Once again, we are proud to host the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers, right here at Yes Vermont Yankee. The Carnival is a compendium of nuclear blogs that rotates from blog site to blog site, and it is always a pleasure and an honor to host it. Here we go!
Looking Ahead for Nuclear Energy: Mixed But Basically Positive
A look ahead to 2015 for nuclear energy
At Neutron Bytes--Dan Yurman
This report is an annual review of trends and developments around the globe. The science fiction writer Bruce Sterling once wrote that “the future is history that hasn’t happened yet.” While I don’t posses a crystal ball, there are some plausible scenarios as well as economic and technical factors in motion that deserve being mentioned here. There are lots of possible changes in the nuclear energy industry landscape.
At The Hiroshima Syndrome's Fukushima Commentary-- Leslie Corrice
Despite a few Japanese news reports to the contrary, there is no reason to think the timetable for restarts will speed up or the number of nukes allowed to come on line will swell because of a Lower House election that did nothing more than maintain the status quo on nuke restarts.
Chinese Fast Reactor at Full Capacity
At Next Big Future--Brian Wang
China's experimental fast neutron reactor has been successfully operated at full capacity for the first time, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced.The sodium-cooled, pool-type fast reactor was constructed with Russian assistance at the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIEA), near Beijing, which undertakes fundamental research on nuclear science and technology. The reactor has a thermal capacity of 65 MW and can produce 20 MW in electrical power.
The EPA Clean Power Plan and the Nuclear Industry Response
At ANS Nuclear Cafe--Jim Hopf
Jim Hopf covers the overall response from nuclear industry (NEI) institutions and professionals (including ANS members) to the EPA Clean Power Rule. The EPA now says that the rule will in all probability be revised regarding nuclear energy. Hopf provides his own insightful perspective on how the rule should be altered to treat both existing and oncoming nuclear plants.
Meanwhile, Here in New England...
Utility Bills Soaring in New England
At Forbes--James Conca
Consumers in New England got a shock in their utility bills this month. A 40% increase over the previous month. It was their choice to throw all-in for natural gas and renewables in a land of harsh winters. But they’ve refused to build new gas pipelines. And they’re shutting a nuclear plant that has 20 years of cheap reliable cold-resistant energy left on it.
Vermont Yankee Employees will not get development fund money
At Yes Vermont Yankee--Meredith Angwin
The two million Entergy gave Vermont this year for Windham County Economic Development will not help Vermont Yankee employees. As a matter of fact, overall....the whole exercise is a fizzle. Governor Shumlin makes the final decision, and he has decided to award only $800K of the money this year. None of the awards will be likely to help displaced employees.
Okay. Enough of that.
Let's Get Upbeat Again.
A Noble History of Clean Safe Power
Nuclear Anniversaries
At Nuke Power Talk--Gail Marcus
Nuclear Anniversaries: Some Events to Remember
Gail Marcus notes that the month of December boasts an unusually large number of nuclear "firsts" and other nuclear anniversaries. On her blog at Nuke Power Talk, she lists 10 important events drawn from her book, Nuclear Firsts: Milestones on the Road to Nuclear Power Development. Several of the events she lists, including the first sustained chain reaction at CP-1 on December 2, 1942, are among the key events in the history of nuclear power.
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| Columbia Generating Station |
Three Decades of Clean Power at Columbia Generating Station
At ANS Nuclear Cafe--Laura Scheele
On its 30th anniversary, Columbia Generating Station can look back on decades of successful operation, and can be proud of major improvements in capacity factor. It has currently been on-line for 528 days and counting.
History and Value at Columbia Generating Station
At Northwest Clean Energy Blog--Will Davis
Some history of the Columbia Generating Station, including the many ways the nuclear plant provides value to its neighbors. (After all, it makes enough power for the entire city of Seattle!)
Thirty-Four Years of Caring at Energy Northwest
At Northwest Clean Energy Blog--John Dobken
Starting four years before Columbia Generating Station went on-line, and continuing ever since: each and every child enrolled in Head Start programs in two counties has received new toys and clothing from Energy Northwest employees. That's 34 years and more than 11,000 children.
What We Say About Nuclear Energy
And How We Say It.
Nuclear energy is more than one story
at Nuclear Layperson--Millysievert
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes The Danger of a Single Story: "The single story creates stereotypes,” says Adichie. Milly Sievert describes how the story that nuclear is "dirty and dangerous" is deeply entrenched. This story cannot easily be addressed head-on. We need a balance of stories: Millysievert gives examples.
Branson Plus Lovins: An Interesting Combination
At Atomic Insights--Rod Adams
While Amory Lovins has been one of the most quoted and effective proponents of the anything-but-nuclear school of energy policy since the early 1970s, Sir Richard Branson is supportive enough of a new look at nuclear energy that he was an executive producer of Robert Stone's Pandora's Promise. Real progress might be possible if the combined persuasive powers of Rocky Mountain Institute and Carbon War Room are focused on an honest "best of the above" approach to solving both fossil fuel dominance and growing CO2 emissions. That approach would put nuclear energy back onto the table as one of the most powerful tools in their solution set.
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