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Chief Hugh Akagi will present the case against having a CANDU-6 nuclear reactor on Peskotomuhkati land

Canada’s nuclear regulator starts hearings on Lepreau,  h

Chief Hugh Akagi says he’ll listen today and speak his mind this spring

Rachel Cave · CBC News · Jan 26, 2022  Chief Hugh Akagi says his 15 minutes is coming in May.

That will be his time to tell Canada’s Nuclear Safety Commission that he objects to having a CANDU-6 reactor on traditional Peskotomuhkati land.

“If anything goes wrong,” said Akagi, his voice trailing away as he contemplated the possibility of a nuclear accident. “Nuclear is being touted as green energy and I just do not feel that there is any compatibility there at all.”

Akagi will be speaking for the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group.

The organization has been granted $45,000 in federal funding to research and prepare a presentation that will take place this spring.

That’s part two of the licensing hearings that start today, as NB Power seeks approval to operate Lepreau for another 25 years.

N.B. Power will try to make the case that Lepreau has an outstanding record for safety and reliability.

There’s never been an industrial accident on site since it started operating in 1983.

However, the off-site emergency plan does raise the spectre of some devastating possibilities.

They include an active attacker on site, a hostile takeover of the control room, a potential aircraft impact, a credible bomb threat and the accidental release of radioactive material.

Akagi says he’s disturbed by the idea of having radioactive waste stored on site, and so close to the Bay of Fundy.

“This is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world,” said Akagi. .

“The damage… if anybody could imagine the damage. You’re sacrificing all the fish, the clams… everything would be gone.”

At 75, Akagi says he’s been before the CNSA at least three times before.

Most recently, he presented to the Commissioners in 2017, when the regulator agreed to a five-year renewal of Lepreau.  ……………. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nuclear-regulator-hearings-lepreau-1.6327509

January 27, 2022 Posted by | Canada, indigenous issues | Leave a comment

Increased mutations in animals affected by Chernobyl radiation

New insights into the effects of radiation from Chernobyl

by University of Stirling  Phys Org. 26 Jan 22, Researchers at the University of Stirling have found that animals in lakes closest to the Chernobyl nuclear reactor have more genetic mutations than those from further away, giving new insight into the effect of radiation on wild species.

DNA analysis of freshwater crustaceans, called Daphnia, revealed greater genetic diversity in lake populations that experienced the highest radiation dose rates following the accident in 1986. Radiation is the primary cause of these genetic mutations, according to Dr. Stuart Auld, who led the research.

Dr. Auld, of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, said: “Chernobyl is a natural experiment in evolution, because the rate of genetic mutation is higher, and all evolutionary change is fuelled by mutations.

“Normally you have to wait for generations to see the effect of the environment on mutations, and most mutant animals are pretty damaged so don’t live long. By sequencing non-coding DNA—bits of genetic code that don’t actually affect the form or function of the organism—we were able to uncover these mutations………..

The paper, “Radiation-mediated supply of genetic variation outweighs the effects of selection and drift in Chernobyl Daphnia populations,” is published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology.  https://phys.org/news/2022-01-insights-effects-chernobyl.html

January 27, 2022 Posted by | environment, radiation, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Leakage of coolant water from ice wall around crippled Fukushima nuclear power station

The operator of Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant said this
month that two storage tanks had leaked about four tonnes of coolant
solution used to create an ice wall that prevented groundwater from seeping
in. The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co Holdings (9501.T) (Tepco), said
the leak had no impact on the wall or the environment, however. But the
incident highlights its struggle to clean up the plant nearly 11 years
after a massive earthquake and tsunami set off meltdowns in the worst
nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

 Reuters 25th Jan 2022

 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/wall-ice-fukushimas-crippled-nuclear-plant-2022-01-25/

January 27, 2022 Posted by | Fukushima continuing | Leave a comment

China now well and truly the world leader in offshore wind

 The UK was previously led the world in its offshore capacity – but China
has just built more than double that in a single year. China installed 26
gigawatts worth of offshore wind in 2021, according to China’s National
Energy Administration, state-broadcaster CCTV reported. It now accounts for
around half of the world’s total capacity, analysis by Carbon Brief has
revealed, and is more than what the entire world has produced over the past
five years.

 City AM 25th Jan 2022

China built more offshore wind capacity in 2021 than whole world in last five years

January 27, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Local MP has vision for a non-nuclear future for Hunterston

LOCAL MP Patricia Gibson has spoken of her vision for a non-nuclear future
for Hunterston. The Westminster politician has thrown her weight behind a
call to develop a green energy plan for the site. She said: “The closure of
Hunterston B is the end of an era for North Ayrshire, regardless of
anyone’s views on nuclear power. “Jobs have been lost, with many more to
follow over the next eight years as the plant defuels and is then
decommissioned. “A plan to transition to new green energy generation at
this prime location must now be taken forward with a renewed sense of
urgency.

 Largs & Millport News 24th Jan 2022

https://www.largsandmillportnews.com/news/19855159.patricia-gibson-speaks-vision-green-hunterston-b-site/

January 27, 2022 Posted by | politics, renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Striking workers reduced France’s nuclear power generation by 2.2gigawatts (GW)

Striking workers reduced France’s nuclear power generation by 2.2
gigawatts (GW) and hydropower by a further 1.3 GW, data from power utility
EDF (EDF.PA) showed early on Wednesday. EDF workers began protests on
Sunday over a government plan to increase the amount of cheap energy EDF
must sell to rivals at under-market prices, and to call for higher pay and
pensions.

 Reuters 26th Jan 2022

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/french-power-output-reduced-by-ongoing-strike-2022-01-26/

January 27, 2022 Posted by | employment, France | Leave a comment

January 26 Energy News — geoharvey

Opinion:  ¶ “Elon Musk Not A Fan Of “Zero-Sum” Mindset” • Elon Musk isn’t a proponent of a zero-sum mindset. He’s opened up Tesla’s patents. And he’ll also soon open up the company’s Supercharger network to other automakers. He’s encouraged industry-wide electrification all along. Tesla’s mission is all about “accelerating the advent of clean transport.” […]

January 26 Energy News — geoharvey

January 27, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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