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Spain will gradually close nuclear plants

Spain says has power to spare, can phase out nukes  Sep 28, 2009  By Martin Roberts MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s top energy official said on Monday the country had enough spare generating capacity to phase out nuclear power stations Continue reading →

September 29, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY, Spain | , , | Leave a comment

Is Nuclear Power Really “Carbon Neutral?”

Tree Hugger

Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 09.28.09

“…… nuclear energy is not “carbon neutral.” Wind and solar can also not be said to be entirely without greenhouse gas emissions. But with truly renewable energy sources such as solar and wind we are talking about a one-time “investment” of greenhouse gas emissions when the solar panels or windmills are built. Continue reading →

September 29, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, climate change | , , , | Leave a comment

New Solar online forums for scientists and public

Energy Matters Launches Australian Solar Power Online Forums
Melbourne, Victoria, September 25, 2009. Energy Matters, a national provider of solar power solutions for home, business and community groups has launched an online community to cater to supporters of solar power and other forms of renewable energy in Australia. Continue reading →

September 26, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, climate change, ENERGY | , | Leave a comment

USA Business leaders urge solar power support

Business leaders urge solar power support
San Francisco Chronicle J ennifer A. Dlouhy, Hearst Washington Bureau September 25, 2009 The wide deployment of solar power across the nation hinges on federal policies that mandate renewable power and government spending to promote the technology, utilities and manufacturers told Congress Thursday….. Continue reading →

September 26, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY, USA | , | Leave a comment

Nuclear lies being promoted in New York

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Beyond Nuclear said it some time ago: “Nuclear power has been kept outside of climate change mitigation mechanisms to date. However, some evidence shows that the nuclear lobby could be preparing its comeback in Copenhagen to have this dirty energy labeled as clean or carbon-free and thus benefit from new subsidies.”

And – lo and behold! Britain’s PM is there spruiking “Atoms for Peace!”. We’re supposed to believe that promoting nuclear energy will, by some magic,  reduce nuclear weapons?

China’s President Hu urges nuclear as the solution to global warming. And – he’s even pushing the idea of rich countries financing nuclear power to poor countries, so that they can buy nuclear technology from the rich countries!

Now that really is dandy for the nuclear lobby!

September 24, 2009 Posted by | 2 WORLD, climate change, spinbuster | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

US govt considers phasing out fossil fuel subsidies

White House eyeing phasing out fossil fuel subsidies
(ChattahBox) 20 Sept 09
—Ending subsidies to dirty fossil fuel industries is on the agenda for the upcoming G-20 summit to be held in Pittsburgh later this month. Continue reading →

September 21, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY, USA | | Leave a comment

‘Clean coal’ funds robbing renewable energy

Clean coal funds are robbing renewable energy

COAL MINING 16 September 2009

CAPRICORN Conservation Council vice-president Ian Herbert says money spent on clean coal should be funding renewable energy technology.

Clean coal technology is an umbrella term used to describe technologies being developed that aim to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Herbert claims clean coal is still unproved and Australia would be far more advanced if the funds were spent on developing renewable energy sources.

The representative says even if clean coal is proven, workable clean coal technology is still at least 20 years off.

Clean coal funds are robbing renewable energy – Coal Mining

September 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY | , | Leave a comment

International energy agency says India could be renewables leader

sunIndia has potential to be leader in renewable energy: IRENA
Business Standard Press Trust of India / New Delhi September 11, 2009,

India has the potential to be the leader in the renewable energy sector, International Renewable Energy Agency chief Helene Pelosse said today….. Continue reading →

September 12, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY, India | , , , | Leave a comment

Renewables, not nuclear, best for India

Energy – Indian Perspective
MyNews.in 11-Sep-2009  Dr. Hitesh Bajpai
“…………….Solar power relies on the energy produced by nuclear fusion in the Sun. This energy can be collected and converted in different ways, such as simple water heating for domestic use or by the direct conversion of sunlight to electrical energy using mirrors, boilers, or photovoltaic cells. The technology is improving and the economics are getting more competitive. Continue reading →

September 12, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY, India | , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear is not “the answer”

Nuclear is not the answerL slowing down in a sped-up world
Science blogs Rebecca Solnit 9 Sept 09
“………….Well, the first problem is that they still think like big science–that there is “the answer.” In fact, there are hundreds of little answers that don’t include nuclear, including scaling back our consumption and travel and building better and using a lot of the elegant new engineering Continue reading →

September 9, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, climate change, ENERGY | , , | Leave a comment

Coal on the outer as US goes green

Coal on the outer as US goes green
THE AUSTRALIAN Peter Beattie | September 05, 2009
“………
Projects to build new coal-fired power stations are being abandoned from Florida to Utah. Money is pouring in for renewable energy and legislation is being enacted to support it……………. Continue reading →

September 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, ENERGY, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear Energy Becomes Part of China-U.S. Talks

Nuclear Energy Becomes Part of China-U.S. Talks, Official Says

Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) Jeremy van Loon-– Talks between the U.S. and China, the biggest producers of greenhouse gases, are evolving to include sharing expertise in nuclear-energy technology. Continue reading →

September 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, climate change, politics | , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power a stumbling block to US Senators

Senators and climate McCain-Udall visit showed hope, problems
The Durango Herald  August 27, 2009

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., differs from many in his party in acknowledging the science underlying global climate change…………

Likewise, Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., deserves credit for rethinking his opposition to nuclear power, a stance that probably has little support among his fellow Democrats.

The problem is, the caveats both attach to their positions render them all but meaningless. And that says more about the reality of dealing with climate change than melting glaciers or dying trees………………. Continue reading →

August 28, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change, politics, USA | , | Leave a comment

Edward Kennedy’s legacy for clean energy, and a clean environment

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, champion of the environment and clean energy, dies at 77

Grist by Joseph Romm 26 August

“He was a great champion of progressive causes, and his death is a great loss,………..

His legacy on “Protecting the Environment and Promoting Energy Efficiency” is below.  How many Senators would even mention “energy efficiency” among their achievements?……

Promoting Energy Research and Development
In 2007, Senator Kennedy’s “America COMPETES Act” was passed by both chambers of Congress and sent to the White House to become law. That bill established an Advanced Research Projects Authority at the Department of Energy to be the focal point of federal efforts to support breakthrough research on new clean energy technologies.

In 2009, Senator Kennedy urged that funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act be used to build a wind blade technology testing facility in Massachusetts, and in May 2009, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that $25 million of such funds will be available for the project at the Autoport in Charlestown.

Improving Energy Efficiency
Senator Kennedy was a strong proponent of increasing energy efficiency, which is an essential part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He was a long time supporter of programs like the weatherization assistance program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps those most in need reduce their energy bills by improving home energy efficiency.

…. Kennedy Fought to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Address Global Warming. During consideration of the FY 2002 Budget Resolution, Senator Kennedy cosponsored an amendment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address concerns related to global climate change. The amendment sought to promote voluntary programs for reducing emissions in the near term. In addition, Senator Kennedy’s amendment included provisions designed to assist developing countries in addressing the danger of global warming and specifically increased funding to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the amendment provided additional funding for programs that assist U.S. businesses willing to export clean energy technologies to developing nations………

Kennedy Opposed the Permanent Nuclear Waste Storage Facility at Yucca Mountain. Senator Kennedy is a strong opponent of the plan to create a permanent storage facility for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The potential for groundwater contamination from the site is yet to be determined, and the transfer of nuclear materials to Nevada from almost every state in the nation raises serious safety concerns. In addition, in March 2005, the Department of Energy admitted that falsified documents were used to ensure the credibility and safety of operations at Yucca Mountain. Until questions are resolved that will guarantee the health of both the public and the environment, it is irresponsible to approve a permanent storage site for nuclear waste.

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-26-senator-edward-m.-kennedy-champion-of-the-environment-and-clean-

August 27, 2009 Posted by | climate change, ENERGY, USA | , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear plants are water-guzzlers

Nuclear Plant Water use vs. Other Electricity Generation, 20 – 83% higher

Green Data Center Blog 24 August 09 Found this Australia study on “water requirements of nuclear power stations”

Here is the conclusion.
Per megawatt existing nuclear power stations use and consume more water than power stations using other fuel sources. Depending on the cooling technology utilised, the water requirements for a nuclear power station can vary between 20 to 83 per cent more than for other power stations.

If you are curious on how much water gets used in power generation you can look at the chart on this site:

http://www.greenm3.com/2009/08/nuclear-plant-water-use-vs-other-electricity-generation-20-83-higher.html

August 27, 2009 Posted by | 2 WORLD, climate change, environment | , | Leave a comment