Carnival of Nuclear Energy 149

Yes Vermont Yankee / Meredith Angwin

At Yes Vermont Yankee, Meredith Angwin describes issues in the Vermont Legislature concerning environmental reviews for wind projects.  In Act 250 and Wind Turbines in Vermont, she notes that putting wind turbines into the same environmental review process as other big projects (such as ski resort expansion) has bi-partisan support in the legislature.

In Comments or Threats: Wind in Vermont, she quotes two letters:

1) a well-reasoned letter opposed to wind ("environmental...costs far outweigh the necessarily minuscule benefit from... a diffuse, intermittent... source")

2) a threatening letter published by a wind developer, aimed publicly at the President Pro Tem of the Vermont Senate  ("But if you support this bill... I will help recruit and support opposition to you in the next election, and will put my money where my mouth is.").

ANS Nuclear Cafe

Update and Perspective on Small Modular Reactor Development

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has a $452 million program to share development and licensing costs for selected small modular reactor (SMR) designs.  The DOE's goal is to have an operating SMR by ~2022.

Jim Hopf takes a close look at the current development and licensing status, safety advantages, and economic tradeoffs of small modular reactors. And he explores a very important question: Will the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission allow SMRs to succeed?

Nuke Power Talk / Gail Marcus

{Note:  Last week, ANS posted a tribute to John Landis, long time ANS member and ANS Past President, who recently passed away.  Below, Gail Marcus, also an ANS Past President, shares her perspectives on Dr. Landis, for which we're extremely grateful.}

At Nuke Power Talk, Gail Marcus pays tribute to ANS Past President John Landis, who died March 16 at the age of 95.  John was one of the early pioneers in nuclear power development, having started in the nascent nuclear industry in 1950.  He served as ANS President in 1971-2, and he made lasting contributions to the careers of many people through the John and Muriel Landis Scholarship for disadvantaged students studying nuclear engineering.

Also at Nuke Power Talk, Gail Marcus discusses the sudden resignation of Akira Omoto from the Japan Atomic Energy Commission.  The press has reported that his resignation came shortly after he was called before the Diet (the Japanese Parliament) to discuss his ties with TEPCO.  Gail points out that the press did not report a number of relevant details about his relationship with TEPCO that make the pressure for him to resign seem out of proportion, and speculates on the causes behind the situation.

Hiroshima Syndrome / Leslie Corrice

Leslie Corrice at The Hiroshima Syndrome has a March 19 piece on a temporary loss of power at the Fukushima site in Japan, apparently (now we discover) due to a rat having shorted out contacts inside a metal-clad switchgear cabinet; he also has a follow-up post on March 21st with more detail on how the loss of power dominated the press in Japan.

Next Big Future / Brian Wang

This week's selected post at Next Big Future is a compilation which illustrates the percentage of total power generation contributed by nuclear in a number of countries around the world.  Many of the numbers might surprise you.

Atomic Power Review / Will Davis

A great deal of attention in the press has been devoted recently to the developing situation concerning reactor restart at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.  The latest release from SoCal Ed is at Atomic Power Review, as well as background links for more information.

AREVA Next Energy Blog / submitted by Curtis Roberts

MOX fuel has been a topic of wide discussion lately, as rumors of sequester cuts triggered a phone conference by Shaw-AREVA MOX Services.  This post at AREVA North America: Next Energy Blog describes the progress being made at the new MOX fuel facility at the Savannah River Site, and points up some important achievements and milestones.

Forbes / Jim Conca

Although not technically a blog, a new article on why people fear 'all things nuclear' is submitted this week by Jim Conca.  This provocative piece asks us if we really know why we're afraid, and points us toward answers and potential solutions.

Atomic Insights /  Rod Adams

How long before Wisconsin electricity customers regret loss of Kewaunee?  After a number of discussions with people in positions close to the decision to shut down the Kewaunee nuclear power station, Rod Adams is about 98% sure that the plant will be shut down as currently scheduled in May of 2013. He is also about 95% sure that the decision will cost electricity customers in the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) grid a substantial quantity of money during the 20 years that the plant could have remained in operation. The electricity customers in Wisconsin will have reasons to regret the loss of the clean, reliably affordable electricity that the plant can produce.

That's it for this week's Carnival.  This is an important pro-nuclear effort; if you like the Carnival idea and content, please think about placing a link on Twitter or on Facebook.

NEXT WEEK, the Carnival will be at Atomic Power Review.  Bookmark ANS Nuclear Cafe, and all the other Carnival sites, and check back often to keep up on the latest.