“Our freedoms can
only
be maintained by the advancement of technologies that serve mankind—
not
advancing technology puts Freedom at Risk and
our freedom is
threatened because we
don't take the time to
participate in it” GJD
Unfortunately our world does not recognize "superstar scientists" as they do entertainers.
Our country needs a new PROGRAM . . "The Annual Academia Awards" Identifying Americas scientists to Americas Citizens!
Our hats are off to
our
Contributing Scientists for their
"superstar science"!
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21 July 2008
The latest poll, conducted 8-14 July, questioned 809 registered voters in the state about their reactions to rising oil prices. When asked whether "the building of more nuclear power plants should be allowed in California," 50% of respondents agreed that new plants should be built, while 41% disagreed and 9% had no opinion. The poll showed that support for new nuclear plants was greatest among Republican voters (64%), while 41% of Democrats were in favour. A similar Field poll conducted in 1990 found that 38% of Californians were in favour of more plants and 56% were against them. An earlier poll, in 1984, showed that 33% approved the construction of new nuclear plants and 61% were opposed. The earliest Field poll on nuclear energy, taken in 1976, put support for new plants at 69% while just 19% of Californians opposed them. Support for new nuclear plants in California dropped to 37% in 1979, with 55% of residents opposed, following the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the state of Pennsylvania, according to a Field poll conducted that year. The Field poll has operated continuously since 1947 as an independent, non-partisan, media-sponsored public opinion news service. Each year the poll covers a wide range of political and social topics examining Californian public opinion. California, the most populous state in the USA with over 36 million inhabitants, has set targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The state has a moratorium on nuclear power plant construction. A 1975 law prohibits the use of land in California for the construction of new nuclear power plants until the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission confirms the existence of "an approved and demonstrated technology or means for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste." At the current rate of progress, the USA national radioactive waste repository planned for Yucca Mountain would not be ready before 2017 at the earliest. In 2007, a bill was introduced in California's state legislature by Republican assembly member Chuck DeVore calling for the moratorium to be lifted. However, the bill failed to receive the necessary support to make it into law. Meanwhile, state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that he thinks nuclear power has a "great future" and that the state should seriously reconsider using the "beneficial" technology. There are currently four nuclear power reactors in operation in California: Diablo Canyon 1 and 2 (owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Co) and San Onofre 2 and 3 (owned by Southern California Edison Co and San Diego Gas & Electric Co). The plants provide some 16% of California's electricity needs. 11 July 2008
US solicits bids for loan guarantees on nuclear construction 18 - 25 June 2008 ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: CEOs make climate recommendations to G8 20 June 2008 Recommendations on a post-2012 framework for global climate policy, backed by international business leaders, have been submitted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to the G8 leaders ahead of their meeting in Japan. The businessmen see advanced nuclear power as part of the solution.
NEW NUCLEAR: First concrete for new reactor at Novovoronezh-II 25 June 2008 First concrete for a new reactor has been poured at the Novovoronezh phase II nuclear power plant, marking the official start of construction. This is the first unit in Russia's wave of new build, which could benefit in future from foreign investment, politicians and officials said in Moscow today. Bruce Power to study use of nuclear in Saskatchewan 18 June 2008 Bruce Power launched a new energy initiative in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, which includes a feasibility study for the construction of province's first nuclear power plant. The company intends to begin its analysis this summer and issue a report by the end of the year.
REGULATION & SAFETY: Safety authority asks for steam generator work 24 June 2008 Electricité de France has been given until 30 September to implement preventative safety measures in steam generators at its French nuclear reactors including plugging tubes affected by an anomaly in anti-vibration measures.
EdF allowed to continue concreting 20 June 2008 Concreting work is to recommence at Flamanville 3, after safety authorities accepted Electricité de France's plans to improve quality control. The company intends to train workers in the necessary safety culture and must report on progress for six months.
French transparency committee meets 19 June 2008 France's new national committee on nuclear information - the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety - held its first meeting on 18 June. The committee's mandate is to act as a forum for the discussion of all issues related to public access to nuclear safety information.
NUCLEAR POLICIES:
UK opinion swinging towards nuclear Over half of the respondents to a new public opinion survey feel that the UK should increase its nuclear capacity - and those living closest to existing nuclear plants are most strongly in favour of new nuclear. Brown calls oil producers to invest in nuclear 23 June 2008 UK prime minister Gordon Brown thinks oil producing countries could stabilise their market and secure long-term futures by investing in alternatives, including nuclear. He told OPEC leaders he will open up the UK's energy industry to such investments.
CORPORATE: New turbines for Exelon plants 19 June 2008 US utility Exelon is upgrading steam turbines at six of its nuclear power units. The $420 million project should result in about 240 MWe more power. Exelon's Quad Cities, Dresden and Peach Bottom plants will benefit from the work, which would see two boiling water reactors at each receive steam turbine retrofits.
19 June 2008 Technical problems at some of its nuclear reactors resulted in lower output and earnings for British Energy during the 2007-2008 financial year, despite overall operational improvements. Speculation continues about the future of the UK nuclear generator, currently up for sale.
Global investors circle new nuclear markets 18 June 2008 Investors see the USA as the best place in the world to engage in nuclear build projects, followed by the UK and China, then South Africa. The banks, however, are yet to make serious moves. The list comes from Ernst & Young research commissioned by the UK government, a summary of which was presented in London
EXPLORATION & NUCLEAR FUEL: Galvani to work on Brazil's largest uranium reserve 24 June 2008 Industriás Nucleares do Brasil (INB) has selected Galvani, a regional phosphates company, as the sole partner in the exploitation of the Santa Quitéria reserve ahead of international miners Bunge and Vale.
Cameco completes GLE's front-end loop 20 June 2008 Uranium producer Cameco has joined the Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) venture, promising tie-ins across the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle. The stakeholders in GLE have uranium mining, conversion enrichment and fuel fabrication business units.
Namibian mine gets the green light 19 June 2008 Namibian uranium miner UraMin, a 100%-owned subsidiary of French nuclear giant Areva, has gained approval for a mining licence and a positive record of decision on its desalination plant for the Trekkopje Uranium Project. The miner will use an innovative leaching system and put back displaced top soil.
WASTE & RECYCLING: 24 June 2008 Nuclear decontamination and clean-up jobs could be simplified in future by a novel tennis-ball-sized device able to help map radiation sources. Using the device should be cheaper and easier than robotic or manual surveying.
Second of three Hanford contracts 23 June 2008 A $4.5 billion contract was announced on 19 June, the second huge deal in a program to clean-up the USA's legacy Hanford site. The site's central plateau is the focus of the work, which includes much remediation and environmental monitoring.
INDUSTRY TALK: Belarus adopts nuclear energy law 25 June 2008 The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has passed the second reading of a bill on nuclear power. The bill covers "fundamental principles" for the introduction of nuclear power and declares that benefits to citizens and society must outweigh any negative impacts of nuclear energy.
23 June 2008 A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flew to Syria on 22 June to examine the alleged nuclear site near Al Kibar. The team of inspectors would spend about three days in Syria inspecting the site and talking with Syrian officials, before reporting to IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, a spokesman told WNN.
French uranium employees kidnapped in Niger 23 June 2008 French nuclear company Areva is working with authorities in France and Niger to liberate four of its expatriate employees kidnapped by Tuareg rebels in Niger's Arlit region. Areva confirmed that the four kidnapped employees were in good health.
Nuclear power competes with pedal power 20 June 2008 On 24 June, a 700 km cycle race kicks off from the Volgodonsk nuclear power plant in southern Russia to the Zaporizhzhya plant in Ukraine. The cycling team is headed by Gennadiy Fomenko, human resources director of Volgodonsk.
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