nuclear-news

Nuclear: There will soon come a time when it is too late

In Dr. Martin Luther King’s Nobel Prize Lecture, October of 1964, he raises the alarm over nuclear weapons and the constant threat of annihilation by nuclear weapons, as an “imminent cosmic elegy“. Ignoring the nuclear threat “does not alter the nature and risks of such war“, he warns. [1] In his speech at the Riverside Church, one year before his death, he further warns that there is such a thing as “too late“. [2]

Today we stand on the threshold of too late, with regard to nuclear reactors, even more than nuclear weapons.

Nuclear reactors and the related mining, processing and waste legally leak lethal radionuclides into the environment, all of the time, even without a major accident. Many of the most dangerous, like plutonium and americium, continue to build up in…

Opinion:

¶ Energy bills, the Big Six and the scandal of people dying of cold in their own homes • The UK’s Big Six energy suppliers’ fuel costs have tumbled, but they have not cut prices. Instead of looking into this, the Government has turned its fire on renewable power. And every 7 winter minutes, an older person dies from the cold. [The Independent]

Shutting down onshore wind farms by removing subsidies
will save a typical householder £0.30 a year. Getty

World:

¶ According to a report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency, Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring the Economics, increasing the global share of renewable energy to 36% by 2030 would increase global gross domestic product by up to 1.1%. This means about $1.3 trillion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Korea Electric Power Corp said it will design and build a digitized power substation in Bhutan. Under…

Mississippi River Traffic visible near Waterford Nuclear Reactor

In Reserve Louisiana the Mississippi was at 23.83 ft at 3 am 16 Jan 2016 CST and expected to crest at 24 ft, compared to 23.99 ft on 03/20/1997. In 2011 the crest was 23.97 ft on 05/18/2011

In 1997, the flooding of the Mississippi River only slightly greater than today: “While authorities were battling the overturned barge at Baton Rouge, 42 barges broke loose near La Place, narrowly missing the Waterford Three nuclear power plant intake valves. Runaway barges tore up wharves, intake facilities and loading platforms on their escape from captivity.” (Read more from NOAA below)

Waterford Nuclear Reactor. “Levee” to the right. There is supposedly a concrete barrier at the nuclear power station, but could it survive pressure from a levee breach and run-away barges? The Bonnet Carre spillway facing Waterford could increase levee erosion pace.

Riverbend Nuclear Power Station near St. Francisville, Louisiana

“AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM ON MAIN STEAM ISOLATION DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULT

On 1/9/16 at 0237 [CST], River Bend Station sustained a reactor scram during a lightning storm. An electrical transient occurred resulting in a full main steam isolation [MSIV] (Group 6) and a Division II Balance of Plant isolation signal. During the scram, level 8 occurred immediately which tripped the feed pumps. A level 3 signal occurred also during the scram. Subsequent level 3 was received three times due to isolated vessel level control. The plant was stabilized and all spurious isolation signals reset, then the MSIVs were restored. The plant is now stable in Mode 3 and plant walkdowns are occurring to assess the transient.”

During the scram, all rods inserted into the core. The plant was initially cooled down using safety relief valves. Offsite power is available and the…