September, 2009

A discussion forum for subscribers and visitors to the newspaper’s online edition In late summer 2008 the online Wall Street Journal set up a series of community forums to take advantage of emerging social media. Since September 2008, I’ve been hosting a discussion forum at the online WSJ on the nuclear...

Social Democrats and green groups wanted to close them in favor of wind and solar power Reuters reports Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have won  enough votes in Germany's election to form a center-right government with the Free Democrats (FDP).  The anti-nuclear agenda of...

The reason is it has the world’s third largest reserve of bauxite, the raw stuff of aluminum When you think of small, developing nations, and nuclear energy, in the same firing of a synapse, what you get are small reactors.  Once on the market, small reactors will be comparatively cheap, easily...

Warren “Pete” Miller comes to Idaho Falls DOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Warren "Pete" Miller (right) was in Idaho Falls Sept 22 and told a news conference he is "pro-nuclear."  "Every interaction I've had in the (Obama) administration, at every level, has...

NRC’s Dale Klein says the agency must be clear about what it does and how it explains its decisions to the public Dale Klein, currently a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory  Commission ( NRC ), and its former chairman under the previous administration, has two objectives for his agency. He said...

DOE official says the Obama administration is “still thinking” about nuclear energy It’s doubtful that Dallas Morning News reporter Elizabeth Souder was intentionally trying to be funny in her column published Sept 22 on the Department of Energy’s “stop sign” policies when its comes to reviving the nation...

All comments are moderated and here's why Constructive comments that add to the conversation are welcome. I've had my say with the blog post. Comments are a way for you to have yours. Most comments are approved with 24 hours. I ask that comments be relevant to the post you are commenting on,...

Governor goes pro-nuclear and so do the people who want his job What is it about California that always twists what the rest of the  country takes for reality into a pretzel?  For more than three decades the state has banned the construction of new nuclear power plants. At the same time it...

It’s open to the public and includes real-time online access Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a workshop at the agency headquarters in Rockville, Md., on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8 and 9, to discuss generic issues regarding potential applications for so-called “small and medium-sized” nuclear...

This blog post includes edited content which also appeared in Fuel Cycle Week V8N34 09/16/09 published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Turmoil rocks Uranium Resources It's been a tough month for Uranium Resources ( NASDAQ:URRE ). On  September 4th CEO David Clark stepped...

A nuclear engineer with an entrepreneurial spirit may do well with one What’s of interest to a nuclear engineer who doesn’t want to get swallowed up in the bureaucracy of a mega utility is that  small reactor projects are organized like Silicon Valley start-ups. Venture capitalists are willing to...

The funding opportunity is for design work on a high temperature gas cooled reactor The Department of Energy announced Sept 18 a significant funding  opportunity for work on the Next Generation Nuclear Plant ( NGNP ). U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that up to $40 million in funding will be...

Partnership for Science & Technology joins social media The Partnership for Science & Technology (PST), a non-profit, pro- nuclear group, launched its Facebook page this week.  It is is a non-profit, public interest organization advocating for advancement of science, energy and technology...

Dramatic rescue announced at IAEA meeting Sept 14 U.S. Department of Energy officials today know what it is like to be a hero like the Lone Ranger .  With a shout, metaphorically speaking, of "hi yo Silver away!" heard from halfway accross the globe, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary...

Two countries could not be further apart on splitting the atom On September 27th German voters will go to the polls and decide the fate of 17 nuclear power plants and 25% of its electricity supply.  While Germans are making this fateful energy policy decision, Italy is moving to build eight new...

Climate Legislation ~ What Will it Look Like? Live Webcast September 30, 1 PM EST / 10 AM PST To register click here ~ Registration and participation in the webinar is free Key U.S. CEOs and world leaders are urging the Obama Administration not to go empty-handed to the UNFCCC Conference in Copenhagen...

Please welcome the first edition of a new monthly column on nuclear and environmental law issues by: Tamar Cerafici * Spring and Summer Download of Environmental Issues With Labor Day signaling the official end of summer, I must fulfill a promise I made to the Idaho Samizdat last May.  I assured...

The future of Thorium as a nuclear fuel is on the agenda A conference on the future of Thorium as a nuclear fuel will be held  in Washington, DC, October 19-20.  Advocates of the fuel and related reactor designs that can use it claim it is cheaper than uranium and more abundant.  John...

Russia seeks UK nuclear energy market share The Guardian reports that Russian atomic energy export agency is  seeking deals to build new reactors in the UK or at least provide fuel for them. It is partnering with German industrial giant Siemens to provide turbines to generate electricity from the...

Eskom’s financial collapse “indefinitely postpones” construction of a pilot plant The much ballyhooed Pebble Bed Reactor project is on the rocks.  Speaking at the World Nuclear Association (WNA) on Sept 11th, PBMR CEO Jaco Kriek said construction of a prototype plant has been "indefinitely...

Major mainstream business papers assess the state of play and nuclear energy gets a place in the climate bill In the digital age it is still important to see your industry get ink in major newspapers also known as “dead trees” media by cyber wizards who live in the ether. The health of an industry, even...

First you see them now you don't This blog post also appeared in an edited version in Fuel Cycle Week , V8N343, September 10, 2009, published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC Reuters wire service found itself in a double boomerange effect in its coverage of nuclear energy issues...

IT firm in the nuclear industry is looking for someone who can work with an entrepreneurial start-up Wiznucleus is a leading provider of knowledge management software  solutions and services to the nuclear energy industry. The firm is seeking a VP of Sales & Marketing. This is a top management...

China’s massive new build drives expansion at Japan Steel Works According to a Sept 7 wire service report from Bloomberg News,  China’s plans to expand its nuclear reactor fleet will cause Japan Steel Works (JSW) to increase its capacity from five to 12 nuclear reactor pressure vessels per year...

New nuclear fuel contains 9.6% enriched uranium Hat tip to Rod Adams at Atomic Insights South Africa’s Pebble Bed Modular Reactor ( PBMR ) company has manufactured high temperature reactor fuel spheres or “pebbles” containing 9.6% enriched uranium.  Most commercial nuclear fuel is enriched to 3...