Atomic Insights

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

natural gas

The Atomic Show #132 – Ray Squirrel Interviews (Atomic) Rod Adams

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Ray Squirrel is the screen name used by a documentary film maker who is collecting material for a film about nuclear power. You can find some of the work he has done so far at RaySquirrel’s youtube site. I am not sure how the film will come out, but I thought you might be interested in the interview that Ray’s assistant, James conducted with me on Wednesday, 13 May.

Warning – this podcast is the longest Atomic Show yet at about 105 minutes.

He asked a lot of good, probing questions with an open attitude. Topics include Adams Atomic Engines, Inc., small nuclear power plants, the nuclear renaissance, French nuclear power experiences, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, nuclear waste, hazards of other energy sources, my thoughts on large scale renewable energy systems, and the importance of understanding commercial energy competition.

During the interview I mentioned a local natural gas explosion that injured 8 firefighters and one employee of the Washington Gas Company. Here is a link to more information about that accident – which had more serious effects on the public health than the far more widely publicized Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident.

Explosion a good reminder there are no ‘routine’ calls

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The Atomic Show #123 – European View of Russian Gas Cutoff

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On January 20, 2009 Rod Adams spoke with Alexandra Prokopenko to get a local view of the effects on Eastern Europe of the Ukraine/Russia natural gas supply dispute. Alexandra is a citizen of Belarus who currently lives and works in Sweden. Her husband is living in Kiev, Ukraine and she speaks to him each day. Alexandra is a journalism instructor, writes an energy focused blog and learned to speak Swedish during her multi-year evacuation from the Chernobyl area as a 4 year old.

In other words, she has a very interesting perspective that I find fascinating.

During this discussion, we talked about Russian gas price ambitions, explanations for the EU’s policy on nuclear power plants owned by former members of the “Eastern Bloc”, energy supply security, the thirst for independence and even a bit about the European reaction to the inauguration of a new US president – since our discussion took place just hours after President Obama took office.

I will apologize in advance if some of the conversation sounds a bit disjointed. I once again forgot my nuke training and neglected to use a checklist when setting up to record our discussion. I forgot to tell WireTap to record both the system audio and the incoming mike, so I had a great recording of what Alexandra said to me, but dead silence on what I said to her to cause her responses.

Oh well – sometimes it is hard to get good help.

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