Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival 225
The 225th Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival is being hosted this week right here at the ANS Nuclear Cafe. Every week, the world's top pro-nuclear authors and bloggers submit the most popular or most important articles from that week; the selections are then compiled at one of a set of rotating sites and featured as the "Carnival." Let's jump right in to this week's significant contributions.
Nuke Power Talk - Gail Marcus
At Nuke Power Talk, Gail Marcus discusses the recent announcement from Loving County, Texas, that they are interested in serving as a host site for the nation's high-level waste. This expression of interest is in line with the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, as well as with the experiences of other countries, and could, in time, help pave a new path forward for HLW disposal in the US.
Gail Marcus also published a trio of posts this week at Nuke Power Talk that capture the main points of several articles recently printed in The Guardian in the UK that attempt to explain policymakers to scientists, scientists to policymakers, and the public to both scientists and policymakers. Particularly in the nuclear area, where the views of the public and of policymakers are so important to the future of the industry, it is worthwhile to think about such things as the different pace, interests, and influences of each of these groups.
Science and Policymaking: Part I
Science and Policymaking: Part II
Science and Policymaking: Part III
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Forbes - Jim Conca
Germans Boared with Chernobyl Radiation
While the news media would like Germans to be afraid of wild radioactive boars roaming Saxony, these boars aren't even mildly radioactive. You'd have to eat 3,000 lbs of this "hot" boar meat to equal a single medical CT scan. Which would make meals pretty boaring.
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Atomic Insights - Rod Adams
Is it really necessary to have a deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel?
It's time to give the United States nuclear enterprise permission to quit trying to site a deep geologic repository for used nuclear fuel.
Quoting Chairman Macfarlane: In essence, the GEIS [for continued storage of spent fuel] concludes that unavoidable adverse environmental impacts are "small" for the short-term, long-term, and indefinite time frames for storage of spent nuclear fuel. The proverbial "elephant in the room" is this: if the environmental impacts of storing waste indefinitely on the surface are essentially small, then is it necessary to have a deep geologic disposal option?
Good question. The answer is no.
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Yes Vermont Yankee - Meredith Angwin
Another name for methane: the Microgrid for Vermont
Vermont's major distribution utility is Green Mountain Power, and their CEO just announced a business partnership to build microgrids in Vermont. She hopes the microgrids will ultimately eliminate the "archaic" grid built with "twigs and twine." Actually, the partnership goal is to sell small, gas-fired Stirling engines, called "Smart Solar" engines, and to sell natural gas. Green Mountain Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gaz Metro of Quebec. Vermonters should not assume that Gaz Metro has their best interests at heart.
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Neutron Bytes - Dan Yurman
Saudis update ambitious nuclear energy plans
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plans to kick off a much talked about $80 billion program to shift 15% (17 GWe) of its electric generating capacity from fossil fuels to nuclear reactors.
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Next Big Future - Brian Wang
Fusion isotope breeders can work with thorium molten salt reactors for nonproliferation
John Kutsch gives an informative energy rant; a second video debunks Dr. Helen Caldicott.
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Atomic Power Review - Will Davis
APR+ Design Certification Received
While the rest of the world watched for further hints of when a new boiling water reactor type might get through the type approval process in the USA, a different type of reactor received design certification in South Korea. Details on this announcement and the APR+ in this post.
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ANS Nuclear Cafe - submitted by Paul Bowersox
ANS Winter Meeting - What's In It For You?
Will Davis presents an appeal to those who have not yet committed to attending the ANS Winter Meeting in California. There are many good reasons to attend if you can find the means - here are just a few worth considering.
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That's it for this week's entries. THANK YOU to all the authors and submitters!