2018 April 11 « nuclear-news

Fort Calhoun nuclear station scaling back emergency procedures

Nuclear plant emergency procedure scaled back at FCS, http://www.wowt.com/content/news/Nuclear-plant-emergency-procedure-scaled-back-at-FCS-479198163.html FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (WOWT)– By Josh Spreiter | Apr 09, 2018 |

Some changes are effective today at the Fort Calhoun Station. This is a part of the de-commissioning process at the old nuclear power plant which was shut down in 2016. People living within the “Emergency Planning Zone should have received a letter in the mail explaining this step.

Right now, FCS employees are working to safely de-commission the plant, a process that can take up to 60 years. Over the next year, OPPD will be removing the 101 sirens across the EPZ, simply because they are no longer needed.

An FCS manager says the used nuclear fuel has cooled to a point where the likelihood of a leak is “extremely low.” All the fuel will be removed from the pool and placed into dry cask storage on site.

Residents living with this zone will also no longer receive the annual emergency planning information brochure.

Over the years, the old nuclear power plant had some close calls. During the 2011 Missouri River Flood, FCS became an island itself. The plant remained safe and dry inside, but the flooding continued for several months as water was pumped out from behind a series of barriers that were installed around the plant. One of the barriers collapsed but the plant remained safe.

Even before the floodwater reached the plant, there was a fire in the cooling system used for fuel. It concerned federal regulators because the fire could have happened at any time, as workers didn’t fully investigate an unusual smell three days earlier.

Now, as FCS opens the page to a new chapter, people we spoke to say they have full confidence officials will keep them safe.

OPPD says it continue to have staff onsite 24/7. Technical experts will also be available if any concerns arise.

April 11, 2018 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | Leave a comment

California producing a surplus of renewable energy

California Has Too Much Green Energy, Daily Caller , TIM PEARCE, Energy Reporter
03/10/2018

California has frozen development on any more renewable energy sources as it wrestles with what to do with all the extra electricity it’s currently producing, Quartz reported.

Solar energy production has risen from less than one percent of California’s energy mix in 2010 to around 10 percent in 2017. On certain days when conditions are favorable, solar has supplied as much as half the energy used by Californians, according to Quartz.

The California Public Utilities Commission has proposed the state hold off on any further investment into renewable energy as individuals and businesses throughout the state continue to buy their own private sources of energy, such as solar panels secured to the tops of buildings. As more individuals invest in private energy, demand on the state’s grid lessens, Greentech Media reported.

California also has trouble predicting how much renewable energy will be needed at a certain time and controlling the power supplied. On several occasions, California paid Arizona utilities and others to take excess solar energy to avoid overloading its own grid, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“It’s really disappointing,” Independent Energy Producers Association CEO Jan Smutny-Jones told Greentech Media about California’s decision to halt renewable energy investment. “They’re basically saying, ‘There’s too much going on; we don’t know what to do, so we’re not going to do anything for a while.’” ……….http://dailycaller.com/2018/03/10/california-green-energy/?platform=hootsuite

April 11, 2018 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Forget Nuclear Power, – The Motley Fool – investing

Investors looking to cash in on growing energy consumption in China should focus on liquefied natural gas, not nuclear power. Maxx Chatsko (TMFBlacknGold)

Apr 9, 2018 China’s rise as an economic superpower has been a major investing theme over the last decade. Whether discussing the growth prospects for manufacturers of water heaters or smartphones, the world’s most populous country represents untapped potential that cannot be ignored. And the same can be said for the nation’s energy consumption………

However, the home-grown nature of China’s nuclear industry and poor market fundamentals for uranium result in very few opportunities for individual investors. That’s why those looking to cash in on rising energy demand in the market should focus on companies cashing in on liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of nuclear power. ……….https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/04/09/forget-nuclear-power-these-3-stocks-are-key-to-chi.aspx

April 11, 2018 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Apple now globally powered by 100 percent renewable energy — RenewEconomy

This achievement includes retail stores, offices, data centers and co-located facilities in 43 countries. Nine additional manufacturing partners have committed to power all of their Apple production with 100% clean energy, bringing the total number of supplier commitments to 23.

via Apple now globally powered by 100 percent renewable energy — RenewEconomy

April 11, 2018 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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