|
| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Not the bill to take home to mother
Nuclear subsidies likely to stay in omnibus spending package |
Brian Beutler |
18 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The Senate is debating the wide-ranging $500-plus billion omnibus spending package right now. Most of the points of contention are extremely important -- FOIA, defense spending -- but for the purposes of this site, a bit off-topic. It failed its most recent cloture vote on the question of war-funding (Republicans, of course, want more), and minority leader Mitch McConnell has basically promised it won't pass unless the Democrats cave. So if when that happens, I'll let ... |
|
| Topics: climate, energy, greenhouse-gas emissions, legislation, nuclear power, politics (all these topics) |
|
|
Pete and Repeat
Sen. Domenici tries again to boost loan guarantees for nuclear power plants |
|
18 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 9:56 AM on 18 Dec 2007 The multifaceted appropriations bill making its way through the Senate contains language that would raise the limits on loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants. The language was added thanks to tireless nuclear booster Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), who has tried (and so far failed) to raise loan guarantees for nuclear plants by inserting provisions into the energy bil ... |
|
| Topics: energy, legislation, news, nuclear power, politics, US Senate (all these topics) |
|
|
The U.S. Congress, always willing to be shilling
The terrible omnibus bill |
Brian Beutler |
17 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Rumors began circulating late last Friday -- as the Senate was passing the much-weakened energy bill -- that some terrible provisions had made their way into the omnibus spending package, which will likely face votes in both bodies by the end of the week. Now comes word from Friends of the Earth that 'the omnibus spending bill expected to come before the House of Representatives tonight and the Senate tomorrow directs $20.5 billion in loan guarantees to nuclear pow ... |
|
| Topics: coal, nuclear power, energy, legislation, politics (all these topics) |
|
|
Damn these women and their superpowers!
How does Jane Fonda keep defeating the U.S.? |
John McGrath |
12 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Full disclosure: I was born in 1981, and as far as I can recall I never masturbated to a picture of Jane Fonda. Too much information, I know. But what else can I do? An eternity ago (September) the guys who brought you Freakonomics brought you this little gem, blaming Jane Fonda for America's CO2 emissions. Seriously: 'The China Syndrome' opened on March 16, 1979. With the no-nukes protest movement in full swing, the movie was attacked by the nuclear ind ... |
|
| Topics: nuclear power, energy, celebrity, movies (all these topics) |
|
|
White courtesy phone, paging Homer Simpson
Necessity is the mother of invention ... and some really bad ideas |
JMG |
28 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Mein Gott. I was so hoping that this article was from The Onion or something. Porta-nukes will power oil-shale melters, because there's just no topping the American spirit -- the willingness to take a truly abysmal idea (oil shales) and make it worse: The portable nuclear reactor is the size of a hot tub. It's shaped like a sake cup, filled with a uranium hydride core and surrounded by a hydrogen atmosphere. Encase it in concrete, truck it to a site, bury it underground, hook i ... |
|
| Topics: nuclear power, oil, energy (all these topics) |
|
|
You know what they say about a guy with a big footprint?
GAO says the electric sector's got a big subsidy to match |
Sean Casten |
28 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The GAO has reported on subsidies to our electric sector, proving what Grist readers already (sadly) know, namely that subsidies to the dirty folks vastly exceed existing or proposed subsidies to cleaner generation. The most remarkable thing is that the biggest subsidies, like nuclear liability guarantees and lower debt costs through rate payer guarantees, aren't even included in the list (although, to the GAO's credit, it does acknowledge their existence). So ... |
|
| Topics: coal, economy, energy, fossil fuels, nuclear power, renewable energy (all these topics) |
|
|
How not to make an energy policy
A strong and realistic energy policy is not dependent on any one fuel, technology, or supplier |
Kristina & Jason Makansi |
27 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| First a caveat: When it comes to electricity generation, I (Jason) am an agnostic. In other words, I try to evaluate energy sources on their own merits, from cradle to grave, and I try my best to keep ideology out of the analysis. When we're talking about our energy future, it is essential to look at the big picture. We should evaluate each fuel source -- its pros, cons, and its potential for the future -- in light of all the geopolitical, economic, a ... |
|
| Topics: carbon sequestration, coal, energy, nuclear power, politics (all these topics) |
|
|
Delay of the land
Drastic delays proposed for Hanford Nuclear Reservation cleanup |
Sarah K. Burkhalter |
21 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The following is a guest post from Gina Barteletti, publications and volunteer coordinator at Heart of America Northwest. ----- The U.S. Department of Energy is proposing to add more deadly, toxic waste to Washington State's Hanford Nuclear Reservation before existing waste is cleaned up. At the same time, DOE is proposing changes to the Tri-Party Agreement (TPA), also known as the Hanford Cleanup Agreement, which could add decades to cleanup. DOE has prop ... |
|
| Topics: energy, nuclear power, Washington, waste (all these topics) |
|
|
China's immoral energy policy: Part I
China's coal policy is breathtaking (literally) |
Joseph Romm |
01 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Yes, America's climate policy is immoral. But that doesn't make China's rapacious coal-plant building moral. The N.Y. Times has published the sobering numbers, which bear repeating: The country built 114,000 megawatts of fossil-fuel-based generating capacity last year alone, almost all coal-fired, and is on course to complete 95,000 megawatts more this year. For comparison, Britain has 75,000 megawatts in operation, built over a span of decades. China is now t ... |
|
| Topics: renewable energy, nuclear power, coal, politics, energy, China (all these topics) |
|
|
When in drought ...
Why can't legislators connect nuclear power and water shortages? |
David Roberts |
31 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Holy cognitive dissonance, Batman! Listen to this, from E&E (sub rqd): Of the two Republicans on the subcommittee, Sen. Johnny Isakson (Ga.), repeated his call to use the [Lieberman-Warner] legislation for the promotion of nuclear power. ... Isakson said he would likely miss the subcommittee markup to attend a White House meeting on the Southeastern drought scheduled at the same time with the governors of Alabama, Florida and Georgia. "Th ... |
|
| Topics: politics, energy, nuclear power, legislation (all these topics) |
|
|
The Achilles heel of nuclear power
Nuclear plants require lots of water in an increasingly dry world |
Joseph Romm |
30 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| No, I don't mean cost, safety, waste, or proliferation -- though those are all serious problems. I mean the Achilles heel of nuclear power in the context of climate change: water. Climate change means water shortages in many places and hotter water everywhere. Both are big problems for nukes: ... nuclear power is the most water-hungry of all energy sources, with a single reactor consuming 35-65 million litres of water each day. The Australians, stuck in a once- ... |
|
| Topics: climate, energy, nuclear power, severe weather, water crisis (all these topics) |
|
|
Nuke Rebuke
Research panel discourages presidential plan for U.S. nuclear-waste reprocessing |
|
30 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 2:17 PM on 30 Oct 2007 A 17-member panel of researchers from the National Academy of Sciences released a report yesterday discouraging President Bush from continuing on his quest to resume U.S. nuclear waste reprocessing. The researchers said the president's proposed Global Nuclear Energy Partnership plan has not been adequately peer reviewed and relies on unproven technology. Instead, the pan ... |
|
| Topics: energy, George Bush, National Academy of Sciences, news, nuclear power, scientific research (all these topics) |
|
|
Assuming There Will Be a Future, Of Course
New report makes suggestions for sustainable energy future |
|
23 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 2:52 PM on 23 Oct 2007 Coal is the enemy of the human race, but don't take our word for it: 15 national science academies pooh-pooh the evil black rock in their new report "Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future." The report also rah-rahs solar and wind power and energy efficiency, and is warily supportive of nuclear energy and cellulosic biofuels. sources: Th ... |
|
| Topics: cellulosic ethanol, coal, energy, energy efficiency, news, nuclear power, solar voltaic power, wind power (all these topics) |
|
|
Nuke it out
Musicians put together anti-nuke video, petition |
Sarah van Schagen |
11 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| In an effort to excise a nuclear-power provision from the Senate's energy bill, a group of musicians including Bonnie Raitt and Ben Harper has put together a short video and petition. Check it out: Also, it looks like Raitt and some of the other anti-nuke campaigners will be attending the Boxer event tonight. I wonder if they'll be talking nukes. |
|
| Topics: celebrity, energy, music, nuclear power, politics (all these topics) |
|
|
Are we there yet?
Nuclear still on the verge of its comeback |
David Roberts |
09 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| If the nuclear industry "primes" for its long-rumored comeback much longer, the country's going to get a collective case of blue balls. Meanwhile, this short excerpt pretty much contains the entire history of the nuclear debate in a nutshell: [Nuke company] NRG Energy chief executive David W. Crane proclaimed 'a new day for energy in America.' But there is still a lot of worry about the economics of nuclear power. Nuclear plants are hugely expensive t ... |
|
| Topics: nuclear power, energy (all these topics) |
|
|
Oh, Sproat It All
Yucca Mountain may be doubled in size, need more funding |
|
05 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 12:04 PM on 05 Oct 2007 In a move sure to endear Nevada's Yucca Mountain nuclear-waste repository to fiercely opposed Nevadans, the Department of Energy has proposed doubling its size. Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley (D) concisely sums up the reaction of the sane: "Doubling the size of Yucca Mountain will only double the danger. This is not a bad dream; it's a nightmare." In addition, the DOE's Edward F. S ... |
|
| Topics: Department of Energy, energy, insanity, Nevada, news, nuclear power, politics, waste (all these topics) |
|
|
Into the Breach
DOE hasn't opened Yucca nuclear-waste dump, must pay millions for breach of contract |
|
01 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 2:52 PM on 01 Oct 2007 As if the saga of Nevada's Yucca Mountain wasn't ridiculous enough, a court has ruled that the Department of Energy's failure to open the nuclear-waste repository on time will have a price tag of $116.5 million, payable to Xcel Energy for breach of contract. And just to remind you of the ridiculousness, in the words of Minnesota State Senator Ellen Anderson: &quo ... |
|
| Topics: Department of Energy, energy, litigation, Nevada, news, nuclear power, politics, waste (all these topics) |
|
|
Why is Uncle Sam so committed to reviving nuclear power?
A guest essay from Peter Montague analyzes the nuclear 'renaissance' |
David Roberts |
01 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The following is a guest essay from Peter Montague, executive director of the Environmental Research Foundation. ----- The long-awaited and much-advertised "nuclear renaissance" actually got under way this week. NRG Energy, a New Jersey company recently emerged from bankruptcy, applied for a license to build two new nuclear power plants at an existing facility in Bay City, Texas -- the first formal application for such a license in 30 years. NRG ... |
|
| Topics: business, energy, nuclear power, politics (all these topics) |
|
|
Be careful what you wish for
Conservative candidate in Ontario will expand nuclear power industry, if elected |
John McGrath |
27 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Me, a month ago: What the Ontario election needs is for the parties to talk more about energy issues! Me, a few days ago: Crud. Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said Saturday that environmental approval for energy projects is operating at a snail's pace, and if his party comes to power, he will revitalize the province's nuclear sector. I would so love for the expansion of nuclear power to not be the one point of agreement between the two biggest par ... |
|
| Topics: Canada, elections, energy, nuclear power, politics (all these topics) |
|
|
Not Our Fault
Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump moves structures to account for fault line |
|
25 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:46 PM on 25 Sep 2007 If falsified quality-assurance documents and vehement opposition from locals (among other things) aren't enough to put Nevada's Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump on your list of Bad Places to Dump Nuclear Waste, may we offer you an inconveniently located underground fault line? From the Archives Brown Towns. British prime minister aims to build ev ... |
|
| Topics: energy, Nevada, news, nuclear power, waste (all these topics) |
|
|
Get It? NRG?
Company will file application for new U.S. nuclear reactor |
|
24 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 3:51 PM on 24 Sep 2007 And so it begins: Tomorrow, NRG Energy will become the first company in nearly 30 years to file an application to build a new nuclear reactor in the U.S. sources: Reuters, Associated Press From the Archives Down the Pike. California officials will poison lake to target nonnative fish. Health Class. L.A. building schools close to freeways. So Much for Slow and Stead ... |
|
| Topics: energy, news, nuclear power (all these topics) |
|
|
Earning it
|
David Roberts |
13 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Another day, another Whitman editorial boosting nukes. At least this one has a slightly better disclaimer: Christine Todd Whitman is the former governor of New Jersey and EPA administrator. She is the CASEnergy Coalition co-chair. The CASEnergy Coalition is an advocacy group that believes greater use of nuclear energy is critical to a U.S. energy policy. I guess if my organization was created at the behest of the nuclear industry, with money from the nuclear indu ... |
|
| Topics: energy, nuclear power (all these topics) |
|
|
You get the opinion you pay for
BusinessWeek allows Whitman to lobby for nukes under the guise of an op-ed |
David Roberts |
12 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Here's yet another op-ed from Christie Whitman cheerleading for nuclear power. To get a sense of the bad faith that infuses the whole thing, check out this paragraph: Of course, we could buy energy-saving appliances or drive fuel-efficient cars. We can recycle cans, bottles, and newspapers. We can even plant carbon-absorbing trees. But, no matter how much we may wish they would, these acts by themselves won't satisfy our energy demands. To do that, we need a di ... |
|
| Topics: energy, nuclear power (all these topics) |
|
|
Costs soar for new nuclear power plants
Strict safety guidelines cause construction delays at nuclear plants in Finland and Taiwan |
Joseph Romm |
06 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Bloomberg has a very long article on the troubles plaguing Finland's Olkiluoto-3, 'the first nuclear plant ordered in Western Europe since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.' The plant has been delayed two years thanks to 'flawed welds for the reactor's steel liner, unusable water-coolant pipes and suspect concrete in the foundation.' It is also more than 25 percent over its 3 billion euro ($4 billion) budget. The article notes: If Finland's experience is any guide, ... |
|
| Topics: energy, Finland, nuclear power, Taiwan, United Kingdom (all these topics) |
|
|
Yucca Rebuke
A setback for Yucca Mountain nuke dump as judge denies water to project |
|
06 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 9:11 AM on 06 Sep 2007 A federal judge poured cold water on the U.S. government's plans to build a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada this week -- or, more accurately, he left the feds high and dry. The Department of Energy has been seeking 8 million gallons of state-controlled water to drill test holes at Yucca Mountain; the state of Nevada, which wants to be rid of the dump, has said no ... |
|
| Topics: Department of Energy, energy, Nevada, news, nuclear power, politics, water conflicts (all these topics) |
|
|
|
©2008. Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor®.