Nuclear Subsidies
Letter from Dr Gerry Wolff: It is not correct to say that nuclear power is “the cheapest large-scale low-carbon electricity source”. The report “Nuclear Subsidies” from the Energy Fair group shows how the real cost of nuclear power is disguised by several subsidies. Without those subsidies, the price of nuclear electricity would rise to a level that would make it deeply unattractive to investors. There are more than enough alternatives that are cheaper than nuclear power, quicker to build, and with none of the other headaches of nuclear power. Research that is reviewed in the November issue of Scientific American shows that renewables can meet 100 per cent of the world’s energy needs (not just electricity) and that it is technically feasible to do it by 2030.
FT 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Radiation & Health
Nuclear Power is a big ticket technology, with costs for the construction, running and decomissioning of plants and storage of waste running into many billions of pounds in the UK. But would a reassessment of the risks posed by radiation, even if accepted, actually cut the costs and boost the nuclear production of low-carbon electricity which the government says is essential to tackle global warming? The short answer is doubtful, though more because of the intensity of public opposition than because costs could not actually be reduced.
(NB Gordon Mackerron has been “almost totally misquoted” in this article.)
Guardian 11th Jan 2010 more >>
The health dangers from radiation have been oversold, according to an Oxford professor, stopping governments from fully exploiting nuclear power. But what do we currently understand about radiation and its risks?
Guardian 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Letter from Greg Butler: In your report Professor Wade Allison appears to advocate changing the way radiation risk is calculated. In fact, the problem lies with how regulation deals with radiation risk. All radioactive discharges are required to be optimised (ie reduced) so as to be as low as reasonably achievable. This principle has been used by regulators to drive extreme expenditure on reducing minuscule risks. In the work of nuclear site clean-up, many projects have suffered huge cost increases and delays from demands to reduce doses of well below 10 microsieverts a year. The calculated risk from this dose, if that was the only risk you ever took, would give you a median life expectancy of around a million years. The removal of disproportionate expense on radiation dose reduction does not require a change in the process for calculating risk, merely a rational response to the risks that are calculated.
Various other letter including Greenpeace: According to your report the Hiroshima bomb killed “80,000 people instantly and another 60,000 in the months that followed”. According to Simon Jenkins, the threat from today’s far more powerful nuclear weapons is “minimal and containable”, as “their blast areas would remain limited” and “human settlements are resilient to aerial bombardment”. Relentlessly upbeat, he also claims that the death toll from Chernobyl was “no more than 60” and the risk from climate change is “improbable”. These bizarre assertions would be comical if the subject matter was something other than the fate of millions.
Guardian 12th Jan 2010 more >>
New Nukes
Peter Kane, GMB senior workplace representative for Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria will take part in a trade union organized debate in London this evening on the contribution that nuclear power can make to a lower carbon energy future. He will be joined in the debate by Tristan Denton from the Nuclear Industry Association and both will be arguing the case for nuclear power. Also taking part in the debate will by Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary for the PCS union and Ben Ayliffe, senior energy and climate campaigner for Greenpeace will be arguing the case against nuclear power.
GMB 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Scotland
Despite working hard to be seen as pro-enterprise, the Scottish National Party Government has provoked a rift with business leaders for maintaining a policy on nuclear power that some fear has worrying implications. While the UK Government wants to build new nuclear power stations, ministers in Scotland have set themselves firmly against the idea of constructing any facilities to replace the ageing reactors at Torness in Esat Lothian and Hunterston in Ayrshire.
Herald 11th Jan 2010 more >>
IPC
The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is the new independent body that will receive applications for nationally significant energy and transport projects from 1 March 2010 – a mere seven weeks away. Most of the projects that the IPC will consider will require environmental impact assessment (EIA) under European Union law. The IPC has two roles in EIA at the pre-application stage, ‘screening’ and ‘scoping’. Screening is deciding whether a project needs EIA, and scoping is deciding, if it does, what the ES should cover. Asking the IPC for a scoping opinion is voluntary, however – the promoter is at liberty to decide what should go into its ES. It is of course safer to ask the IPC for its opinion as to what the ES should contain. At the end of December the IPC issued its first two scoping opinions, for the two nuclear power stations proposed by Horizon Nuclear power, the joint venture between RWE and E.On, at Oldbury, South Gloucestershire and Wylfa, Anglesey respectively. The scoping opinions are essential reading for those charged with the preparation of ESs for projects coming before the IPC.
Bircham Dyson Bell 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Hinkley
The debate about nuclear power arouses passion on both sides. But a government commitment to build new reactors has been welcomed by further education colleges offering nuclear industry-related qualifications, especially those in, or near to, economically depressed areas. But not everyone is happy. One anti-nuclear-power group is questioning a decision by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) to grant £2m towards the cost of a specialist nuclear education facility at Bridgwater College, Somerset. The South West Energy Skills Centre will specialise in nuclear training.
Ed Connect 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Guardian 12th Jan 2010 more >>
FIRST-STAGE consultations on the proposed construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point have been extended because of the recent bad weather. EDF Energy said it had been encouraged by the level of public response already received, but decided to extend consultations by one week, until January 18, because the big freeze could have affected local travel and postal deliveries. The exhibition material will also remain available for public viewing at the company’s office at 14 King Square, Bridgwater, until January 18.
This is the West Country 11th Jan 2010 more >>
BBC 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Cumbria
Only 7 weeks left to have your say on nuclear sites. Residents of Cumbria are over the next fortnight being asked to have their say on whether Sellafield, Braystones and Kirksanton in Cumbria, should be potential sites for new nuclear power stations. They have been listed by Government in its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement published on 9 November 2009.
Environmental Expert 11th Jan 2010 more >>
BBC 10th Jan 2010 more >>
A COMMUNITY is expected to turn out in force at a public consultation to discuss plans for a nuclear power station on their doorstep. The Department of Energy and Climate Change will hold an open exhibition on January 21 and 22, 23 in Millom detailing proposals to build the plant at Kirksanton. A public discussion will then take place on January 23 to let the public have their say. Villagers and business owners nearby have objected to the plans. They say the plant would lead to a loss in tourism and slump in house prices.
NW Evening Mail 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Emergency Planning
EXTRA cash will be given to train firefighters in the south in how to deal with the aftermath of nuclear, chemical and biological disasters. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority will receive more than £1m and the Isle of Wight Council £41,000 as part of a national £21m package to ensure firefighters know the most up to date techniques for dealing with mass contamination.
Southern Daily Echo 11th Jan 2010 more >>
US
A meeting between feuding officials of NRG Energy and the San Antonio municipal electric utility ended Monday with no resolution on the future of a $10 billion proposed expansion of Texas’ largest nuclear facility, the parties said. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro last week invited the partners to meet ahead of a court battle scheduled later in January between NRG, its nuclear development arm and CPS Energy which is backing off a plan to invest in two new 1,350-megawatt reactors due to rising cost projections.
Reuters 11th Jan 2010 more >>
EU
The EU’s new foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, distanced herself Monday from her anti-nuclear past, as European lawmakers grilled her about her suitability for the post. “The relevance of the 1970s is not the relevance of 2010,” she told deputies in Brussels. “I’m not a member of CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and have not been a member of CND for 28 or 29 years. “I do not believe now that (the CND) strategy is appropriate,” the 53-year-old Briton said in response to a question from Charles Tannock, a conservative MEP whose party is expected to take power in Britain this year.
EU Business 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Baroness Ashton of Upholland will use the values that led her to help to run the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in her new role as Europe’s foreign minister, she said yesterday. Lady Ashton said that she left the unilateralist organisation almost three decades ago but was proud of her background as its treasurer at the height of the Cold War.
Times 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Guardian 12th Jan 2010 more >>
North Korea
North Korea has called for peace talks with the US and said it wants an end to punitive UN economic sanctions before it will re-enter international talks over relinquishing its illegal arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Telegraph 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Iran
The United Arab Emirates and Germany said on Sunday that Iran must do more to allay the international community’s concerns about its nuclear programme or fresh sanctions would be likely.
Middle East Online 11th Jan 2010 more >>
An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed by a remote-controlled bomb in Tehran today. The victim was identified as Professor Massoud Mohammadi, who worked at Tehran University. He was killed near his home in a northern part of the capital by a booby-trapped motorcycle. A senior Interior Ministry official, Mehdi Mohammadifar, said the motive for the bombing was under investigation.
Times 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Carbon Trading
Three carbon traders from Britain and one from the Netherlands have been charged with money laundering by Belgian authorities related to an alleged 3m (£2.7m) tax scam.
Telegraph 12th Jan 2010 more >>
Guardian 12th Jan 2010 more >>
