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

Nuclear lobby looking to “modernising” old reactors, as AREVA’s new ones failing

SPIEGEL ONLINE By Dinah Deckstein, Frank Dohmen and Cordula Meyer Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan. 16 Oct 09

Modernization instead of new construction. Is the new strategy to launch a renaissance through the back door? At first, the chaos surrounding the Olkiluoto reactor reveals that the industry is by no means ready to build new power plants cheaply and safely in the Western world. Utilities, with their massive financial risks, can no longer support such mammoth projects — unless the government steps in. Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, AREVA, EDF, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry stalled in all safety-conscious countries

SPIEGEL ONLINE By Dinah Deckstein, Frank Dohmen and Cordula Meyer Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan. 15 Oct 09

Global Renaissance off to a Slow Start

The French state-owned company isn’t the only one having trouble building new nuclear power plants. Last year, for the first time since the beginning of the nuclear age, not a single new reactor went into service worldwide. Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, 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

Funding and planning problems hit Italy’s nuclear industry

Italy may have big nuclear ambitions, but funding and plannning problems have not been resolved Utilty Week by: Simon Jones | 02 October 2009 Enel has set up a joint venture with EDF to deliver the first four of at least ten nuclear reactors in Italy, as promised by president Berlusconi. But where to site the reactors – and how to pay for them – has yet to be established.. Continue reading →

October 13, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, business and costs, Italy | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | 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

France to promote Bulgaria’s nuclear power

Sarkozy Offers Help for Bulgaria’s Nuclear Plant Belene Energy Novinite.com Sofia News Agency October 12, 2009

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed cooperation for the construction of Bulgaria’s planned second nuclear power plant on the Danube, which has hit funding problems. Continue reading →

October 13, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, business and costs, EUROPE | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear costs | 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

Kyrgyzstan suffering from uranium tailings pollution

Kyrgyzstan makes progress on toxic dumps but needs to do much more – UN expert Web Newswire October 12, 2009

Kyrgyzstan has made progress in addressing the significant problems of radioactive and toxic waste dumps and in raising international awareness of the serious trans-boundary threats of contamination of groundwater and rivers, but much more remains to be done, a United Nations expert reported today. Continue reading →

October 11, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, Kyrgyzstan, wastes | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium, wastes | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry causing a “tsunami” of debt

The many financial failure tsunamis of nuclear power Ace Hoffmann October 7th, 2009 “…………………Seismologists, geologists, and other experts say our coastal nuclear reactors are NOT properly protected (and can’t be) against reasonably foreseeable — even expected — tsunamis…………

Real tsunamis aside, a financial crisis is often called a tsunami as well. Continue reading →

October 10, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

How AREVA and EDF of France sell the nuclear industry

The many financial failure tsunamis of nuclear power Ace Hoffmann October 7th, 2009 “………No country has ever “solved” its nuclear waste problem. France grinds stuff up, releases much of it directly into the North Sea, and stores the rest with no idea of what to do with it. Continue reading →

October 10, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, France, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive, wastes | Leave a comment

Solar plants ready in 6 months, nuclear in 20 years

Reportlinker Adds Utilities Go Green: Worldwide Utility Solar Market Shares, Forecasts, and Strategies, 2008-2014

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue.

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0153925/Reportlinker-Adds-Utilities-Go-Green-Worldwide-Utility-Solar-Market-Shares-Forecasts-and-Strategies-2008-2014.html

As coal, gas, and oil usage are taxed to help prevent pollution and stimulate use of renewable energy sources, solar energy becomes more attractive to the utility grid electricity providers. The environmental impact of energy use choices promises to be an ongoing factor in energy grid supply. Continue reading →

October 9, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, ENERGY | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, renewables, solar | 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

Energy efficiency and renewables beat nuclear on costs

Nuclear Power – Climate Fix or Folly –Treehugger, Rebecca Cole, Rocky Mountain Institute 7 Oct 09

“………….Lovins points out nuclear drawbacks and a better path forward.
Lovins, who for years has argued that nuclear power is an “uncompetitive, unneeded and obsolete” way to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, again reiterated that efficiency, distributed generation and renewable energy is a better path. Continue reading →

October 8, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs, climate change | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment