Nuclear Currents Mobile 6/24/2010

NUCLEAR CURRENTS MOBILE 6/24/2010

Mobile Compatibility Version

What’s Being Said

“It’s 2070. You’re on a train from New York to Boston. If you could see outside, it would be mostly open landscape. Maybe a nuclear plant or two, but otherwise green space—none of the urban sprawl, wind farms, solar arrays or biomass operations we’ve been taught to expect from an ecologically responsible future. But you can’t see outside, because you’re underground, traveling 300 miles an hour on a maglev train alongside superconducting pipes transporting the energy from those nuclear plants. This is 2070 as Jesse Ausubel [director of the Program for the Human Environment at the Rockefeller University in New York City] sees it, anyway, and his vision [is] a brazenly pragmatic one that puts land conservation and energy efficiency above all else.”

"Environmental Visionaries: The Nuclear Revivalist," POPSCI, June 22, 2010.

“Despite what some may like you to believe, the nuclear renaissance is upon us. … This is not idle speculation -– it is already happening in the world’s fastest-growing economies. At the time of writing this blog post, over 65 of these modern nuclear reactors are under construction. Twenty-three new nuclear power plants are being built in China alone, which is targeting 70 gigawatts of extra nuclear power by 2020. … How about this for some supporting statistics: 29 new reactors, totalling 26 gigawatts of electricity output (operating at high capacity factors without the need for energy storage/backup), will start operation in 13 different countries in the 2010 -2012 period—that’s within the next 3 years.”

"The 21st Century Nuclear Renaissance is Starting—Good News for the Climate," Brave New Climate, June 18, 2010.

In the Nation

"Passing a meaningful energy and climate bill this year will be challenging — but not impossible. It’s time for all of us — politicians, business leaders and environmentalists — to put wishful thinking aside, establish realistic goals and develop a consensus for legislation that can be passed this year. … Sensible policy should include incentives for new emissions-free nuclear power. … There is growing consensus in the electric utility industry to act now, so let’s move forward.”

“Utilities Can Lead Way on Energy," Politico, June 23, 2010.

"Georgia Power agreed to loan terms with the U.S. Department of Energy to build two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle outside of Augusta. … It has been more than 30 years since the last nuclear reactor was built in the United States, and Vogtle was the first planned nuclear project to receive the pledge of conditional loan guarantees by the federal government. ‘This is another step forward on the road to nuclear power playing a prominent role in America's energy future,’ said Southern Co. Chairman, President and CEO David M. Ratcliffe, in a statement. ‘Nuclear energy is vital in any effort to make meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and meet this nation's rising demand for electricity.’ ”

"One Step Closer to New Nuclear Power Plant in GA," NBC’s 11 Alive (Atlanta, GA), June 21, 2010. Across the Waters

“The U.N. nuclear watchdog is ready to cooperate with plans to build nuclear power plants in Egypt, which is now working on locations for construction, the head of the U.N. body said on Tuesday. Egypt said in March it planned to build four plants by 2025 and inaugurate the first in 2019 in an effort to reduce the most populous Arab country's reliance on oil and gas. Officials hope the program would add capacity of up to 4,000 megawatts. ‘The IAEA is very happy to cooperate with Egypt in its project of introducing nuclear power. Now Egypt is finalizing its plan of choosing the site for its nuclear plant," said Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.’ ”

"UN Watchdog Backs Egypt Nuclear Power Plants,” Reuters Africa, June 22, 2010.

“David Cameron, the British prime minister, suggested Tuesday new taxes on the heaviest emitters of greenhouse gases, the latest measure in Europe aimed at promoting “cleaner” technologies like nuclear power and biofuels. … Under the British budget presented Tuesday, the government would publish proposals in the autumn aimed at giving ‘support to the carbon price’ starting sometime next year. … A guaranteed carbon price is expected to benefit nuclear power because splitting atoms emits no greenhouse gases. It is also expected to benefit other low-carbon energy technologies like wind and solar.”

"Europe Considers New Taxes to Promote ‘Clean’ Energy,” The New York Times, June 22, 2010.

Nuclear Energy Cartoons

Nuclear Energy: The Hidden Answer.

Nuclear Blog

“Over the past number of weeks, you’ve seen us highlight nuclear carnivals at other folks’ blogs. This week we’re hosting it. … For those new to the blogosphere, a carnival is when a community of bloggers recap each other’s best posts at a different site every week, month, or whenever. … We have some deep thinkers and writers in the nuclear blogging community and the carnivals definitely show it:

“Brian Wang at Next Big Future (the leader of these nuclear carnivals) took to town the bogus claims made by a Stanford Professor.

“Steve Aplin from Canadian Energy Issues logically deconstructed the Floodgates hypothesis on whether nuclear recycling in the US increases the proliferation threat from other countries.

“… And last but certainly not least, Rod Adams at Atomic Insights recounts his week in France after touring Areva’s nuclear facilities.”

NEI Blog.

Twitter

“RT @carbonmeme: Vietnam plans eight nuclear power plants by 2030 http://bit.ly/dqcrbL [via AFP].”

“Interesting Pew poll: 74 percent of Americans believe that most of our energy *won't* come from coal/oil/gas by 2050 http://bit.ly/c2mlXl.”