nuclear-news

“Green energy” options for Japan

Japan’s renewable energy options: costs and potential, Washington Post By Associated Press,  May 2 Japan’s shutdown of all its nuclear power plants leaves it with an energy gap, mostly being made up through greater use of costly imported LNG, coal and oil. Below are some details of the resource-scarce country’s “green energy” options.  …..   http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/japans-renewable-energy-options-costs-and-potential/2012/05/03/gIQAVuzLyT_story.html

May 5, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Japan is working on life without nuclear power

 a new environment ministry panel’s assertion that Japan can still reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 from 1990 levels without nuclear, through energy saving and the quicker adoption of renewables, which it hopes will account for between 25% and 35% of total power generation by 2030.

Anxious Japan prepares for life without nuclear power Japan has 54 nuclear reactors, but as of Saturday, not one of them will be in operation – how will the country cope? Guardian UK Justin McCurry in Tokyo, 3 May 12 “………..Critics of the nuclear shutdown have also highlighted the impact more fossil fuel power generation will have on Japan’s climate change commitments. Continue reading →

May 5, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

UN Security Council pressures Iran for more access to its nuclear facilities

World powers urge Iran to give more nuclear access By Fredrik Dahl and Caroline Copley VIENNA/ST GALLEN, Switzerland May 3, 2012   (Reuters) – The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council put pressure on Iran on Thursday to allay international concern about its nuclear program, and said they expected talks with Tehran to lead to concrete steps toward a negotiated solution.

Iran and major powers resumed talks in mid-April in Istanbul after a gap of more than a year – a chance to ease escalating tension and help to avert the threat of a new Middle East war. They are to meet again on May 23 in Baghdad……
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/03/us-nuclear-iran-powers-idUSBRE8420HO20120503

May 5, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Protest against restarting San Onofre nuclear power plant

NUCLEAR DISASTER SURVIVORS AND EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS JOIN PROTEST AT SAN ONOFRE By Nadin Abbott East County Magazine, May 3, 2012 (San Onofre)—Residents from across Southern California and as far away as Japan turned out for a protest
at San Onofre this week to call for a permanent shut down of  nuclear reactors which have been offline since January 31 amid growing safety concerns following a steam leakage and discovery of cracked tubes. Continue reading →

May 5, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Crucial issues are not addressed in Hanford Nuclear Reservation waste permit

Critics say new Hanford Nuclear Reservation waste permit has big holes ,   May 02, 2012,   By Scott Learn, The Oregonian  Washington’s new blueprint for dealing with dangerous waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation tops 16,000 pages, covering the maze of polluted land and water at the former nuclear weapons production site.

But Hanford activists say it leaves crucial issues unaddressed; namely, imports of new radioactive waste and the ultimate cleanup plan for leaking storage tanks and much of 43 miles of contaminated ditches.

Washington’s Department of Ecology issued a draft of the 10-year“dangerous waste permit” Tuesday. It’s now up for public comment, including a hearing scheduled for May 16 in Portland. Activists, led by Heart of America Northwest, say Washington regulators are giving a free pass to the U.S. Department of Energy, which operates the nation’s largest nuclear cleanup site.

The department wants to bury and cap most of the contamination instead of removing it, they say, and to bring more nuclear waste to Hanford. The state permit does nothing to stop that, said Gerry Pollet, executive director of the Hanford watchdog group.

“They’re saying, ‘We’re going to give you a permit even though this is a non-compliant facility and there’s no closure plan,'” Pollet said. “The public doesn’t have anything to look at.” ….  The public comment period runs through Sept. 30, including the Portland hearing starting at 7 p.m. May 16 at the Red Lion Hotel on the River — Jantzen Beach, 909 N. Hayden Drive.    http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/critics_say_new_hanford_nuclea.html

May 3, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

EU policy chief to talk with Netanyahu about Iran nuclear issue

EU’s Ashton plans Israel visit to update Netanyahu on Iran nuclear talks Ashton’s visit, expected to last several hours, comes ahead of the second round nuclear of talks between Iran and western powers, which will begin May 23 in Baghdad. Haaretz, By Barak Ravid, 2 May 12,   European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is scheduled to fly in to Jerusalem on Wednesday, to give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a rundown of developments in nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers. The meeting is apparently an effort to prevent Israel from speaking out publicly against the talks.

Ashton’s visit, expected to last several hours, comes ahead of the second round of talks, which will begin May 23 in Baghdad. After the first round of talks in Istanbul last month, Netanyahu accused the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany of giving Iran a “freebie” by providing it with more time to enrich uranium, before the second round of talks. U.S. President Barack Obama has rejected the claim.

Ashton’s visit was planned during a visit to Europe this week by National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror, said a senior Israeli official….. The meeting is unusual, because Ashton will meet only with Netanyahu and will not be visiting Ramallah. The Israeli government source said that’s because the only topic under discussion will be the Iranian nuclear talks.

Ashton is expected to personally tell Netanyahu about the first round of nuclear talks and about preparations for the next round, in an effort to assuage his concerns that a deal is in the works that would authorize Iran to continue enriching uranium….. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/eu-s-ashton-plans-israel-visit-to-update-netanyahu-on-iran-nuclear-talks-1.427871

May 3, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Exploding the negative myths about solar power

New solar reality: Busting myths and burying fossils REneweconomy,  By Adam James on 3 May 2012 [ contains several charts], Climate Progress

The myth is that solar energy has achieved little despite huge subsidies. The reality is that solar has achieved a great deal despite relatively low subsidies.

A new report from the Baker Center for Public Policy just released a fabulous new analysis comparing incentives for solar with historical incentives for fossil fuels, including an illustrative chart:

The report, commissioned by the solar industry’s trade group, has a number of interesting conclusions:

– Solar has had relatively small subsidies. That’s right, incentives for solar have been small compared to fossil fuels

– Incentives are working. Long term, stable incentives have ‘bridged the chasm’ to get solar past early adoption stages and to market.

– The employment potential for solar is even better than anticipated. Solar can create between 200,000 and 430,000 jobs in 2020.

– Solar power will not only be competitive, but will be a robust addition to America’s energy portfolio. Expanding the use of solar would limit the impact of price volatility and supply disruption- just rooftop solar could provide 20 percent of America’s energy needs.

These arguments are even more persuasive in light of the recent paper from McKinsey showing how dramatically the market for solar photovoltaics will grow in the coming decade. Taken together, these analyses show that we are clearly reaching the dawn of a new age for solar.

Let’s explore some of the most important takeaways from the Baker Center report:  …. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/new-solar-reality-busting-myths-and-burying-fossils-94912

May 3, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Up to date analysis of the risks of low level radiation

Misleading interpretations of low-dose epidemiologic data result in an underestimate of the full health impacts, because of failure to account for diseases with accelerated onsets,

Experts write on the risks of low-level radiation Eureka Alert, Los Angeles, CA (May 01, 2012) – Each time a release of radioactivity occurs, questions arise and debates unfold on the health risks at low doses—and still, just over a year after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, unanswered questions and unsettled debates remain.

Now a special issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published by SAGE, examines what is new about the debate over low-dose radiation risk, specifically focusing on areas of agreement and disagreement, including quantitative estimates of cancer risk as radiation dose increases, or what is known as the linear non-threshold theory (LNT). The issue, which includes essays written by the top experts in their fields, does not claim to put the argument to rest—however, it does provide an indispensible update of the existing literature. Continue reading →

May 2, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Silex Laser Uranium Enrichment – is it safe?

NRC to hold hearing on proposed laser-enrichment facility Star News,  May 1, 2012   by Gareth McGrath  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission  (NRC) will hold a public meeting on May 10 to discuss the proposal to build a laser-based uranium enrichment facility  in Castle Hayne….. GE Hitachi  Global Laser Enrichment’s proposed facility would be constructed on about 117 acres in the north-central sector of GE’s sprawling campus at Interstate 140 and Castle Hayne Road, according to the project’s environmental impact statement.

The laser-based technology would be used to enrich uranium in the U-235 isotope to concentrations up to 8 percent by weight. The enriched uranium would be used in manufacturing fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.

By some estimates, the facility could cost $1 billion.

The May 10 meeting will be to discuss the project’s safety evaluation and environmental impact report  recently issued by the NRC staff…. If built, the facility would be the nation’s first laser-based commercial uranium enrichment operation, using an Australian technology called SILEX, or Separation of Isotopes by Laser Excitation.

Commercialization of the SILEX technology has sparked concerns of nuclear proliferation. Arms control advocates fear that commercialization could lead other countries to follow suit, raising concerns about the technology falling into the wrong hands.  http://business.blogs.starnewsonline.com/19961/nrc-to-hold-hearing-on-proposed-laser-enrichment-facility/

May 2, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Don’t let’s attack Iran, let USA do it – says former Israeli Prime Minister

Former Israeli PM calls for U.S. to lead any Iran strike April 30, 2012 – (CNN) — If international efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program fail, any military action against Tehran should be led not by Israel, but by the United States, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said this week. Continue reading →

May 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Japan could and should cut energy consumption and move to renewables

“…..Opponents of nuclear power power are saying that the way to avoid another disaster is to move on to cleaner energy. Adding renewables and energy efficiency measures would deliver, they say, and cost effectively. Japan, in
fact, showed last summer in the early months falling the March nuclear disaster that it could cut its consumption by 15 percent. – Energy Biz Apr 30, 2012

May 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

On May 5, Japan’s last operational nuclear reactor will close

Japan’s last operational nuclear reactor to go offline, New Scientist, 28 April 2012 JAPAN will take its last operational nuclear reactor offline next weekend, but the country may not be nuclear-free for long.

Since the earthquake and tsunami devastated the country’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility on 11 March last year, all but one of Japan’s 54 reactors have been taken offline for routine maintenance or safety checks. With public opposition to nuclear power strong, none has yet restarted.

Japan’s last operational reactor, on the northern island of Hokkaido – will go offline on 5 May….. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan this week floated a plan to restart the Ikata reactor in Ehime Prefecture (pictured), but there are doubts about whether any plants should restart before a new safety watchdog is set up.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428624.100-japans-last-operational-nuclear-reactor-to-go-offline.html

April 30, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Previously unimaginable – but soon, all Japan’s nuclear reactors turned off

All reactors off by spring — a once unthinkable scenario, Japan Times, By MIZUHO AOKI   As the crisis continues at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant and thousands of people remain evacuated due to radiation fears, public sentiment has turned against allowing reactors idled for regular checks at power stations nationwide to be restarted.

To ease public safety concerns, the government ordered stress tests be carried out on all reactors. ….the overall sentiment against atomic power is gaining traction. The clock is ticking on the 54 reactors nationwide http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20110719i1.html

April 30, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Militarisation of Asia and the nuclear danger

Asia is steadily becoming increasingly militarised

 arms spending by Asian nations will this year for the first time overtake that of European countries. China, Japan, India, South Korea and Australia accounted for more than 80 per cent of total Asian defence spending 

While there is recognition of the devastating consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, [in  The Lowy report recommendations] there does not appear to be enunciation of the logical goal of getting rid of the weapons.

Asia: Dangers Of Extended Nuclear Deterrence – Analysis, Eurasia Review, By Neena Bhandari, April 28, 2012 With India and Pakistan testing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles this April, close on the heels of North Korea’s unsuccessful test launch of a long-range rocket, a new report by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute for International Policy says it is Asian strategic mistrust that is holding back nuclear disarmament.

According to Lowy’s international security programme director Rory Medcalf, who is also principal editor of the report titled Disarming Doubt: The Future of Extended Nuclear Deterrence in East Asia, the nuclear disarmament push in Asia had stalled, owing to the region’s tangle of strategic mistrust. Continue reading →

April 30, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment