Florida taxpayers to fund new nukes

Public Service Commision Approves New Rates to Build Nuclear Plants WMBB News 13 10/16/09 – Associated Press Tallahassee, Fla:
The Public Service Commission has approved new rates to pay for building nuclear power plants that critics say aren’t needed……………….“No Nukes Now” spokesman Jim Walker says it’s not fair to charge customers now for a project that may never be approved by the federal government.

“If the feds say no, you’ve still paid the price and there is no cost recovery for the consumer. There’s no refund for this kind of money.”…………..Opponents say new nuclear plants are unnecessary and too big of a financial risk. They argue the plants are not needed because natural gas prices are dropping and people are using less energy due to the economic downturn.

October 17, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs | Leave a comment

US Climate Bill turning into a pro-nuclear excuse?

Nuking the Climate Bill

CounterPunch By HARVEY WASSERMAN 16 Oct 09

Is the Climate Bill morphing into an excuse to promote fossil fuels and new nuclear power plants?

Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) recent promotion of a pro-nuke/pro-drilling/pro-coal agenda in the name of Climate Protection has been highlighted in a New York Times op ed co-authored with Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC). The piece brands nuke power “our single largest contributor of emissions-free power.” Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, USA | antinuclear, climate change, Copenhagen, nuclear, nuclear spin | 1 Comment

Safety concerns about Westinghouse new nuclear reactor design

NRC raises concern about new reactor design

Google News By H. JOSEF HEBERT (AP) – 16 Oct 09

WASHINGTON — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission raised safety concerns Thursday with the design of a proposed next-generation reactor to be built by Westinghouse Electric Co., saying a key part of the reactor may not withstand a tornado, earthquake or even high winds.

The NRC staff directed Westinghouse to make changes in the reactor design so that its outer shell, which is supposed to protect the reactor’s concrete containment structure, is strengthened. The staff concluded the outer steel and composite structure does not meet the design requirements for safety.

The reactor, called the AP1000, is one of three next-generation reactor designs under NRC review. The others are being proposed by Areva Inc., the French nuclear company, and GE Hitachi Corp………… http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hc6n8iqEyIKVzXyV1ZwW38FZkxxAD9BBQ7BO4

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs | Leave a comment

Patients receive radioactive overdoses

Hospital error leads to CT scan radiation overdoses in 206 patients Scientific Anerican By Larry Greenemeier 14 Oct 09 “……….at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where 206 X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan patients were given eight times the normal of radiation during brain scans over an 18-month period. Continue reading →

October 14, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, health, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, radioactive | Leave a comment

Secrecy is a worry, with Nuclear Power Operations

Nuclear industry group works behind the scenes AUGUSTA CHRONICLE>COM By Walter C. Jones | Morris News Service October 12, 2009 ATLANTA — Construction of two reactors at Plant Vogtle in Burke County will be overseen not only by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission but also by a little-known organization that has become a powerful influence in the nuclear power industry. Continue reading →

October 13, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

Financial risk in Entergy’s nuclear plan

Greenpeace says beware of Enexus The Brattleboro Reformer By BOB AUDETTE 13 Oct 09 BRATTLEBORO — Despite the Department of Public Service’s assertion that recent concessions made by Entergy will benefit Vermont ratepayers, the company’s plan to spin off Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant into a new subsidiary is bad news for the Green Mountain State. Continue reading →

October 13, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

Connecticut nuclear reactor shut due to electrical problem

Oct 7, 2009 9 NEW YORK, Oct 7 (Reuters) – Dominion Resources Inc (D.N) shut the 882-megawatt Unit 2 at the Millstone nuclear power plant in Connecticut due to an electrical problem in the switchyard, a spokesman for the company said Wednesday……… Electricity traders guessed the unit would return in about a month. http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN0747032220091007

October 11, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs | Leave a comment

Missile sites leave costly pollution

Pollution an enduring legacy at old missile sites Google News By MEAD GRUVER (AP) – 11 Oct 09 CHEYENNE, Wyo. — As U.S. Air Force officials marked the 50th anniversary of the deployment of nuclear missiles to sites in the rural United States this past week, residents in some of these communities are still grappling with another legacy — groundwater pollution Continue reading →

October 10, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

$25 million penalty resulting from shutdown of nuclear plants

Florida Utlity Company to Pay $25 Million for Blackout New York Times By MATTHEW L. WALD

Published: October 8, 2009

WASHINGTON — A Florida utility has agreed to pay a record $25 million penalty for causing a blackout that left nearly a million customers in the dark in February 2008. Continue reading →

October 9, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear | Leave a comment

Seabrook nuclear plant has recurring problems

NRC cites`problems at Seabrook nuke plant By Shir Haberman

seacoastonline.com October 08, 2009 “………..One of those recurring issues has to do with the diesel generators used to operate plant safety systems in the event of an off-site power outage…… NRC Region I spokesman Neil Sheehan said this most recent diesel generator problem had more to do with failures in following procedures by the company than equipment problems. Continue reading →

October 9, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs | Leave a comment

Utah bill to stop import of foreign radioactive wastes

Hearing set on foreign nuke waste ban bill

By BROCK VERGAKIS (AP) – 8 Oct 09

SALT LAKE CITY — An effort to ban the importation of foreign nuclear waste has been given new life with a hearing set for next week in Washington, D.C. Continue reading →

October 8, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium, wastes | Leave a comment

Harvey Wasserman on the nuclear “renaissance”

Interview with Harvey Wasserman OpEd News Joan Brunwasser 6/10/09 “………….Skyrocketing costs and fierce resistance led to the cancellation of scores of reactors across the US in the 1970s and ’80s. Continue reading →

October 7, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, radioactive | Leave a comment

Corporate controlled media silent on Somalia and nuclear wastes

OCTOBER 5, 2009 Project Censored The top stories not brought to you by mainstream news media in 2008 and 2009 BY REBECCA BOWE – “……..”I really think we’re beyond reforming corporate media,” says Phillips, a professor of sociology at Sonoma State University and the director of Project Censored. “We’re not going to break up these huge conglomerates. We’re just going to make them irrelevant.”……… Continue reading →

October 7, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, Somalia, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Yucca Mountain as nuke waste dump – earthquake danger

Reid has won where it matters most to us
LAS VEGAS SUN Paul Seidman, Henderson-Oct. 2, 2009-If you are in agreement with those who are dissatisfied with Sen. Harry Reid’s performance in Washington, you are apparently overlooking one vital and frightening problem. Continue reading →

October 3, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Plan for new, decentralised renewable energy

San Antonio Business Journal October 2, 2009, CDTS, San Antonio is developing sustainable-energy plan for future San Antonio Business Journal Continue reading →

October 3, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, ENERGY, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, renewables | Leave a comment