Alexandra Prokopenko at Atom Watch has been keeping a close eye on the question Where Should Germany Store Its Nuclear Waste? This question has been gaining increasing importance in recent weeks because Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats announced desire to reopen the decision to prematurely shut down existing nuclear plants and to even consider the possibility…
On Tuesday September 9, 2008 Amarillo.com published an update on Amarillo Power’s planned nuclear project in the Texas panhandle. For undisclosed reasons, the company – led by George Chapman – has notified the NRC that it will be filing its construction and operating license application in late 2009 vice late 2008. At least part of…
One of the trends that has become obvious to the fuel traders in the electrical power business is that their job is quite a bit more “interesting” today than it was 5-10 years ago. Instead of being able to reliably contract for coal, residual oil or natural gas at stable prices or with moderate inflation…
While working in South Africa on the PBMR project, Hans and Mary Lou Gougar are taking full advantage of the opportunity to try new experiences and visit new places. During Atomic Show #105, Hans, ever the devoted husband, offered to share a video of Mary Lou being kissed by an elephant. I have her permission…
Hans and Mary Lou Gougar return to The Atomic Show for an update on their respective PBMR related research projects. One of our show sponsors is by Entergy Nuclear. (They take no responsibility for any of the comments by the show host or the guests.) Imagine how cool it would be to work for a…
One of the reasons that I write so often about Amory Lovins is that I believe that the man is a danger to the health and prosperity of billions of people. His views, if accepted, would put the world into a precarious position with less access to clean water, healthy food and reliable electrical power….
Dan Yurman at Idaho Samizdat has a full series of very informative posts about the tension filled effort to get full concurrence from the 45 member Nuclear Supplier’s Group – an organization of the countries that export nuclear related goods and services – to allow sales to India, the world’s most populous democracy. It is…
As I have mentioned several times here on Atomic Insights, I hold a special place in my heart for people who respond and rebuild electrical power systems after a damaging storm. When I was growing up, I clearly remember my Dad’s “storm training” days. Dad was a supervising engineer for Florida Power and Light and…
One of the more frequently mentioned constraints on new nuclear power plant construction is the production of large steel components like reactor pressure vessels. Until recently, there was only one place outside of Russia – Japan Steel Works – with the capability to produce the 500 ton forgings required to allow the manufacture of a…
Many observers of the nuclear industry will point to the disestablishment of the Atomic Energy Commission as one of the major turning points in the development of nuclear power as growing alternative energy source. For nearly 30 years from 1946-1974, the AEC was a focused agency responsible for all aspects of nuclear power research, development…
After pointing to the clear thinking on the natural progression of energy technology provided on Chicago Boyz, I have continued to participate in an interesting conversation thread tied to Shannon Love’s post titled Fantasy Energy. Shannon’s position is that the only real opposition to nuclear power developments has been the technology fearing leftists who vocally…
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has published an opinion column titled We have an efficient, clean energy alternative. Here is a sample excerpt of a column that is really worth reading in its entirety, even if you have to look past some of the partisan rhetoric: An energy policy that offers barriers instead of solutions, punishment…