[ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] TVA restarts nuclear reactor in Alabama

Sandy Perle sandyfl at cox.net
Wed May 23 13:36:31 CDT 2007


Interesting, Franz. Since my posts are posted immediately, it appears that
there is no moderation by Marcel or any other entity.

I'll just leave it at that. Posted at 11:36 PDT.

Sandy

----------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle 
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations 
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc. 
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614
 
Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714 Extension 2306 
Fax:(949) 296-1144
 
E-Mail: sperle at dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl at cox.net 
 
Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/ 
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/ 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Franz Schönhofer [mailto:franz.schoenhofer at chello.at] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 11:34 AM
To: 'Sandy Perle'; radsafe at radlab.nl; powernet at hps1.org
Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] TVA restarts nuclear reactor in
Alabama

According to a message by the list owner from 30 April 2007 you have been
under moderation. Since I do not assume that the list owner would tell me
lies it is up to the RADSAFE community to judge your comment. What I think
of your reliability I have extensively commented on RADSAFE and this has
most probably been the main reason for subjecting me to moderation. 

Best regards to all RADSAFErs and do not forget that I am available for all
kind of radiation protection questions, not only European ones, but world
wide ones, as far as I am able to respond to them!

Franz


Franz Schoenhofer, PhD
MinRat i.R.
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Wien/Vienna
AUSTRIA


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im Auftrag
von Sandy Perle
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. Mai 2007 17:27
An: radsafe at radlab.nl; powernet at hps1.org
Betreff: [ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] TVA restarts nuclear reactor in Alabama

Note: My 3 week hiatus from Radsafe should not imply that my posts 
have been moderated. I have been on business travel as well as a week 
touring the Southern Utah National Parks and Monuments. I have not 
included website links in my posts for more than a year now, but if 
anyone is interested in viewing, you can follow the website link in 
the signature line below:

Index:

TVA restarts nuclear reactor in Alabama
Govt launches energy blueprint, stresses importance of nuclear
Blair argues for nuclear power as govt publishes proposals 
'No showdown' over UK nuclear power 
'Nuclear energy is panacea for India's energy needs'  
European Think-Tank Says "Iran May Hit European Nuclear Plants" 
New Jersey Meeting tonight on nuclear plant safety
-----------------------------------------------

TVA restarts nuclear reactor in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Tennessee Valley Authority restarted the third 
and final reactor at its Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant early Tuesday, 
ending a 22-year shutdown prompted by safety concerns at what was 
once America's largest nuclear plant.

TVA, the nation's largest public utility, said the restart capped an 
exhaustive program that brought the reactor up to modern standards. A 
watchdog group, however, pointed to the plant's history of problems 
and questioned whether the reactor should be operating at all.
 
The Unit 1 reactor began a self-sustaining nuclear reaction at 12:28 
a.m. CST, capping a five-year, $1.8 billion renovation.

Browns Ferry is on the banks of the Tennessee River about 110 miles 
south of Nashville.

Plant spokesman Craig Beasley said there were no reports of problems, 
and the other two reactors at Browns Ferry remained at full power.

"Returning Browns Ferry Unit 1 to our nuclear fleet gives TVA another 
dependable, safe and emissions-free source of generation to help meet 
the growing demand for power in the Tennessee Valley," TVA chief 
executive Tom Kilgore said in a statement.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave final approval for the restart 
last week. Beasley said extensive testing remained to be done before 
electricity from Unit 1 began flowing on transmission lines.

Sara Barczak, safe energy director for the Southern Alliance for 
Clean Energy, said Browns Ferry has an "infamous history" that poses 
concerns even after the refurbishment. Reactors are most likely to 
have problems during and shortly after startups or as they age, she 
said, and Unit 1 falls into both categories because of its history, 
which includes a 1975 fire that was then the nation's worst nuclear 
power accident.
----------------

Govt launches energy blueprint, stresses importance of nuclear

LONDON (AFP) - The government has outlined a plan for how to meet the 
country's future energy needs Wednesday, stressing nuclear power will 
likely play a key role. 
 
The Energy White Paper, which aims to tackle looming problems of 
climate change and energy security, was launched alongside a five-
month public consultation on the use of nuclear power.

Ministers want to increase the amount of energy from low carbon 
sources by encouraging more nuclear power and overseeing a threefold 
increase in energy generated from renewable sources -- from five to 
15 percent -- by 2015.

"It is right that we consider how nuclear power can help to underpin 
the security of our energy supply without increasing our reliance on 
fossil fuels," Prime Minister        Tony Blair said in an article 
for Wednesday's edition of The Times.

Britain currently has 12 nuclear sites, many built in the 1960s and 
1970s, which generate about 25 percent of the country's electricity.

Ministers plan to allow the private sector to initiate, fund, 
construct and operate new nuclear power stations but it is not yet 
clear how many there would be or how much energy they would generate.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling told lawmakers in the 
House of Commons that a final decision on future nuclear power plants 
would be taken later this year.

"We have reached the preliminary view that it would be in the public 
interest to allow energy companies to invest in nuclear power," he 
said.

"But before we make our decision we are consulting further."

The government gave the go-ahead for new nuclear power stations last 
July but in February, London's High Court ordered it back to the 
drawing board after ruling that its consultation on the issue had 
been "seriously flawed."

Final plans will be approved when current finance minister Gordon 
Brown, who also reportedly backs building more nuclear power 
stations, is prime minister -- he is due to take over from Blair on 
June 27.
------------------

Blair argues for nuclear power as govt publishes proposals 

LONDON (AFP) - Departing Prime Minister Tony Blair has put forth the 
case for a new generation of nuclear power stations as his government 
is set to publish Wednesday proposals to secure the country's energy 
supplies. 

The proposals come after the government suffered a political blow in 
February when the High Court ruled that a decision last year to 
approve plans for new nuclear power plants was illegal because public 
consultations were flawed.

Writing in The Times, Blair said that "it is right that we consider 
how nuclear power can help to underpin the security of our energy 
supply without increasing our reliance on fossil fuels."

"We can meet our carbon dioxide emissions targets, but only if we are 
willing to think ahead and take tough decisions over new wind farms --
 and give serious consideration to nuclear power."

His comments were set to kick off a debate on Britain's energy 
security and how the government would also meet its legally-binding 
targets of reducing carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2050, against a 
1990 baseline.

Britain has about a dozen nuclear power stations, most of them built 
in the 1960s and 1970s, providing about 25 percent of the country's 
electricity, compared with natural gas which provides about 40 
percent.

Advocates of new reactors -- which emit virtually no carbon dioxide --
 argue they would help Britain meet its pledge to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions.

Blair, who will be succeeded by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon 
Brown on June 27, wrote that Britain faces "a serious challenge in 
securing our energy supplies ... we will be required to look at 
importing energy from less stable parts of the world."

He added that Britain will be exposed to international energy markets 
"at precisely the same time that emerging economies, such as China 
and India, are increasing their energy consumption.

"As if that were not enough, we are now faced with countries such as 
Russia, who are prepared to use their energy resources as an 
instrument of policy."

Blair continued: "We need a policy that conforms to the rising 
concern about climate change and gives Britain the secure, safe and 
politically acceptable supplies of energy that our livelihood 
demands."
-----------------

'No showdown' over UK nuclear power  
 
Torness is expected to run for at least another 10 years 
The UK Government has played down suggestions of a showdown between 
Westminster and Holyrood over the generation of nuclear power. 
First Minister Alex Salmond has said there was "no chance" of any 
more being nuclear plants being built in Scotland. 

However, a UK Government's white paper includes nuclear power as part 
of a mix of energy sources, alongside energy-saving measures across 
the UK. 

The SNP, Liberal Democrats and Greens are opposed to nuclear new-
build. 

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling outlined his plans for 
the future of Britain's energy. 

Alongside the energy white paper Mr Darling launched a new 
consultation on the principle of including nuclear power as part of 
Britain's energy mix. 

He told the House of Commons that a decision on nuclear power would 
have to be taken this year. 

He said that the consultation period would run until October after 
which there would have to be a decision on whether the UK should 
build new nuclear power stations. 

The government was forced to re-run the consultation process after 
anti-nuclear campaigners Greenpeace won a High Court ruling which 
said that the previous consultation had been "seriously flawed". 

There is already something approaching a deal on the table 

Earlier, Mr Darling told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme 
that the devolution settlement allowed Scotland to decide on its 
energy needs. 

He said: "The Scottish Executive has the planning authority, it also 
has the right to veto connections to the grid - so they have always 
had that double lock. 

"Nothing has changed in that respect." 

He said that more than a third of Scotland's electricity came from 
the Torness and Hunterston nuclear stations. 

"Torness has got probably another 10 to 20 years life in it, so there 
is going to be nuclear power in Scotland for the foreseeable future," 
he said. 

He warned that blanket opposition to nuclear power and to windfarms 
was not an answer to meeting future energy needs. 

"Given the problems we face with climate change, given the fact that 
we cannot go on belching carbon into the atmosphere, given the fact 
that we are going to become more dependent on importing gas from 
countries like Russia and the Middle East, we have to have a sensible 
mix of generation," he said. 

Although energy policy is not devolved, Scottish ministers have 
control of the planning system and also have to give consent under 
the Electricity Act to the construction of new power stations above a 
certain size. 

Labour in power in Scotland favoured keeping nuclear as part of the 
energy mix. 

A guide to nuclear power  

But Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "There is no need for 
confrontation between Holyrood and Westminster here - just different 
opinions and options being taken by two governments acting within 
their competencies. 

"In Scotland we are awash with renewable resources and we will aim to 
take advantage of them. 

"The rest of the UK can do the same but it is a shame there appears 
to be a willingness in Westminster to cling to the dirty technology 
of the past." 

Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen said: "Directing government 
investment away from wind, wave and tidal power into nuclear would 
fatally damage Scotland's opportunity to become the renewables power 
house of Europe. 

"Nuclear power has a history of hidden costs and is fraught with 
potential dangers." 

Scottish Energy Secretary John Swinney said he agreed with Mr Darling 
on the need for more energy efficiency and the development of 
renewable power sources. 

'Exciting developments' 

However he told BBC Radio Scotland: "The Scottish government has made 
its position very, very clear, that we will not support the 
development of new nuclear power stations." 

He said it was "more likely" any new nuclear power stations would be 
sited in the south of England. 

He added: "I think there's a number of very interesting proposals 
coming forward in Scotland about how we can develop low carbon energy 
sources for our power stations. 

"I think we're on the cusp of some very exciting developments in 
Scotland." 

Friends of the Earth Scotland, said Scotland has the capacity to be 
self-sufficient from renewables and that new nuclear reactors were 
not needed to tackle climate change. 

Energy efficiency 

Chief Executive, Duncan McLaren, said: "Instead of wasting any more 
time and money on trying to revive polluting nuclear power, the 
government should be pushing ahead with measures to improve energy 
efficiency and tap into the whole range of renewable energy resources 
available to us." 

As well looking for an increase in renewable energy, Alistair 
Darling's energy white paper includes measures to encourage 
householders and businesses to save power. 

The government want power companies to increase their efforts to 
promote energy efficiency measures for their customers, and they are 
calling for businesses such as banks and supermarkets to trade carbon 
emmissions.
----------------

'Nuclear energy is panacea for India's energy needs'  

Ranchi, May 23 (IANS) Nuclear energy has the potential to meet 
India's energy needs and keep carbon dioxide emissions at the lowest 
possible level, Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Energy 
Commission, said here Wednesday. 

Addressing the Birla Institute of Technology's (BIT) Mesra 
convocation, Kakodkar said: 'Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is 
threatening serious consequences (to the environment) and nuclear 
energy will be able to keep it at lowest level'.

Kakodkar expressed concern over the changing climate due to emission 
of carbon dioxide. 'Nuclear energy will be inevitable when global 
search for ways to reduce CO2 emission take place,' he said. 

'India is working for nuclear renaissance. We have succeeded in 
translating nuclear programme through Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor 
(PHWR) which is on par or better than global benchmarks,' he added. 

Talking about the Indian nuclear programme, he said, 'Our modest 
resources and best energy potential of Thorium deposits have 
necessitated our adoption of three-stage nuclear power programme. 
First stage is on commercial domain, that is PHWR and we will 
similarly translate research and development to commercial scale 
exploitation for the second and third stage as well.'

'As a matter of fact, a beginning of commercial activity with the 
second stage has already been made as the construction of the 500 
megawatt energy prototype fast breeder reactor is already in 
progress. The fast breeder reactor does not need further mining of 
uranium and enables recycle of uranium that has already been used in 
PHWR,' Kakodkar added. 

He also defended the uranium mining taking place in Jadugoda town of 
Jamshedpur district, pointing out that it does not pose any health 
problems for the residents. There have been allegations in the past 
that that uranium mining adversely affected the health of Jadugoda 
residents.
-------------------

European Think-Tank Says "Iran May Hit European Nuclear Plants" 

(RTTNews) - Tehran may be in the process of drawing up plans to 
strike targets in Europe and is believed to have conducted 
reconnaissance of European nuclear power stations, a European 
security analyst told a meeting of British lawmakers and analysts in 
London's House of Commons on Tuesday.

Claude Moniquet, president of the European Strategic Intelligence and 
Security Center, a private think-tank based in Brussels, said that 
his organization also had "evidence" Tehran has increased numbers of 
intelligence operatives across Europe.

"We have serious signals that something is under preparation in 
Europe," Moniquet said adding "Iranian intelligence is working 
extremely hard to prepare its people and to prepare actions."

However, Moniquet could not present even a shred of his so called 
"evidence" to support his claims at the meeting.

The think-tank, which he said deals directly with European 
intelligence agencies, believes Iranian agents have also carried out 
"reconnaissance of targets in European cities, including nuclear 
power stations," said Moniquet without mentioning any specific 
targets.
-----------------

New Jersey Meeting tonight on nuclear plant safety

TOMS RIVER: The public will have an opportunity to hear how the 
Oyster Creek nuclear power plant performed last year in terms of 
safety during a meeting 7 p.m. tonight between officials from the 
plant and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Regulators will hold an open house starting at 5:30 p.m. for any 
member of the public who would like to speak one-on-one with the 
individuals responsible for making sure that the Lacey plant runs 
safely.

The open house and the meeting will be held at the plant's emergency 
operations facility, 1268 Route 37 West in Toms River.
------------------


Sandy Perle
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc.
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614 

Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714  Extension 2306
Fax:(949) 296-1144

E-Mail: sperle at dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl at cox.net 

Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/ 
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/ 

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