nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Bank assists Indian village communities by providing solar power

Using solar energy to create viable livelihoods The Hindu, V. K. RAKESH REDDY , 22 June 12, Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank uses a centrally-sponsored scheme for people in Obulapuram and surrounding villages

The sun, which is the one resource that is abundant in Anantapur district, is creating viable livelihoods for the poor of Anantapur district with visionary banking by the Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank (APGB). Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | decentralised, India | Leave a comment

Clean energy pledges at Rio Conference

The commitments from the private sector totaled over $50 billion, according to the UN

Rio+20 summit: UN chief Ban Ki-moon unveils clean energy pledges, investments Economic Times, 22 June 12RIO DE JANEIRO: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that more than 50 governments have launched new energy strategies, while private investors have pledged more than $50 billion to help carry out his goal to double the share of global renewable energy and the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

Restart of nuclear reactors in Oi, Japan, killing the tourism industry

the distinction of being selected as the first town with reactors designated for restart has put a damper on the town’s ambitions to diversify its economy by becoming more of a tourism resort.

A survey released May 31 by national broadcaster NHK found 81% of people in the towns bordering Oi think the nuclear plant there may suffer a Fukushima-type disaster.

Japan’s Nuclear Restarts Worry Tourism Industry WSJ, By CHESTER, DAWSON, 22 June 12 OI, Japan—The Sodegahama public beach draws thousands of swimmers and sunbathers who flock each summer to the sheltered cove at the tip of a rural peninsula in Fukui prefecture. At one end of the arc of sand is a popular campground with a pair of historic bronze cannons dating from 1854. At the other lies a tree-covered hill shielding the view of four nuclear reactor domes 1,000 feet (several hundred meters) away.
As the Japanese government has moved to restart nuclear reactors for the first time since last year’s disaster in Fukushima, this seaside town, which depends on the plant for jobs and subsidies, is wary about of the impact on another major source of revenue: tourism….. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Japan | Leave a comment

Renewable Energy Report for USA – 80% of electrical energy by 2050

Renewable Energy to Power 80% of the U.S.
http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/renewable-energy-to-power-80-of-the-us/2266 New Report Proves Renewable Energy’s Superiority By Swagato Chakravorty, June 22nd, 2012 The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently studied how renewable energy can respond to the electricity demands of the U.S. in the coming decades.

The report, titled Renewable Electricity Futures Study (RE Futures), looks at the effects of renewable electricity generation levels between 30% to 90%, envisioning 80% renewable electricity by 2050. It considers key factors such as physical geographies and output
fluctuation, things that could disrupt certain renewable sources.
The report concluded that 80% renewable electricity by 2050 is a viable option with existing renewable technologies, mainly requiring advances in the electric system to meet standard electricity demand per hour. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear reprocessing is not the answer to Japan’s mounting radioactive wastes

The amount of spent fuel stored at power stations has continued to surge, standing at around 14,200 tons across 17 facilities as of last September, including the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.’s storage facilities are already almost full and contained a total of 2,800 tons as of February, while several power stations are expected to reach maximum capacity over the next three years if their currently idled reactors are restarted, industry
sources said.

Policy of recycling all spent nuclear fuel may be axed, Japan Times, 22 June 12,  Kyodo, Jiji The Japan Atomic Energy Commission has proposed both reprocessing and directly disposing of spent nuclear fuel if Japan’s atomic energy reliance is cut to 15 percent, a departure from the current policy of total reprocessing…

.. The changed tack comes as massive amounts of spent fuel are accumulating at nuclear plants nationwide and as decades-long efforts to activate reprocessing facilities remain mired
in technical difficulties, sources said. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Reference, reprocessing, wastes | Leave a comment

Another long distance solar-powered flight

Solar plane makes successful flight over Moroccan desert Herald Sun,  AFP June 22, 2012 A SOLAR-powered plane has completed a flight over the Moroccan desert to showcase renewable energy, as a key summit in Rio discussed “greening” the world economy. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, decentralised | Leave a comment

Russia resisting Israel’s push for military action against Iran

Russia’s FM warns against issuing ultimatums to Iran over its nuclear program WP, 22 June, MOSCOW — Russia’s foreign minister said Friday that Iran shouldn’t face threats over its nuclear program and that a quick settlement of the standoff over it isn’t realistic. Sergey Lavrov said the latest round of talks in Moscow this week between six world powers and Iran has been “quite useful,” even though there was no breakthrough. He said talks must continue without “any artificial deadlines or ultimatums.”..

. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is expected to face a strong Israeli demand to take a tougher line on Iran when he visits the Jewish state next week. Lavrov’s statement signaled, however, that Moscow will likely respond to Israeli calls for stronger action with its usual advice to be patient and continue talks..

.. The negotiators agreed to hold a low-level meeting on July 3 of technical experts in Istanbul, Turkey, before deciding whether there is enough common ground to hold another round of full-fledged political talks. A pause in negotiations may offer a new opportunity for Israel to argue that military force is the only way to stop Tehran from developing atomic weapons.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russias-fm-warns-against-issuing-ultimatums-to-iran-over-its-nuclear-program/2012/06/22/gJQArTgUvV_story.html

June 23, 2012 Posted by | politics international, Russia | Leave a comment

Friends of the Earth might expose San Onofre nuclear plant’s secrets and flawed designs

If it is approved as an official intervener, Friends of the Earth would have the right to examine plant records, present and cross-examine expert witnesses, and fully participate in a public, trial-like hearing on the steam generator issues.

The dispute is already having an effect beyond the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

Anti-Nuclear Group Seeks to Expose San Onofre Design Flaws Inside Climate News, 22 June 12 Friends of the Earth demands intervener status to expose safety problems at the idled California nuclear facility to long-avoided public scrutiny. SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.—A watchdog group intent on permanently shuttering the troubled San Onofre nuclear power station in Southern California has seized on the plant’s current crisis to expose the facility’s operations to the kind of public scrutiny it has avoided for decades.

San Onofre, a twin-reactor site along the coast between Los Angeles and San Diego, was forced offline Jan. 31 by a small radiation leak from a tube in one of the plant’s recently installed steam generators. Experts then found unusual tube deterioration in the plant’s other steam generators, a problem that’s so tough to solve safely that both reactors will remain idle at least through August. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

20,000 anti-nuclear protestors rally outside Japanese PM’s home

Japan protest over nuclear restart (Google News, 23 June 12, AFP)  TOKYO — About 20,000 people gathered in front of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s residence in Tokyo late Friday to protest his decision to restart two nuclear reactors.
“No to the restart!” shouted the protestors, who were led by investigative journalist Satoshi Kamata and Nobel Prize-winning author Kenzaburo Oe, who started an anti-nuclear petition that has so far gathered more than 7.5 million signatures… Japan protest over nuclear restart

June 23, 2012 Posted by | Japan, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Japanese government’s snide move towards nuclear weapons

Japan’s nuclear ambition, Tokyo has only to strike out controversial phrase Korea Times, 23 June 12, The world has long regarded Japan as a virtual nuclear power. On Wednesday, Tokyo took its first step toward becoming a “real” one.

The upper house of Japan’s Diet passed an amendment to the country’s Atomic Energy Basic Law to allow the use of nuclear power for “national security,” according to the Tokyo Shimbun. The addition of these controversial words was made so furtively that not only the
Japanese public but even many Lower House lawmakers didn’t know about
it, other reports say.

Despite denials from the Japanese government, there should be little doubt about Tokyo’s intention — nuclear armament. The stealthy way the Japanese parliament handled the matter proves it. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | Japan, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Pilgrim Nuclear power plant workers vote down contract, with safety concerns

Workers say the inability of Entergy to perform a safety drill is one more reason why the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) should shut down the plant while the workers are locked out. …

Nuclear Power Workers Vote Down Contract As Safety Questions Mount, In These Times, BY MIKE ELK , 22 June 12, On Wednesday, locked-out nuclear power plant workers in Plymouth, Mass., members of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), voted down a proposed contract by a margin of 137 to 89. …..  UWUA Local 369 President Dan Hurley announced that the union had voted down the contract.

“The hardworking men and women who keep Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant operating profitably and safely have spoken loud and clear: They will not accept cuts to their pay or healthcare from a company making record profits and paying executives in the tens of millions,” said Hurley. “We urge Entergy to return to the bargaining table so that we can realistically address the very real concerns of our members.”… Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | employment, USA | Leave a comment

Referendums in Japan about nuclear power?

Fukushima Watch: Japan Mulls Referendum on Nuclear Power, WSJ,  By Mitsuru Obe, June 22, 2012,  Do Japanese want nuclear power? Why not find out in a referendum? That’s what proponents of putting the nuclear question to the people are saying, pointing out that similar polls have been held in the United States, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden. Trade and industry minister Yukio Edano is one prominent proponent. Even before
his ruling Democratic Party of Japan came to power, ……As industry minister, Mr. Edano
oversees Japan’s power industry…

.. Unlike public opinion polls, referendums are supposed to be preceded by a period of intense public discussion. In Japan, a national referendum is required only for constitutional amendments. Such ballots can be called on other issues, but their verdicts have no binding power. Continue reading →

June 23, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment