Safety and financial woes of USA nuclear reactors
the Public Utilities Commission last week denied a request by Pacific Gas & Electric to bill customers $85 million for its attempt to extend the license of Diablo Canyon, California’s other active nuclear plant.
More Concerns Over San Onofre Safety, San Diego Reader, By Dave Rice February 7, 2012 Concerns about safety and the durability of components at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station are continuing to surface as the plant approaches a full week of complete shutdown. Continue reading
Virginia Uranium’ s lavish gifts to law-makers
Va. Uranium tops in 2011 gifts to state lawmakers, By David Sherfinski-The Washington Times, February 7, 2012 Virginia Uranium, which is pushing to mine a 119 million-pound deposit in southside Pittsyvania County, gave more than $120,000 in gifts and trips last year to state lawmakers — tops in Virginia — according to figures released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.
Lawmakers reported receiving a total of nearly a quarter million dollars’ worth of gifts.
The top five donors were Va. Uranium ($120,336) , Dominion Power ($16,916), Jonnie R. Williams Sr ($15,233). Alexander B. McMurtrie Jr. ($12,322) and the State of Taiwan ($11,000.)
Virginia Uranium flew 15 lawmakers to examine mines on fact-finding missions in France and/or Canada. Continue reading
The daily $1million costs of closed nuclear reactor
Nuclear Plant Still Shut Down, Costs Mount,Mission Viejo Patch, 7 Feb 12 A plant spokesman said Monday that the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is continuing in shutdown mode.By Adam Townsend, February 6, 2012 The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station remains in shutdown mode and is producing no electricity. As crews are assessing and planning repairs to leaks at Unit 3 at the plant,
The components are only one to two years old……. http://missionviejo.patch.com/articles/nuclear-plant-still-shut-down-inspection-ongoing
Lynas rare earths company suits greedy politicians, not the Malaysian people
Lynas plant a done deal from the start , malaysiakini, Feb 7, 2012 “……Manjit Bhatia: These protests against Lynas are very worthwhile. The Lynas project should never have been given the green light in the first place, let alone a temporary licence by the Umno-BN regime.
What’s really galling is that the regime went ahead with the latter despite Lynas failing to provide all of the mandatory guarantees needed. Worse, though: were there any public consultations about the project to start with? I feel the protests at Lynas aren’t big enough to put sufficient political pressure on the company to reconsider its operations…..
Although Malaysians have to cop a huge compensation bill to Lynas, it’ll be worth it. Just wear the fiscal pain for a decade.
Pemerhati: This is the price Malaysians pay for electing corrupt and greedy Umno thieves as their leaders……
CiViC: The concern now is exposing our people, our land to radioactive waste, radiation and pollution. This is not the people’s needs.
Thousands of people have protested, and still the dirty corrupt BN government pushes it through. And please don’t start with economic gains and such bull, there are no gains here since Lynas needs not pay tax, and the guarantee they have posted is not even enough to clean the plant itself, what more pollution beyond that…. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/188438
Social ownership of South Africa’s renewable energy sector
Renewable energy plans can create 50,000 jobs (With Video), Business Live 7 
Feb 12 The Department of Energy will seek to ensure that government commits R22 billion over the next five years to green projects and aims to create 50,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector. This was revealed by Energy Minister Dipuo Peters who was speaking at a National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) conference on Monday, which was looking at social ownership of SA’s renewable energy sector.
“We want to ensure that the state, through its entities, invests R22 billion in green projects with a commitment of R3 billion towards local manufacturing in the next five years, and at the same time create 50,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector,” Peters said.
She also emphasised that foreign companies can invest in SA’s energy sector, but they must bring with them their technology so that local companies can adopt it.
“The renewable energy drive in China could succeed because companies relocated; based in China, where intimately they perfected the technology and now they’re exporting the technology to SA. So we are also saying as part of our requirement for localisation, let us insist
that these companies that want to invest here, they must bring this
technology to SA.” … http://www.businesslive.co.za/southafrica/sa_markets/2012/02/07/renewable-energy-plans-can-create-50000-jobs-with-video
Renewable energy economy now paying off for Californians
The California renewables market is robust and competitive, Switchboard, Peter Miller, February 7, 2012 The market for renewable electricity is robust and competitive according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
In a report on the state’s 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) released yesterday, the CPUC provided a snapshot on the impressive progress that has been made in building the state’s clean energy economy.
According to the CPUC: The state’s three largest private utilities collectively served 17% of
their load with renewable energy in 2010. All three of the state’s largest utilities are projected to meet the requirement to provide an average of 20% renewable power from 2011 to
2013. Over 830 MW of renewable capacity came on line in 2011. Bid prices in response to the 2011 solicitation dropped 30% compared to 2009.
This growth in the renewable energy market bodes well for California’s residents and demonstrates the benefits of the state’s ambitious renewable energy policy. The RPS has led to a steady increase in reliance on renewable electricity, which means growing energy security
and price stability for California utility customers. And a competitive, orderly market means that costs are coming down, helping to keep energy clean and affordable for residents of the Golden State. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/pmiller/the_california_renewables_mark.html
A cultural bridge from Israel to Iran
Israeli Farsi-language radio station seeks to send peaceful message to Iran.Washington Post, By Associated Press, February 7 JERUSALEM — While Israeli leaders are increasingly sounding belligerent warnings of a potential military strike against Iran’s nuclear installations, a group of Iranian-Israelis are transmitting a different message.
Radio RADISIN, a private Farsi-language radio station based in Tel Aviv, airs Iranian music, poetry and current affairs shows aiming to spread peace between the Israeli and Iranian people — regardless of who is in power in Tehran.
“We, the people in Israel, are a peaceful nation and not an enemy, or the ‘little Satan’ as we are described by the Iranian regime,” said Shay Amir, the station’s 42-year-old CEO, who left Iran for Israel after the 1979 Islamic revolution. “For 32 years, the regime has poisoned its people against Israel. We are here to tell the truth.”
Before the revolution, Israel and Iran were close allies. Some 100,000 Jews of Iranian descent live in Israel today, many with fond memories and still strong ties to friends and relatives in their homeland. An estimated 25,000 Jews still live in Iran…..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/israeli-farsi-language-radio-station-seeks-to-send-peaceful-message-to-iran/2012/02/07/gIQAjdfJwQ_story.html
Poor conditions of workers in Africa’s uranium mines
The low ventilation within the mines caused health problems for the miners from Niger, Gabon and Namibia, who are portrayed in Hecht’s book. “The miners got more exposure of radon,” Hecht said. “Exposure became overexposure.”
Radon is a decay product of uranium and can stick to dust particles that, if inhaled, increases the risk for lung cancer.
Mine workers are also specifically told to ignore safety standards, Hecht said.
Michigan history professor gives lecture on Africa, uranium, The Daily Cougar, By Audris Ponce, February 7, 2012 African uranium mines have carried a significant political impact on international affairs since the Cold War and, more recently, in the Iraq War. Continue reading
Decentralised solar power saving money in USA schools
70 Percent Of Energy Needs Met Via Solar Power, Earth Techling, by Kristy Hessman, February 7th, 2012 Solar panels are popping up on school campuses across the nation as financial incentives become more readily available for schools that implement renewable energy as a way to offset their energy costs. In Arizona, Constellation Energy and Buckeye Union High School District have just completed a 4.3-megawatt solar generation project. The project will provide up to 70 percent of the electricity needs for three area high schools. Buckeye Union High School and Youngker High School in Buckeye and Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear will be the recipients of the new renewable energy. The school district has agreed to purchase and receive all of the electricity generated by the solar panels at a fixed rate from Constellation Energy under a 25-year deal.
The solar power systems include 15,468 photovoltaic panels on 29 carport rooftops and two ground-mounted installations. The project is expected to generate more than 7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. That equals a savings of more than 3,875 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent emissions from 760 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA data for the Arizona region.
“We’re pleased to celebrate the addition of three solar installations in our school district,” Beverly Hurley, superintendent of Buckeye Union High School District, said in a statement. “This addition will play an important role in meeting the district’s electricity needs and will serve as an educational tool for our students to learn about solar energy production.”
The installations, were developed by GV Enterprises and REgeneration Finance and built by CORE Construction. The project was coordinated with help from the Arizona Corporation Commission-approved APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program. The program offers financial incentives, covering up to 40 percent of the installation costs, to customers who add renewable energy systems to their homes or businesses. http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/schools-go-solar-in-arizona-of-all-places/
Wrap up of week’s nuclear news to Feb 8th
Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs
In the USA – where the greatest number of nuclear reactors are sited, nuclear secrecy is becoming an ever greater concern. The Department of Energy resists any disclosure of the costs to tax-payers of commitments in the loans guarantees proposed for the controversial Vogtle nuclear project, and resists any monitoring of the radiation hazard at Savannah River nuclear site. Revelations of the cosy insider arrangements between former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and French nuclear corporation AREVA, concerning that same failed nuclear project. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission getting more worried about earthquakes and floods.
The Iran nuclear question bubbles on. And Iran gets an earthquake rather near to its nuclear reactor.
In Asia – anti-nuclear public opinion rises. The nuclear lobby watches anxiously the Malaysian public opposition to Lynas rare earths company and its plans regarding radioactive wastes.
Russia to privatise its nuclear corporation, Rosatom. Safety anxieties in Russia, following a fire at its Moscow nuclear institute.
International conference strengthens anti-uranium resolve
• International cooperation against the uranium industry is be increased. It’s to be attempted to prevent ever more countries starting to mine. International uranium transports are to be targeted more to make them transparent and stop them.
Seven nations represented at anti-uranium conference in Germany http://indymedia.org.au/2012/02/06/seven-nations-represented-at-anti-uranium-conference-in-germany 06 Feb 2012, By SOFA Münster Two hundred anti-nuclear activists from Niger, Russia, France, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany attended a one-day uranium conference in the German city Münster on 4 February.
The main focus of the gathering was the demand to shut down the international uranium industry and to stop the worldwide uranium mining, enrichment and processing into nuclear fuel. Supported by 35 anti-nuclear and environmental organisations this was the biggest conference of its kind in Germany for years.
There was intense discussion of the dangers of global uranium mining. Continue reading
In amongst spent nuclear fuel rods – a weirdness, perhaps a mutant spider’s web
Could Spider-Man become a reality? Bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste that could have come from a ‘mutant’ spider Daily Mail, By TED THORNHILL 6th February 2012 Scientists are investigating a bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste – amid fears it could have been made by a ‘mutant’ spider. Continue reading
Reference lists for exposing radiation hormesis and quack radiation “science”
Posts in this Blog covering Radiation Hormesis and modern papers contradicting Radiation Hormesis, Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 6 Feb 2012,
Posts which contradict the theory of Radiation Hormesis. Continue reading
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) ‘s legal battle for transparency on nuclear costs
Nuclear Secrecy with $8 Billion on the Line, Clean Energy, Leslie Anderson Maloy, 6 Feb 2012, As Final Arguments Are Filed, Southern Co., Obama Administration Fight FOIA Request to Figure Out Danger to Taxpayers in the Event of Default in Deal More Than 12 Times the Size of Solyndra
Atlanta, Ga. (February 6, 2012) – With the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) believed to be within days of announcing the final federal approval of the controversial Vogtle nuclear project, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) has asked a court to stop more than two years of stonewalling by Southern Co. and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which are resisting any meaningful public disclosure to taxpayers of the risks to which they are exposed in the massive commitment of $8.33 billion in conditional federal loan guarantees to Southern Company and their utility partners for two proposed new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. Continue reading
Russia is privatising its State nuclear corporation Rosatom
Russia Prepares Privatization of State Nuclear Giant Rosatom, Publics BG 6 Feb 12, Russia has compiled a plan for the reorganisation of each state holding company and their subsequent entry into the market Having spent five years combining its nuclear power, engineering and research enterprises into the single entity of Rosatom, the Russian government now sees privatisation of the firm as part of a plan for industrial modernisation…
… its civil nuclear assets – for example nuclear fuel, reactor technology, supply chain, power plant operation, services and waste management – are to become a “public liability
company” with its shares “subsequently sold off….
….. Rosatom had a preliminary agreement with Siemens to partner in nuclear energy in
2009, but this faltered and in 2011 it signed with Rolls-Royce to consider possibilities “for mutually beneficial cooperation in a comprehensive series of activities in Russia, the UK and third countries.”, World Nuclear News reported. http://www.publics.bg/en/news/7037/Russia_Prepares_Privatization_of_State_Nuclear_Giant_Rosatom.html
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Protect Sazan Island from the Trump family! https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/protect_sazan_island_from_the_trump_family_loc/?bqFCVab&v=174511&cl=22707147157&_checksum=5e9dde668860e8231c33699735e16a1fbf22ab2cb01da50c999fe8732b9775ef&utm_source=email&utm_medium=blast_email&utm_campaign=174511
Cuba Is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State
PETITION: “Global Appeal to Endorse Palestinian Right of Return of Refugees”
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