Carnival of Nuclear Energy 151

1. At Entreprenuclear, the time scale for an investment in Nuclear Power Generation to pay off is compared to the planting of apples trees. While neither will provide immediate benefits, both are likely to be greatly appreciated by future generations.

2. ANS Nuclear Cafe – Ted Rockwell, Atomic Pioneer and Tireless Campaigner for Facts

On Sunday, March 31, Theodore (Ted) Rockwell passed away. Dr. Rockwell was a founder of the Atomic Age, and a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and recipient of the Society’s first Lifetime Achievement Award. Rod Adams recounts some of the legendary accomplishments of this inspirational figure in nuclear history.

3. At Yes Vermont Yankee – Vermont Supreme Court Will Not Shut Down Vermont Yankee While PSB is Holding Hearings

The Vermont Public Service Board is holding hearings about state approval for continued operation of Vermont Yankee. An opponent group asked the Vermont Supreme Court to shut down the plant, right now, while the hearings are on-going. The Supreme Court said they would not take action against VY at this time. Like most higher courts, the Vermont Supreme Court rules on appeals, which are filed after lower courts have ruled. The nuclear opponent attempt to short-circuit this process failed.

4. Atomic Insights – Was Arnie Gundersen a Licensed Reactor Operator and Senior VP Nuclear Licensee?

Arnie Gundersen has developed a pretty fair consulting business that consists of writing commissioned reports on a wide variety of nuclear energy topics and providing “expert witness” testimony. As a expert witness, he must to provide aresume to prove his expertise. His resume includes two claims that, if true, would help explain his wide range of claimed expertise.

Neither of them hold up to scrutiny. Dr. John Bickel provides the details about the requirements for qualifying as a licensed operator at the only reactor that Gundersen ever operated.

5. Canadian Energy Issues – Why are Ontario electricity carbon emissions so low? Introducing the CIPK: the most important number in clean electricity

When you use an electric appliance, do you have any idea of how much carbon goes with it? Most people don’t. But in today’s information age, it is possible to know with a high degree of precision the number of grams of carbon dioxide that go with the use of any electric-powered device—from a coffee-maker or lightbulb to a subway train. It all boils down to the carbon intensity per kilowatt-hour (CIPK) of grid power. As Steve Aplin of Canadian Energy Issues demonstrates, the CIPK is the most important number in clean electricity, and the smaller it is, the better. When people become familiar with the CIPK, they will realize the fastest and most effective way of making it as small as possible.

6. At Nuke Power Talk, Gail Marcus reports on several studies predicting that the current low natural gas prices and ample supplies will drive us increasingly toward natural gas as our primary energy source. However, the natural gas bubble will ultimately burst and prices will rise. The articles outline the issues and suggest some of the options for preserving diversity of supply.

7. Nextbigfuture – the economics and future of small modular reactors

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