Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

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The Atomic Show #102 – Constellation, itsgettinghotinhere.org, cost vs investment

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Nuclear energy news. Atomic conversation with Robert Margolis, Kelly Taylor and Rod Adams

Kelly Taylor, Robert Margolis and I got together on August 17, 2008 to discuss the events of the week in nuclear energy. Kelly and Robert had been involved in an interesting discussion with people from itsgettinghotinhere.org regarding the expansion of Dominion Power’s North Anna facility.

I reported on my recent trip to Calvert County where Unistar Nuclear is planning Calvert Cliffs Unit III, and we talked about some of the benefits that result to local communities when a “costly” nuclear plant gets constructed in their backyard.

When a utility or generating company pays billions of dollars to build a new nuclear plant the money goes somewhere; much of it goes into the paychecks of the people constructing and later operating the plant. When the plant begins producing power, that displaces power generated by burning fossil fuels. Not only are fossil fuels dirtier than fission, but the money spent to buy them generally goes someplace far from where the fuel gets burned and the emissions get released.

Since fossil fuel companies have pared down their work forces, a lot of the money ends up concentrating in the hands of a small number of wealthy individuals.

As usual, our conversation veered into several tangentially related topics. Hope you enjoy the show. Remember, if you want to learn more about opportunities offered by Energy, a sponsor of The Atomic Show, please visit them at nuclearenergycareers.com.

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The Atomic Show #101 – Small nuclear power plants with Dan Yurman, Charles Barton, Kirk Sorensen

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Small nuclear power plants. Round table with Kirk Sorensen, Dan Yurman, Charles Barton, Rod Adams

Show 101 is a bit longer than normal, but I think you will want to listen carefully to every word. I invited some innovative thinkers and observers of the nuclear scene to discuss small nuclear power plants and their potential impact on the energy market.

Kirk Sorensen blogs at Energy from Thorium and is nearly finished with his MS in Nuclear Engineering.

Charles Barton blogs at Energy from Thorium and Nuclear Green.

Dan Yurman blogs at Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes and also writes for Fuel Cycle Week.

Our conversation ranged over a number of topics including the NuScale Power 45 MWe reactor, Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors, licensing issues, waste handling constructs, Dale Klein’s recent speech including his comments on small reactors, and radiation health effects.

Here are some links to articles or papers discussed:

Dan Keuter, Entergy Nuclear – The NGNP in Perspective

UPPU – Fifty Years of Plutonium Exposure to the Manhattan Project Plutonium Workers: An Update – Abstract.

If you want to find out more about nuclear energy career opportunities at Entergy Nuclear, visit nuclearenergycareers.com. The Atomic Show thanks Entergy Nuclear for its support of the show and for its forward leaning participation in new media endeavors.

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