Lithuania’s pro nuclear ruling party’s mud-slinging campaign against anti nuclear activists
Pro-nuclear mudslinging in Lithuania’s nuclear referendum http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/pro-nuclear-mudslinging-in-lithuanias-nuclear/blog/42350/
by Jan Haverkamp – September 28, 2012 On 14 October, the people of Lithuania go to the polls to vote in a referendum on whether the country should build new nuclear reactors in the town of Visaginas. Will they join the people of Austria who gave a resounding “NO!” in 1978 and the people of Italy who said “NO!” not once but twice in 1987 and 2011? Lithuania’s referendum campaign has begun but instead of a lively debate about energy strategies and the risks of nuclear power, the country’s ruling party, along with several others, have decided that their strategy to get support for nuclear will be mud-slinging. Everyone critical of nuclear power is basically accused of being an agent for Russia.
Mud-slinging and smear campaigns. It’s a very familiar tactic. In Russia, critics of the government are called “foreign agents”. In Belarus, anti-nuclear activists are jailed under accusations of “hooliganism” Is Lithuanian’s Prime Minister Kubilius trying to match Presidents Putin and Lukashenko?
In October and in alliance with local anti-nuclear campaigners, Greenpeace will join an “Ask the Expert” tour to some of the largest towns in Lithuania. You’ll find us in Klaipeida on October 9, Siauliai on October 10, Kaunas on October 11, and Vilnius on October 12.
There are many compelling reasons why there is no need for nuclear reactors in Lithuania and the wider region: Continue reading
Switzerland develops strategy to exit nuclear power
Gas to fill initial gap in Swiss nuclear exit
* Expects to build new gas plants to meet demand
* Switzerland unveils energy strategy to 2050
By Emma Farge GENEVA, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Switzerland would have to charge higher
end-user power prices and resort to new gas-fired plants to fill the supply gap created by its planned nuclear phase-out prompted by Japan’s Fukushima accident, the Swiss energy ministry said on Friday.
The country, which voted last May to phase out nuclear by 2034, on Friday unveiled an ambitious energy strategy intended as a road map for coping with the transition.
“It will be necessary to temporarily develop electricity from fossil fuels… until the energy needs can be completely covered by renewable energy,” the energy ministry said in a statement on Switzerland’s new strategy through to 2050….. The Swiss strategy, part of a public consultation, envisages a greater role for hydropower and renewables
as part of its new strategy. It includes targets for hydropower production of 37,400 GWH and renewable energy production of 11,940 GWH by 2035.
The strategy also includes several measures designed to accelerate the process of obtaining permits for renewable energy projects….
Nuclear company Exelon’s amazing influence over President Obama
Exelon, “Obama’s Utility” Has Amazing Influence in the White House- Energy the “Chicago Way” Against Crony Capitalism, August 23, 2012 by Nick Sorrentino “……Exelon, the nuclear electrical utility based out of, you guessed it- Chicago, has the inside track at the White House. This special access appears to have influenced regulation which has hammered competitors of Exelon, helped Exelon garner very favorable DOE loans, and may have even influenced whether Exelon competitors were able to build power plants. (From The New York Times)
“Exelon’s top executives were early and frequent supporters of Mr. Obama as he rose from the Illinois State Senate to the White House. John W. Rogers Jr., a friend of the president’s and one of his top fund-raisers, is an Exelon board member. David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s longtime political strategist, once worked as an Exelon consultant, and Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago mayor and Mr. Obama’s former chief of staff, helped create the company through a corporate merger in 2000 while working as an investment banker.
With energy an increasingly pivotal issue for the Obama White House, a review of Exelon’s relationship with the administration shows how familiarity has helped foster access at the upper reaches of government and how, in some cases, the outcome has been favorable for Exelon.” http://www.againstcronycapitalism.org/2012/08/exelon-obamas-utility-has-amazing-influence-in-the-white-house-energy-the-chicago-way/
The nuclear company Exelon’s ties to Obama
Ties to Obama Aided in Access for Big Utility, NYT By ERIC LIPTON August 22, 2012 WASHINGTON — Early in the Obama administration, a lobbyist for the Illinois-based energy producer Exelon Corporation proudly called it “the president’s utility.” And it was not just because it delivers power to Barack Obama’s Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago.
Exelon’s top executives were early and frequent supporters of Mr. Obama as he rose from the Illinois State Senate to the White House. John W. Rogers Jr., a friend of the president’s and one of his top fund-raisers, is an Exelon board member. David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s longtime political strategist, once worked as an Exelon consultant, and Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago mayor and Mr. Obama’s former chief of staff, helped create the company through a corporate merger in 2000 while working as an investment banker. Continue reading
Bill to slow relicensing of aged nuclear reactors
the NRC too frequently rubber-stamps 20-year extensions to licenses that are supposed to last 40 years. They said that could endanger people living near nuclear power plants.
like allowing a doctor to assure a twenty year-old smoker they will never get lung cancer,”
Bill would add nuclear relicensing rule The Hill, By Zack Colman – 09/27/12 A House bill introduced Wednesday would delay the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) ability to renew licenses for aging nuclear reactors. Continue reading
Obama all too cosy with nuclear company Exelon
Ties to Obama Aided in Access for Big Utility, NYT By ERIC LIPTON August 22, 2012 WASHINGTON — Early in the Obama administration, a lobbyist for the Illinois-based energy producer Exelon Corporation proudly called it “the president’s utility.” And it was not just because it delivers power to Barack Obama’s Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago.
Exelon’s top executives were early and frequent supporters of Mr. Obama as he rose from the Illinois State Senate to the White House. John W. Rogers Jr., a friend of the president’s and one of his top fund-raisers, is an Exelon board member. David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s longtime political strategist, once worked as an Exelon consultant, and Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago mayor and Mr. Obama’s former chief of staff, helped create the company through a corporate merger in 2000 while working as an investment banker.
With energy an increasingly pivotal issue for the Obama White House, a review of Exelon’s relationship with the administration shows how familiarity has helped foster access at the upper reaches of government and how, in some cases, the outcome has been favorable for Exelon. Continue reading
Loopholes in Japan’s “zero nukes” policy – can allow continuing nuclear power
Next Big Future 23 Sept The energy policy announced by Maehar’s boss, Prime Minister Noda, calls for reactors to operate to the end of their 40 year life, but it offers a loophole to operate them for another 20 years if it can be proven they can do so safely. That loophole would allow a reactor that loads fuel for the first time in 2015 to have a decommissioning date of 2075.
Reactors already under construction will be completed, says Yukio Edano, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry trade minister. They are the No. 3 reactor at the Shimane plant (94- percent complete) in Matsue, capital of the Shimane Prefecture, which is operated by Chugoku Electric; a reactor at the Oma plant (38 percent complete) in Aomori Prefecture, which is operated by Electric Power Development; and, No. 1 reactor (10 percent complete) at the Higashidori plant also in Aomori Prefecture.
Business ahead of safety, as Japan waters down its nuclear power phaseout
Business leaders praised the Cabinet’s perceived backpedaling
Japan Nuclear Phase-Out Plan Falls Apart HUFFINGTON POST, By MARI YAMAGUCHI 09/19/12 TOKYO — Japan’s Cabinet stopped short of a commitment Wednesday to phase out nuclear power by 2040, backtracking from an advisory panel’s recommendation in the face of opposition from pro-nuclear businesses and groups.
The decision came on the same day that Japan launched a new nuclear regulatory body to replace an agency whose links to the nuclear industry reportedly contributed to last year’s disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Continue reading
‘Not In My Backyard’ say UK Councils about nuclear waste plan
Romney Marsh nuclear waste storage plant plan rejected, BBC News, 20 Sept 12 The facility would have had nuclear waste underground with research facilities at ground level Plans to build a nuclear waste storage facility on Romney Marsh in Kent have been thrown out by Shepway council. The final decision was taken by Conservative council leader Robert Bliss after councillors voted against the proposals on Wednesday.
The issue had split residents with 63% of people rejecting it in a survey.
Councillors voted 21 to 13 against formally expressing interest in the government’s facility for the geological disposal of nuclear waste……
The public gallery was packed with residents opposed to the scheme as the full council debated the waste plant on Wednesday evening.
Lydd Conservative councillor Victoria Dawson said members had been assured the proposal would not go ahead if the community was againstit….. Kent County Council and neighbouring East Sussex County Council both opposed the plan.
The area is the site of Dungeness nuclear power station, where Dungeness A is being decommissioned and Dungeness B is due to stop generating power in 2018 or 2023.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-19656382
Success for nuclear lobby, as Japan backs down on phasing out nuclear power
Japan, Under Pressure, Backs Off Goal to Phase Out Nuclear Power by 2040 NYT, By HIROKO TABUCHI 19 Sept 12 TOKYO — In an abrupt turnabout, the Japanese government on Wednesday stopped short of formally adopting the momentous goal it announced just last week — to phase out nuclear power by 2040 — after the plan drew intense opposition from business groups and communities whose economies depend on local nuclear power plants
The cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said it would “take into consideration” the 2040 goal, but formally endorsed only a vague promise to “engage in debate with local governments and international society and to gain public understanding” in deciding Japan ’s economic future in the wake of the 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima. Energy policy will be developed “with flexibility, based on tireless verification and re-examination,” the cabinet’s resolution read.
A day earlier, the chairmen of Japan’s most prominent business associations, including the influential Keidanren group, called a rare joint news conference to demand that Mr. Noda abandon the 2040 goal. On Wednesday, they praised the cabinet’s decision. Continue reading
Britain’s ‘Supporters of Nuclear Energy’ (SONE) giving up on new nuclear power
SONE wants their power stations to be directly funded by the Government.
the effective demise of the British nuclear construction programme will probably not be recognised by the Government itself in its public relations output.
British nuclear supporters issue surrender notice, Dave Toke’s green energy blog , 17 September 2012 Supporters of British nuclear power have effectively surrendered in their efforts to secure a new programme of building nuclear power stations.
Sir William McAlpine, a member of the McAlpine family which founded the major construction company of that name, has written to the British Chancellor, George Osborne, to ask that Government proposals to subsidise nuclear power should, in effect, be abandoned.
He has written as the Chair of the ‘Supporters of Nuclear Energy’ (SONE) group, which provides much of the lobbying inspiration for nuclear power in the UK. This is also a very significant move since the McAlpine group are among the companies who are most likely to
benefit from contracts given to build new nuclear power stations. Continue reading
Japan’s govt to build two new nuclear power plants
JP Gov to restart the construction of 2 nuclear plants by Iori Mochizuki September 15th, 2012 · Japanese government is not going to shut down nuclear plants.
They approved the construction of 2 more nuclear plants in Aomori and Shimane.
On 9/15/2012, Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry had a meeting with Aomori governor and headmen of local governments in Aomori city and approved the construction and restart of nuclear plants in Oma (Aomori) and Shimane nuclear plant.
It’s unit3 that they are going to restart the construction in Shimane nuclear plant. Oma nuclear plant belongs to J-power (construction progress 37.6%) , Shimane nuclear plant belongs to The Chugoku Electric Power Co.,Inc. (construction progress 93.6%)
Those constructions have been stopped since 311. This will be the first restart of construction of nuclear plants since Fukushima accident.
Japanese government decided on 9/14/2012 to phase out nuclear power completely sometime in the 2030s, approving a “massive” shift in national energy policy 18 months after the Fukushima Daiichi plant disaster spurred strong public opposition to nuclear power in the earthquake-prone nation…… because they are going to allow these newly constructed nuclear plants to run for 40 years, they will be generating power until 2050s, which contradicts 2030 policy.
The construction of Higashi dori nuclear plant in Aomori has also been stopped since 311 as well, which belongs to Tepco. Edano is pending the approval to restart the construction to comment Tepco is not ready to have a discussion about the restart.In total, there are 12 plans to build new nuclear plants in Japan….. http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/jp-gov-to-restart-the-construction-of-2-nuclear-plants/
France to cut nuclear power, promote renewable energy
On nuclear power, Hollande said he wanted to close France’s oldest plant, Fessenheim, at the end of 2016, bringing the closure date forward by several months.
Hollande also confirmed his campaign pledge to cut the share of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix to 50 percent by 2025 from 75 percent at present.
France seeks more ambitious EU carbon cuts By Julien Ponthus and Muriel Boselli PARIS Sep 14, 2012 (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande on Friday called for deeper cuts in European Union carbon dioxide emissions as he sought to put the environment back at the top of the international
agenda…….
….NUCLEAR .The two-day environmental conference in Paris marked the launch of a review of the world’s most nuclear-dependent country’s energy policy, with a focus on the small and struggling renewable sector. Continue reading
Japan’s proposed new nuclear safety chief worried about independence
U.S. energy official voices concern over zero nuclear energy target, Japan Times, 14 Sept 12, Jiji..…..Authority head worried Kyodo FUKUSHIMA — Radiation physicist Shunichi Tanaka said Thursday his slated appointment without parliamentary approval as head of the new nuclear regulatory body may compromise its political independence. Continue reading
Pro nuclear group opposes Britain’s nuclear deal with French company EDF
‘No nuclear power at any price’ says lobby group telegraph UK, 14 Sept 12, A pro-nuclear energy group is pressing the government to halt plans to order new atomic power plants because costs have been inflated leaving householders and businesses facing an enormous bill.
The Supporters of Nuclear Energy have told the Chancellor that current pricing proposals
would give nuclear power an unnecessary subsidy and provide EDF, the French state-controlled group, with a huge return on its £14bn investment in the first two plants.
Sir William McAlpine, SONE chairman, has written to George Osborne urging him to block any price deal with companies building nuclear stations “unless and until you are absolutely satisfied the nation is getting value for money.”
SONE feels the odds are being stacked against nuclear because it is being lumped together with wind power and other subsidised renewable energy sources in the price set-up to “create a level playing field.”
The government has ruled out direct aid for nuclear power but SONE argues the formula under discussion would provide an unmerited indirect subsidy.
A copy of the letter has been sent to Ed Davey, Energy Secretary, but Sir William feels he will get more support from the Treasury becauseof the Chancellor’s recent battle over wind farm subsidies.
Drawn out negotiations on the pricing framework and the struggle to accommodate nuclear and renewable energy have contributed to delays in plant ordering. Mr Davey hopes to make a decision by the end of the year….. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9543057/No-nuclear-power-at-any-price-says-lobby-group.html
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