Salem-News.com Nuclear articles Page 49

Experts Say All 4 Reactor Candidates Are `Ugly,` Risky to U.S. Taxpayers

Obama Nuclear Bailout/Not Workable - "Ugly" Field of Four Bailout Candidates Present Huge Taxpayer Risks With Rising Cost Estimates, Delays, Flawed Reactor Designs, and Credit Downgrades; January One of Worst Months Ever for Industry.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - What if the federal government held a beauty contest for taxpayer-backed nuclear reactor loan guarantee bailouts ... and no reactor project "beauties" could be lined up for the runway?

Florida Power and Light Billion-Dollar Rate Hike Denied

Does this signal a death knell for nuclear power?

(CHICAGO) - The Florida Public Service Commission (PUC) denied Florida Power and Light (FPL) Company's $1.27 billion rate-hike request, granting instead a minuscule $75.5 million in a decision that could be the death knell for not only two proposed nuclear reactors in Florida, but several elsewhere in the U.S.

While the economic downturn certainly played a role in lowering demand for the additional power in Florida, many of FPL's demands for advance payments, higher guaranteed profit margin, and less public scrutiny in constructing nuclear plants were beyond the level of outrageous even the Florida PUC would tolerate.

Congress/Nuclear Power - Expert: `French Model` for U.S. Reactor `Renaissance` is a Hoax

Leading European Industry Expert says he'll debunk "Myth of French Nuclear Model" for U.S.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Yves Marignac, a leading international consultant on nuclear energy issues and the executive director of the energy information agency WISE-Paris, will challenge the myth of the so-called “French nuclear model” that supposedly could serve as a blueprint for the revival of the embattled industry in the U.S.

Marignac is visiting the United States to meet with federal and state officials, among other groups.

Letter to Editor Decries Ohio Mandate for Another Nuclear Operation

Why didn't they go door to door and ask the community what kind of jobs they want for the area?

(PORTSMOUTH, Ohio) - How can our representatives, Strickland, Voinovich and Schmidt just, out of the blue, mandate another nuclear operation for our area when previous nuclear endeavors here have been so devastating?

How? When these representatives know good and well that area residents and workers from prior nuclear operations here are deathly ill from toxic chemical and radiation exposures! The Feds have designated Scioto County as having one of the highest cancer rates in the nation, and they even have a categorized list of illnesses caused from THE FORMER PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT !

Echoes of Rancho Seco Nuclear Shutdown Still Heard Two Decades Later (AUDIO)

“Shot Heard Round the World” Echoes in Strong Local, State Opposition Across U.S. to New Nuclear Reactors.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Ahead of the 20th anniversary on Saturday of Sacramento voters going to the polls to shut down Rancho Seco, a nuclear reactor operated by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) about 25 miles southeast of the city, organizers held a news conference today to mark the event.

In his remarks at the news conference, Scott Denman, former executive director of the national Safe Energy Communication Council, emphasized that votes against nuclear power continue to this day.

UN Secretary-General Deplores DPR Korea`s Underground Nuclear Test

Mr. Ban urged DPRK to refrain from taking further actions that would increase tensions in the region, and insisted that the country comply with its obligations and restart dialogue with the parties concerned without delay.

(GENEVA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly deplored the conduct of an underground nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday, in “clear and grave” violation of resolutions of the Security Council which also spoke out against the act.

U.K. Expert Says U.S. Is Not LOSING International Nuclear Power `Race`

No “Nuclear Renaissance” on the Continent: French, Finnish, and U.K. Experiences Hold Little Relevance for U.S. – Other Than As Cautionary Tales; Copying France “Would Require Nationalization of U.S. Electric Utilities.”

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Lobbyists and utility company officials who claim that the United States is missing out on a so-called “Nuclear Renaissance” have their facts wrong about what is going on in Europe with nuclear reactors, according to University of Greenwich Professor of Energy Studies Stephen Thomas.

The U.K. energy expert said that, not only is nuclear power in France, Finland, and Great Britain now plagued with problems, but almost nothing that is positive about the experiences in those nations would translate to the United States.

Iran Stresses Diplomatic Solution to Nuclear Standoff

Washington's push for additional UN penalties contradicts the report by 16 US intelligence bodies that endorsed the civilian nature of Iran's programs.

(TEHRAN (FNA)) - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Monday that Iran wanted no confrontation in the dispute over its nuclear program and was optimistic about the future course of the nuclear talks with world powers.

"We have a forward-looking and constructive approach and believe that we can move forward towards an agreement with understanding," Saeed Jalili said after returning to Tehran from talks in Europe.

He was referring to remarks by US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack who said Tehran should either chose cooperation or confrontation.

UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Sends Team to Syria

Last week by former President Jimmy Carter revealed Israel's possession of at least 150 undeclared nuclear weapons.

(GENEVA) - The head of the UN's atomic watchdog announced today that he is sending a team to visit Syria this month after expressing regret that his agency had not received information sooner alleging that a Syrian installation destroyed by Israel last year was a nuclear reactor.

The IAEA received that information – which claimed that the destroyed Syrian facility was not yet operational and had not yet been introduced to nuclear material – from the U.S. in April.

Wyden Calls for Accountability at the Hanford Nuclear Waste Treatment Plant

Says flawed procurement practices raise questions about the "cost, schedule and safety" of the high-level waste treatment project.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator Ron Wyden has requested an explanation of the causes of the most recent "black cell" procurement problems at the Hanford Nuclear Waste Treatment Plant in Richland, Washington.