nuclear-news

How can I help the people of Puerto Rico?
One way is to donate at [this crowdfunding website].

Opinion:

¶ “A more climate-resilient Puerto Rico?” • As Puerto Rico faces a devastating humanitarian crisis, an emerging viewpoint is that the island should think twice about restoring its electrical system as it’s existed in the past. Instead, this reasoning goes, Puerto Rico should plan for more resilient, distributed infrastructure. [Yale Climate Connections]

Trees and power lines downed by Hurricane Maria
(Photo: SSgt.Michelle Y Alvarez-Rea, USAF)

¶ “What is electricity resilience worth to you?” • Power outages are a nuisance to some, an economic burden to others, and even lethal in some cases. It is impossible to place a price on electric resilience that could be applied to everyone. So it is crucial that customers know what power loss could cost them as they weigh needs for microgrids. [Microgrid…

“President Donald Trump poses for photos with ceremonial swordsmen on his arrival to Murabba Palace, as the guest of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Saturday evening, May 20, 2017, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)“. Trump is giving Saudis tech info to make smart weapons. Is nuclear in the mix? Whatever the intent, nuclear power stations in the Middle East will lead to nuclear weapons there. https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/trump-defense-assembly-jobs-for-saudis-technical-specifications-to-saudis-so-they-can-attack-the-us-at-a-future-date-with-smart-bombs-etc-a-few-republican-and-democratic-congress-members-objec/

“Oversight Democrats to Gowdy: Issue Subpoenas or Let Us Vote White House Defies Committee Document Request on Michael Flynn While Flynn’s Business Associates Refuse to Provide Documents
Oct 18, 2017 Press Release
Oversight Democrats to Gowdy:
Issue Subpoenas or Let Us Vote
 
White House Defies Committee Document Request on Michael Flynn
While Flynn’s Business Associates Refuse to Provide Documents
 
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 18, 2017)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the…

Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy’s “eyes are nothing like the sun” (Shakespeare Sonnet 130, adapted.)


BIPV façade at MNACTEC, near Barcelona, Catalonia

Catalonia will apparently need to liberate itself from Spain in order to pursue its plan of converting to decentralized solar energy in its push to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050. Catalonia must liberate itself from Italy, still the largest shareholder of ENEL, which owns the nuclear power stations in Catalonia through a subsidiary named ENDESA. While France has been allowed to bail out its state-owned nuclear industry, the EU would probably say that Catalonia promoting solar constitutes unfair subsidies, so it’s probably better for Catalonia to leave Spain and the EU (especially Italy) behind. But, of course, Spain threatens to scuttle Catalonia’s government tomorrow and SOLARCAT would be scuttled with it.

Greenpeace Greece Solar Panels

On Tuesday, October 17, 2017, the Government of Catelonia approved the…

Science and Technology:

¶ According to two scientists from Harvard University, solar super-flares could blast the Earth within the next decade and result in trillions of dollars of damage. One said that such a flare today could shut down all the power grids, all the computers, and all the cooling systems in all the nuclear reactors. A lot of “things could go really bad.” [Sputnik International]

Solar storms (NASA image)

World:

¶ GE is to supply turbines totaling 158 MW to Vetroelektrane Balkana’s Cibuk 1 wind farm in Serbia. The project, located 50 km outside of Belgrade, will consist of 57 GE 2.75-120 turbines, with blades made by LM Wind Power. GE will deliver, install and commission the wind farm, as well as provide servicing for 15 years. [reNews]

¶ Large incumbents such as the “Big Six” utilities have an undue dominant influence over UK energy policy…