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• Edison Electric Institute Horse Traded With Waxman And Markey - Dissenting Coal-Heavy Utilities Dislike The Deal

  If you are a political junkie who happens to have a primary addiction to energy issues, you need to read a terrific article in the August 5, 2009 New York Times titled 'Fragile Compromise' of Power Plant CEOs in Doubt as Senate Climate Debate Nears . Darren Samuelsohn and Katherine Ling apparently found some sources willing to share details about the way that electric utility company leaders... Posted Aug 06 2009, 01:30 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: coal, politics, edison electric institute, eei, waxman, markey

• See No Evil, Hear No Evil Approach to Regulating Hydraulic Fracturing Shale Gas Extraction

  On June 4, 2009 the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals held a hearing on the topic of shale gas development through the technique of hydraulic fracturing. While spending a couple of hours this morning listening to a somewhat testy exchange of opinions and positions, I learned that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was the vehicle by which the natural gas industry obtained... Posted Jun 08 2009, 04:08 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics

• Is Republican Nuclear Support a Wedge Issue Or Long Overdue Leadership On Energy And Climate?

  On Monday, June 8, 2009, Senate Republicans have scheduled a hearing co-chaired by Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator John McCain to discuss a vision of building 100 new nuclear plants in 20 years. According to the email accompanying the press release announcing the event, this hearing is the kickoff for a major effort to change the conversation on energy and climate to include serious consideration... Posted Jun 07 2009, 01:54 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, politics, republican

• Showing Why We Like Nuclear Power

  A rather unknown, but real effect of America's response to 9-11 was a sharp reduction in the ability of the nuclear power industry to share its own story through the use of plant tours and well designed, site located visitor centers. The security restrictions imposed as a result of the fear caused by flying airplanes into tall building even affected well supervised visits by school groups at far... Posted Jun 05 2009, 07:55 PM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics

• Looking Back 30 Years To a Wet, Expensive Rally

  On a rainy June 3, 1979, there was a large gathering of people on the Long Island shore near the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant. According to some observers, there were 15,000 people in the crowd, but others dispute that number and say it was considerably fewer. The purpose of the rally was to organize and inspire opposition to the nuclear power plant. Some in the crowd claimed that their fear was inspired... Posted Jun 05 2009, 03:57 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics

• Comments on NRC Proposed Rule for Variable Fee Structure for Power Reactors

  A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that the NRC had published a notice of proposed rulemaking titled "Variable Annual Fee Structure for Power Reactors" [NRC-2008-0664] . I also promised that I would post a link to my submitted comments. I finally got around to completing that task. You can find my comments at AAE Comments on NRC-2008-0664 . If you have the time, I would encourage you to also... Posted May 31 2009, 05:19 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics

• First of a Kind (FOAK) Projects are Learning Opportunities - Olkiluoto Experience is Just a Reinforcement of a Old Principle

  Judging from the number of blog posts that have been generated in the past 24 hours in response to the New York Times article titled In Finland, Nuclear Renaissance Runs Into Trouble , some people have never heard of the concept of learning curves or been involved in a project where everyone is inexperienced at the specific task they are assigned. People who have been involved in the development of... Posted May 30 2009, 10:50 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics

• Fracking - A Modern Way to Produce "Clean", "Natural" Gas

  When I am not listening to podcasts on my daily commute, I often turn to NPR (National Public Radio) for some thoughtful stories. Though I missed yesterday's edition, a friend sent me a link to an interesting story titled Face-Off Over 'Fracking': Water Battle Brews On Hill that describes the growing concern in some areas of the country over the effects of hydraulic fracturing (aka "fracking"... Posted May 28 2009, 03:17 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics

• Watt's Up With That - Renewable Energy and Fossil Fuels Versus Fission

  A reader introduced me to a site that I had not yet visited called Watt's Up With That . He told me that there was an active conversation going discussing the merits of atomic fission (aka nuclear power) versus renewable energy and fossil fuel. When I found the thread titled Renewable energy – our downfall? I was impressed to find that it had garnered well over 200 comments. Made me feel rather... Posted May 28 2009, 02:18 AM by Atomic Insights Blog Filed under: opinion, editorial, politics