, disputing conventional wisdom that a nuclear renaissance is in full swing. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, Canada | , , | Leave a comment

Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reducing Greenhouse Gases

the report estimated that emissions would drop 18.6 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Massachusetts positioned for steep global warming gas reductions -Boston Globe  By Beth Daley, 5 Feb 2010 As national legislation to reduce global warming emissions has stalled in Congress, Massachusetts is on target to reduce its own emissions more than 18 percent below 1990 levels in the next decade, according to a draft technical report released by the state today. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | climate change, ENERGY, USA | , , | Leave a comment

Medical Use of Ionizing Radiation Needs Better Regulation

Medical Group Urges New Rules on Radiation

The New York Times By WALT BOGDANICH
February 4, 2010

The leading professional organization dedicated to radiation oncology has called for enhanced safety measures in administering medical radiation, Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | health, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Energy Department carefully helping private uranium producers

the additional government supplies in the market could have depressed prices, making it difficult for producers to expand operations……….

Energy Dept cancels surplus uranium transfers

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) – The U.S. Energy Department has canceled plans to put into the market during 2011 extra government-owned surplus uranium supplies, Energy Secretary Steven Chu told Congress on Thursday, Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Future for U.S. Nuclear power industry really is doubtful

Problematically, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has a policy that does not require newer designs to be substantially safer than old designs,

Where Is Nuclear Power Really Heading?A Look at Obama’s Call for New Nuclear and the Reactors that Might Be Built by  solveclimate Dave Levitan – Feb 5th, 2010 “…..Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the president are making it clear that they intend to move forward. Thus, the question arises: After more than a decade without any new nuclear plants being built in the U.S., what exactly would new nuclear power look like?

Slowed Momentum, Escalating Costs…. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protest growing against uranium storage plant at Aldermaston

(UK) Anti-nuclear protestors dressed as Romans visit council offices to object to proposed development at AWE Green Reading  5 Feb 2010 A Group of ‘Romans’ visited the West Berkshire Council offices bearing ‘gifts’ of radio-active waste. The Romans were, infact, members of the Nuclear Information Service (NIS), a pressure group, who are protesting against the latest development at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Baltic sea: a Radioactive Nuclear Waste Dump?

Sweden wants explanation on Baltic nuclear ‘dumping’ By Damien McGuinness BBC News, Riga 5 Feb 2010
The Russian military allegedly dumped nuclear waste into the Baltic Sea in the early 1990s, according to a report on Swedish television. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by | EUROPE, secrets,lies and civil liberties | , , , , | Leave a comment

Misleading headlines on nuclear power plants

This week’s Economist/YouGov poll

SOME highlights from this week’s Economist/YouGov poll 5 Feb 2010

“Nearly half of Americans (47%) think nuclear power plants are safe.”

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Now that could more logically be headed “More than half of Americans do not think that nuclear power plants are safe”

February 6, 2010 Posted by | spinbuster, USA | , , | Leave a comment