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Danger and expense in relicensing aging nuclear reactor

relicensing this aging nuclear plant simply makes no sense. If the true costs are included, the energy produced is extremely expensive, and the toxic wastes produced pose an unacceptable health risk.

Columbia Generating Station: Why relicense a nuclear power plant 10 years early? http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/07/columbia_generating_station_wh.html, July 30, 2012, By John Pearson In May, 10 years earlier than required, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission extended the license of the Columbia Generating Station, the Northwest’s only commercial nuclear power plant, to 2043.

Located along the Columbia River within Washington’s Hanford Nuclear Reservation, the Columbia Generating Station is now 30 years old. It was formerly known as Washington Public Power Supply System Nuclear Plant No. 2 — the only nuclear plant completed by Washington public power utilities out of five under construction, leading to what was at
the time the largest municipal bond default in U.S. history. Continue reading →

July 31, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Kyodo: Alarm sounds at MOX reactor in Japan, no “actual leakage” detected — Nuclear fuel loaded inside July 30th, 2012 By   (Subscription Only) Title: Monju alarm on sodium leakage malfunctions Source: Kyodo  

Japan Atomic Energy Agency said an alarm was activated early Monday morning indicating a sodium coolant leakage at its Monju prototype fast breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. Continue reading →

July 31, 2012 Posted by | reprocessing, safety | Leave a comment

Arnold Gundersen with the latest on Fukushima:

I think they will get to point of throwing concrete on Fukushima reactors and coming back in 300 to 500 years -Gundersen (VIDEO) July 30th, 2012  By    : Arnold Gundersen with the latest on Fukushima: its effects on Japan, and the global risks posed by the No. 4 reactor

Source: If You Love This Planet Radio Author: Dr. Helen Caldicott Date: July 27, 2012  Arnold Gundersen, Nuclear Engineer: So I think they get to the point where they throw some concrete down on the top of it and come back in 300 years… This is not something I can figure out how one would clean up… 300, 400, 500 years. http://enenews.com/will-point-throwing-concrete-top-fukushima-reactors-coming-300-500-years-gundersen-video

July 31, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Russia to get stronger nuclear navy, Putin says By Gleb Bryanski SEVERODVINSK, Russia | Mon Jul 30, 2012  (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin oversaw the start of construction of one of Russia’s newest generation submarines on Monday and vowed to boost nuclear naval forces to safeguard the country’s position as a leading sea power.

Warning that its navy would protect top energy producer Russia’s interests in the oil-rich Arctic, Putin led the ceremony to begin building the submarine Prince Vladimir, named after the ruler who founded a precursor state to modern Russia.

The vessel is the fourth Borei class submarine, designed to carry one of the country’s newest and most powerful intercontinental nuclear missiles, the Bulava, or Mace…… Putin is working to make the submarines and the missiles they will carry a cornerstone of the Russian navy, which will receive nearly a quarter of the 20 trillionroubles ($621.31 billion) to be spent by the end of the decade…… http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/30/us-russia-putin-navy-idUSBRE86T1D320120730

July 31, 2012 Posted by | Russia, weapons and war | Leave a comment

a SILEX facility could make it much easier for a rogue state to clandestinely enrich weapons grade uranium to create nuclear bombs

SILEX could become America’s proliferation Fukushima,

Controversial nuclear technology alarms watchdogs  http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/controversial-nuclear-technology-alarms-watchdogs/18138  By David Worthington | July 30, 2012 A controversial nuclear technology is raising alarms bells among critics who claim it may be better suited for making nuclear weapons than lowering the cost of nuclear power and could lead to a nonproliferation “Fukushima” for the United States. Continue reading →

July 31, 2012 Posted by | Reference, safety, technology, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Reid: Nuclear official is a ‘first-class rat’ and a ‘treacherous, miserable liar’
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/240995-reid-dem-nuke-agency-member-is-a-first-class-rat-and-liar By Ben Geman     – 07/30/12   Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has launched a blistering verbal assault against William Magwood, a Democratic member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission nominated by President Obama, calling
him a “liar,” a “first-class rat,” and a “s**t-stirrer.”

Reid, in an interview with The Huffington Post, also calls Magwood a “tool of the nuclear industry” and says he’s “unethical” and “incompetent.” Continue reading →

July 31, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Supercomputer Powered By Solar Panels, by Energy Matters, 31 July 12 A supercomputer used by Britain’s Met Office (the equivalent of Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology) is now powered by solar panels. The solar panel array will generate 221,000 kW hours of electricity per year – enough energy to power 67 UK households – and will avoid around 116 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

  Installed on the rooftop of the Met Office’s Exeter HQ Energy Centre, the array is linked to an electricity management system allowing for real-time monitoring of the panels’ performance The 250kW solar power system consists of 1,000 solar modules. The system was installed by UK company Sungift Solar.

Drawing on more than 10 million weather observations each 24 hours, an advanced atmospheric model and three high performance supercomputers are used to create 3,000 tailored forecasts and briefings a day.

Among the Met Office’s other sustainability efforts in relation to its supercomputers is a Direct Current (DC) power project; a system that is delivering a 10% power reduction and a £200,000 electricity cost saving per year.
The organisation has also invested in evaporative free cooling for its supercomputers. Large tanks installed on the roof of its headquarters in Exeter allow for cooling at ambient temperature outside the building for much of the time, rather than total reliance on mechanical cooling. …. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3318

July 31, 2012 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

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