Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
Scoop: Times Reports The Economic Disaster Of New Nukes
’The NYTimes finally reports the economic disaster of new nukes by Harvey Wasserman. In a devastating pair of financial reports that might be called "The Emperor Has No Pressure Vessel," the New York Times has blazed new light on the catastrophic economics of atomic power. The two Business Section specials cover the fiasco of new French construction at Okiluoto, Finland, and the virtual collapse of Atomic Energy of Canada. In a sane world they could comprise an epitaph for the "Peaceful Atom". But they come simultaneous with Republican demands for up to $700 billion or more in new reactor construction.’
TTKN: Nuclear power? No point, says Green candidate
’Speaking in next week's Big Issue in the North, Green Party MEP candidate Peter Cranie argues that there's actually no point to nuclear power. He points to clean renewables and modern energy efficiency measures, and explains why Gordon Brown's nuclear-powered "green new deal" isn't green and isn't, in fact, much of a new deal either. Of course there's the increasingly-expensive problem of waste; "after half a century we still don't know what to do with the radioactive waste, which we'll be dealing with for thousands of years," says Peter. But rather than risk getting bogged-down in arguments about whether nuclear is safe or not, he simply gets right down to the economics of the matter.’
Roll Call: Energy Bill on Track to Pass in Senate
’After months of on-again, off-again markups, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee appears on the verge of passing an energy bill that makes good on Democrats' pledge to tilt the energy balance heavily in favor of renewables. But the regional nature of the energy debate will be on full display when the bill moves to the Senate floor, where the key fights will include a controversial first-time national renewable energy mandate as well as provisions to expand nuclear power, and onshore and offshore drilling of oil and natural gas. Energy Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) before Memorial Day was able to coax enough support from committee Democrats and a lone Republican - Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.) - to push through the inclusion of a renewable energy standard of 15 percent by 2021 that is the centerpiece of the bill. Bingaman, a five-term Senator from an oil- and gas-producing state, has been the top Democrat on the panel since 1999 and knows his way around energy issues.’
The Australian: Uranium surprise coming
’WITH all the reports of China stockpiling metals - copper, for example - it's surprising that speculators haven't been thinking about what would happen to prices of certain commodities if the stockpiling effort was extended to them. Uranium, for example. Warwick Grigor, in his latest client note out of BGF Equities, wonders out loud what would happen if China chose to begin stockpiling uranium for its rapidly expanding nuclear power sector. With uranium one of those markets that are already tight in terms of supply, and being a strategic mineral as well, uranium stands out to Grigor as the obvious market for investors to watch. If China were to make such a move, he writes, "then it would be smart to get set before it commences this strategy".’
Baltimore Sun: Power politics
’Our view: It's outrageous that Mayo Shattuck could be in line for $87 million, but the governor shouldn't jeopardize Maryland's energy future over it. The prospect that Constellation Energy Group CEO Mayo A. Shattuck III could wind up with an $87 million windfall is terrible politics. It's no wonder that Gov. Martin O'Malley's negotiations with the company over rate relief tied to the prospective purchase of half of Constellation's nuclear business by Electricité de France have stalled over the potential payment. Ever since he and others stoked a populist furor over Constellation fat cats during the election-year rate increase debate of 2006, the public has been keenly sensitive to the comparative size of their electric bills and Mr. Shattuck's paycheck.’
AFP: Niger president in 'dangerous' bid to keep power
‘The Niger president's dismissal of parliament and plans for a referendum to allow him a third term have sparked deep concern, with the opposition calling it a coup bid in the uranium-producing nation.’
UN: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Concludes Eighth Session With
Adoption of Key Text
’In a bid to transform the historic 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into "living law", the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues closed its eighth session today by adopting a text that invited States to adopt or endorse the document, substantively inform the Forum about its implementation and effectiveness locally and nationally, and recommended that they do the same in core reports to human rights treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council's universal periodic review. By a text on its future work (document E/C.19/2009/L.7), the Forum recommended that the World Health Organization (WHO) study the health effects on indigenous peoples caused by radioactive poisoning, uranium mining, dumping of radioactive waste and nuclear testing on traditional lands, and further, to submit a report to the ninth session.’
JoongAng Daily: Expert: North's test not a surprise, more to come’American nuclear expert Sigfried Hecker believes North Korea is "improving its nuclear weapons capabilities, not giving them up," following its recent nuclear test. In an e-mail interview, Hecker, co-director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, also said North Korea could go ahead with another nuclear and missile test. "They stated that they would test an ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile], so they likely will test again," Hecker said. "As for another nuclear test, they are limited by their small plutonium inventory, but one more test is possible."
Today's big stories from My Live