Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes

Ten tons of chickens, five tons of truck

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:30:00 GMT

The Department of Energy's loan guarantee program is overloaded In an old joke told to me by a man who made a living clearing farmers' fields of tree stumps with dynamite, a truck is driving down the street of a small town and something unusual happens every time it comes to a stop light. The driver hops out, runs around to the back, pulls a 2x4 out of spare tire rack, and whacks...(read more)

There are some jobs the government must do

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:34:00 GMT

Providing for the common good is one of them In the arguments against nuclear energy, critics have taken aim at the debt ceiling of the Tennessee Valley Authority ( TVA ) and the federal loan guarantee program for support investments in new nuclear power plants. These critics seem to have forgotten something very important. There are some jobs the government must do, and one of the most...(read more)

Clamping down on loose nukes

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:33:00 GMT

Nuclear terrorism is a threat to everyone A new organization started operations in Vienna this week with a mission of blocking theft of nuclear materials to use them for terrorist attacks. The New York Times reports that the immense task of the new nongovernmental agency will be to increase security is to "eliminate weak links in the global security chain." The NYT said...(read more)

Hutton out of UK nuclear new build

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:23:00 GMT

Government shuffle creates a new agency responsible for energy and climate change John Hutton, the UK's tireless advocate for new nuclear power plants, is out of the business. He's been shifted to the Defense ministry and replaced by Ed Miliband (right) who heads up a new department which will deal with both energy and climate change issues. These moves increase the government's...(read more)

A few long shots

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:10:00 GMT

Some ideas are more interesting than others In the business of building new nuclear power plants, the so-called long shot lives in a world of speculative vision which often fails the baloney test of reality. That doesn't stop some people from trying. Of course few people can ski jump, but the rest of us love to see them fly. Some people are determined to bring a vision down to earth...(read more)

Buffett stacks his nuclear deals

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:39:00 GMT

Warren Buffet adds companies to his holdings the way a cook makes pancakes The Wall Street Journal reports that Warren Buffet's MidAmerican Energy Holdings will pursue its $4.7 billion deal with Constellation Energy ( NYSE:CEG ) despite potential challenges from rival bidders. Two other firms want the nuclear utility and are reportedly prepared to pay a premium price for it. Buffet's...(read more)

Senate approves India's nuclear deal

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:03:00 GMT

The House voted for it earlier this week Congress approved a landmark deal ending the three-decade ban on U.S. nuclear trade with India. Reuters reports final approval came as the Senate voted to ratify the deal 86-13, sending the legislation to President Bush to sign into law. The Senate's move was taken just prior to an expected trip to India by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The House...(read more)

Who's on First?

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:40:00 GMT

Can anyone make up their mind about new nuclear builds? The future of the nuclear industry can easily be understood by two competing paradigms as laid out by the New York Times on Sept 24. The newspaper reported "there are two opposing viewpoints on expanding nuclear power." One is that most companies will not take the plunge until they have seen the pioneers jump into the sea of challenges...(read more)

Saturday reading on the myths of nuclear energy

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:01:00 GMT

Charles Barton at Nuclear Greens knocks down some myths about nuclear energy One of the realities of the current political landscape is that "progressives" believe in opposition to nuclear energy as a canon of the cause. Last April the Nation, an international journal of progressive thought, has published a major attack on the nuclear renaissance. In an essay published April 24...(read more)

Nuclear new build roundup for September 27, 2008

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:53:00 GMT

Hits & misses with financial worries in the bulls eye It was a mostly worrisome week for the global nuclear industry with America's financial troubles taking center stage in terms of media coverage. A splash effect on future funding for new nuclear power plants isn't out of the question. Turkey's nuclear tender gets only one bid In Turkey the news media reports only one...(read more)

Western lands uranium gopher for September 27, 2008

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:37:00 GMT

An occasional column on money and mining news items) The rise of nuclear energy, a second act if ever there was one, has given uranium a shot in the arm in western states in the U.S. Interest in uranium mining is growing and with it comes another growth industry - the production of press releases about the uranium mining industry. The purpose of this occasional column is to separate the really interesting...(read more)

Idaho Statesman on AEHI

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:44:00 GMT

The Boise newspaper runs a profile and an editorial Idaho's biggest newspaper has reminded its readers that a Virginia company wants to build a nuclear power plant in Idaho, and it isn't one owned by Warren Buffet. It is a text book case of asking folks to wake up and smell the coffee. In a one-two punch the paper published a profile by environmental reporter Rocky Barker and an editorial...(read more)

Microsoft veteran boots up nuclear reactor R&D

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:04:00 GMT

A firm focused on patent licensing wants to design a new kind of reactor Intellectual Ventures of Bellevue, WA, is a high energy operation that gets its revenue primarily from scooping up patents and then enforcing its rights to royalties when others want to license them. When other firms infringe on these patents, the firm sends its lawyers over for a heart-to-heart chat. The Wall Street...(read more)

Two more for Comanche Peak

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:51:00 GMT

Luminant Power goes with dual 1,700 MW Mitsubishi ABWRs Texas-based Luminant Power submitted a combined construction permit-operating license (COL) application to the NRC Sept 19 for two new Mitsubishi APWRs at Comanche Peak. [ media kit ] Luminant is the third company to file for new nuclear reactors in Texas. The other two are NRG at South Texas Project and Exelon at Victoria county....(read more)

Reaching across the generation

Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:18:00 GMT

A group of 16 young professionals talk to their peers about nuclear energy If you are a young person age 18-35 and you want information on nuclear energy, where do you turn? The answer is you hit Google looking for people your age who know something about it. Starting this month what you'll find is an exceptional group of 16 young men and women who work in the nuclear industry. ...(read more)