politics « nuclear-news

Money pours into Virginia Assembly from uranium company

Uranium firm pumps money into assembly BY MARY BETH JACKSON, The Register & Bee, 21 Jan 13, The Senate bill proposing to lift the moratorium on uranium mining will be considered by a committee in which 80 percent of its members have taken money from Virginia Uranium.

Sen. John Watkins has said the legislation, filed Friday with the Senate Clerk, will be vetted through the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee; 12 of 15 committee members have accepted campaign money and trips from Virginia Uranium since 2008.

Virginia Uranium wants to mine a 119-million-pound uranium ore deposit in Pittsylvania County, approximately six miles from Chatham. The company has been lobbying the legislature to write regulations for uranium mining and milling, which would effectively lift a 1982 moratorium on the industry. Continue reading →

January 23, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Swiss referendum might bring earlier shutdown for nuclear power

Swiss to vote on new proposal for phase out
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Swiss_to_vote_on_phase_out_initiative-1801134.html
18 January 2013
A Green-led initiative to phase out the use of nuclear energy in
Switzerland by 2029 has secured enough support for a national
referendum on the issue to be held. A date for the vote has yet to be
announced. Continue reading →

January 21, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Switzerland | Leave a comment

Climate change, renewable energy, top priorities for Obama’s second term

Obama to focus on renewable energy, climate change http://www.salon.com/2013/01/17/obama_to_focus_on_renewable_energy_climate_change/ BY BY MATTHEW DALY WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says tackling climate change and enhancing energy security will be among President Barack Obama’s top priorities in his second term.

Obama will have to do that work with new heads of the agencies responsible for the environment. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Environmental Protection chief Lisa Jackson and Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, all have announced they are leaving. Energy Secretary Steven Chu is expected to follow his colleagues out the door in coming weeks.

The White House says no decisions have been made on replacements for any of the energy or environment jobs, but says Obama’s priorities will remain unchanged, including a focus on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar and expanded production of oil and natural gas.

January 18, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | Leave a comment

France’s President Hollande calls for renewable energy spending

Hollande calls for more renewable energy spending http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=56456 16 Jan 13, French President warns failure to invest in developing renewable energy will increase demand for fossil energy, risks of global warming. Middle East Online

ABU DHABI – French President Francois Hollande called on Tuesday for pumping more investments in renewable energy projects to prepare for the post-oil era and to avoid global warming.

“If we don’t spend … we will have a catastrophe,” Hollande told the opening session of the World Future Energy Summit (WEFS) in Abu Dhabi. Continue reading →

January 17, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics | Leave a comment

Opposition growing to nuclear waste plan for Cumbria’s Lake District

‘Nuclear waste? No thanks,’ say Lake District national park tourism
chiefs, Martin Wainwright guardian.co.uk, 16 January 2013
Board joins clamour against idea of digging repository to hold power
station waste under landscape much loved by visitors Cumbria’s tourism
board has joined the growing clamour against any further research into
the burying of nuclear power station waste within the borders of the
Lake District national park.

The board – which oversees the park, the county’s largest earner and
one of the most-visited group of attractions in the UK – has also
stated its strong opposition to investigations in the Solway Coast
area of outstanding natural beauty on the West Cumbrian side of the
famous lakes and fells…..
A crucial meeting of the three councils potentially affected – Cumbria
county and Allerdale and Copeland districts – will decide on 30
January whether to agree to full-scale preliminary planning for a
repository whose underground facilities would cover an area larger
than the nearby town of Workington.
The three councils are the only ones in the UK still considering a
government request to provide underground nuclear storage, but
Cumbria’s fractured geology has already narrowed potential areas to
limited parts of the western coast, including the Ennerdale valley in
the national park.

There were gasps at public meetings in November when mock-ups of the
possible construction project were shown.

The projections, based on a French scheme, showed how construction and
surface maintenance buildings might irrevocably scar the beautiful
foothills of legendary fells such as Great Gable and Pillar…….

January 17, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK, wastes | Leave a comment

Japan’s new government hand in glove with the old “nuclear village”

the public
remains sceptical about industry promises to mend its ways after
decades of collusion with regulators and pro-nuclear politicians.

But those concerns are unlikely to hold much sway with the LDP, which
helped develop Japan’s “nuclear village” – the web of power utilities,
bureaucrats and MPs who peddled the nuclear dream and shunned rigorous
regulation…..

Japan seeks to reverse commitment to phase out nuclear power, Justin
McCurry in Tokyo guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 January 2013 The Fukushima
Daiich meltdown prompted the previous government to pledge a phaseout
of all 50 reactors in Japan Almost two years after the triple meltdown
at Fukushima Daiichi power plant sent shockwaves around the world,
Japan’s government is attempting to resell the nuclear dream to a
traumatised public. Continue reading →

January 11, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Japan’s nuclear phase-out has already happened:will it really phase-in again?

several fundamental nuclear-policy questions await answers—answers that could have significant consequences for the communities hosting Japan’s nuclear facilities, broader Japanese society and, to some extent, the global nuclear order. Beyond Japan’s two operating reactors, how many more of Japan’s fifty viable reactors will be allowed to restart? Will Japan continue its current effort to close the nuclear fuel cycle? What is the future for the industry’s fuel-cycle facilities in Aomori Prefecture and the nuclear materials currently stored there and at reactor sites around the country?

nuclear energy continues to be deeply unpopular in Japan, with opposition remaining well above 70 percent

the phase-out has already happened. The prescient concern would be a nuclear phase-in,

Japan’s Nuclear Muddle, The National Interest Ryan Shaffer | January 10, 2013 Japan’s December election put an end to the brief rule of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). It also handed an overwhelming victory and lower house majority to Japan’s traditional political leaders, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). However, still lacking a majority in the upper house, the LDP’s ability to push through legislation is dependent on its alliance with New Komeito, a party with significant policy differences on some of the immediate questions facing the LDP.

Between now and the next scheduled elections for Japan’s upper house in July 2013, the LDP’s first priority will be posturing for an upper house majority in the next election, not taking hard stands on controversial policy issues. One such issue concerns the country’s heated debate on nuclear energy. Continue reading →

January 11, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

UK govt will have to fix a consumer price, to get a deal to construct nuclear reactors

a deal is
unlikely to be clinched before the French utility and the U.K.
government agree on a guaranteed price that consumers will pay for
power generated from Hinkley Point

Centrica is likely to withdraw from the construction of new reactors
because it fears that there will be cost overruns and that indirect
subsidies being negotiated with the British government will be
insufficient to justify the investment

EDF and French nuclear-reactor vendor Areva SA AREVA.FR 0.00%
are struggling with rising costs and delays in the construction of
next-generation European pressurized reactors. Costs at Areva’s
project in Finland have more than doubled to €8 billion ($10.5
billion), and the plant is five years behind schedule.

EDF and Chinese Firm Enter Talks to Build U.K. Nuclear Plants, WSJ, 10
Jan 13, By SELINA WILLIAMS in London and GÉRALDINE AMIEL in Paris
Electricité de France SA EDF.FR -1.84% is in talks with state-owned
China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co. on forming a partnership to
build nuclear-power plants in the U.K., people familiar with the
matter said.

The deal could replace EDF’s partnership with British utility Centrica
CNA.LN -0.39% PLC for new plants in Britain and dispel some doubts
about whether the French company has sufficient funds for its nuclear
ambitions in the U.K., the people said…..
A new U.K. partnership with China Guangdong would provide EDF with
much-needed financing as it struggles with difficult market conditions
in France and prepares to unveil a cost-cutting plan that it has said
could threaten the company’s British investments.

A deal would give the Chinese utility, which already collaborates with
EDF on new reactors in China, a foothold in a new market Continue reading →

January 11, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, politics, UK | Leave a comment

North Carolina will fight proposal for uranium mine in Virginia

NC opposition builds to proposed Virginia uranium mine, WRAL.com, 8
Jan 13, MANSON, N.C. — As legislation that would allow uranium mining
in Virginia advances through that state’s legislature, opposition to
the move is growing in North Carolina.

A group of Virginia lawmakers voted Monday to approve a bill that
would lift a 31-year-old ban on uranium mining and allow the practice
in Chatham, Va., where a 119 million-pound deposit of uranium – the $7
billion vein is the largest in the U.S. – is located.

The bill now goes to the full legislature, which convenes Wednesday.

“North Carolina will be fighting this,” Continue reading →

January 9, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Tentative step towards uranium mining in Virginia, but opposition persists

While environmental groups have led the charge against mining, the
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation took the unexpected step of opposing
mining, and municipal groups have also joined in the opposition.
Virginia Beach, which draws public drinking water from southern
Virginia, has also taken a stand against mining, as well as other
cities in Hampton Roads.

Virginia uranium mining wins 1st legislative test January 7, 2013
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Proposed uranium mining in Virginia easily
survived its first legislative test Monday, with lawmakers
recommending the development of regulations for the mining of the
radioactive ore.
Those rules — and whether a 30-year ban on such mining is lifted —
ultimately would need to be approved by the General Assembly.
The Coal and Energy Commission voted 11-2 in support of legislation
proposed by Sen. John Watkins that would have the effect of limiting
mining to one company and the only known, commercially viable deposit
of uranium in the state: Virginia Uranium Inc…..
Asked why he would limit uranium mining in the state, Watkins said:
“Because I want the bill to pass.”
……..Robert G. Burnley, a former director of the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality who now is affiliated with the
Southern Environmental Law Center, said the legislation is a “de
facto” vote on ending the 31-year ban. Continue reading →

January 9, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

France’s nuclear energy inextricably entwined with nuclear weaponry

as civilian and military nuclear programs
have been intertwined for decades, cutting financing for civilian
nuclear research projects would increase the cost of maintaining the
nuclear arsena

A French nuclear exit? e! Science News, January 7, 2013 France has
been held up, worldwide, as the forerunner in using nuclear fission to
produce electricity. However, a third of the nation’s nuclear reactors
will need replacing in the next decade, and public opinion has shifted
toward reducing reliance on nuclear power. In a special issue of the
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published by SAGE four articles
explore whether France has the means or desire to unplug from nuclear
power. Continue reading →

January 8, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Hampton Roads lawmakers NOT in favour of Virginia uranium mining

Uranium debate coming http://blog.vivianpaige.com/2013/01/07/uranium-debate-coming/ All Politics is local

BY VIVIAN J. PAIGE , JANUARY 7, 2013

The debate on uranium mining in Virginia is destined to be a part of the General Assembly session, which opens Wednesday. The Virginian-Pilot had a front page story today about it. Included with the story is a list of the Hampton Roads lawmakers and their stances on lifting the ban, as follows:

Against mining	Undecided	No response
Sen. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk	Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake	Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth	Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach	Sen. John Miller, D-Newport News
Sen. Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach	Del. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake	Del. Algie Howell, D-Norfolk
Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk	Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach	Del. Bob Purkey, R-Virginia Beach
Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake	Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City County	Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach
Del. Daun Hester, D-Norfolk	Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk
Del. Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach
Del. Matthew James, D-Portsmouth
Del. Lynwood Lewis, D-Accomack County
Del. Chris Stolle, R-Virginia Beach
Del. Ron Villanueva, R-Virginia Beach
Del. Johnny Joannou, D-Portsmouth

This is not, as you can see, a partisan issue. Perhaps the most interesting part of this is that none are willing – yet – to admit support of lifting the ban.

January 8, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Costly expense of maintaining Philippines non-operational nuclear power plant

Nuclear plant gets funds By Amy R. Remo Philippine Daily Inquirer,
http://business.inquirer.net/101475/nuclear-plant-gets-funds January
6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—State-run National Power Corp. has
secured lawmakers’ nod to allocate P50 million this year for the
upkeep of the mothballed 630-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
(BNPP).
In an interview with the Inquirer, Napocor president Froilan A.
Tampinco said that both houses of Congress as well as the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM) had agreed to reinstate the proposed
budget for the maintenance of the country’s first and only nuclear
facility.
Tampinco said that with sufficient explanation, Napocor was able to
convince Congress of the necessity of such an allocation for a
government asset that has remained idle for decades, yet one that the
Department of Energy said cannot be neglected.
The BNPP was built during the Marcos era by Westinghouse Electric at a
cost of $2.2 billion. It was mothballed in 1986 due to safety
concerns, even before it could begin operations.

January 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Philippines, politics | Leave a comment

Taiwan’s anti nuclear groups organise for a nuclear free country

Taiwan’s Nuclear-free New Year’s Wish, Global Voices, by I-fan Lin 6 January 2013 Every year, Taiwanese gather around Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan to see fireworks and celebrate the coming of the new year.

This year, the celebration was very special as popular singers, environmental and youth activists worked together to present a nuclear-free homeland as Taiwanese people’s common wish [zh] for 2013. Singers performed in new year’s eve parties and sang anti-nuclear songs. Environment groups organized a joint signature campaign to build consensus among Taiwanese for a nuclear-free policy.

The most eye-catching action was delivered by a number of youth activists under the Citizens No Nuke [zh, en, jp, de] network, who projected an anti-nuclear sign on Taipei 101 during the annual fireworks. They uploaded their action to Youtube afterwards. ….. Is Taiwan ready to become a nuclear-free country? On Jan 9, 2013, the Legislative Yuan will start to examine the draft law on the promotion of a nuclear-free homeland [zh], which was proposed in 2005. If this draft law is passed, the three nuclear power plants will cease to operate once their service lives have expired and the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant will be stopped.

Currently, the residents affected by the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant are pressing for a referendum [zh] to stop its construction in 2013.
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/01/06/taiwan-nuclear-free-new-years-wish/

January 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Despite safety doubts, China resumes building big nuclear power plant

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said in a report in
October that the country’s nuclear safety situation was “not
optimistic”, and that the use of differing types of reactors in
Chinese plants made the sector “difficult to manage”.

China resumes construction of ‘biggest’ nuclear plant Australia
Network News, 4 Jan 13 Chinese state media says the country has
resumed construction of a nuclear power plant suspended after the 2011
Fukushima disaster. Continue reading →

January 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | China, politics | Leave a comment

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