Senators Ron Wyden (D–OR), Dianne Feinstein (D–CA), Lamar Alexander (R–TN), and Lisa Murkowski (R–AK) finally released a discussion draft of their much anticipated nuclear waste bill this morning. It essentially accepts the assumption that the federal government should be responsible for nuclear waste management and disposal and that waste producers …
The Department of Energy (DOE) released its long-awaited “Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-level Radioactive Waste” Friday afternoon. Regrettably, the DOE missed a historic opportunity to fix the nation’s failed nuclear waste management policy. Its “strategy” is built on the very same flawed assumptions …
Yucca Mountain was dead—to begin with. There was no doubt whatsoever about that. The register of its burial was signed by the Senator, the Chairman, the Secretary, and the President. Now three Senators, maybe four, were left to pick up the pieces. On one bitterly cold Christmas Eve, these Senators …
The Uranium Working Group (UWG)—established by Governor Bob McDonnell (R–VA) to help Virginia state legislators determine the regulatory requirements for uranium mining—released its final report today. Though we are still reviewing the 125-page report, some cursory conclusions are appropriate. The most obvious takeaway is the comprehensive nature of the report. …
The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Annual World Energy Outlook this week with the headline that the U.S. could become a net exporter of natural gas by 2020 and essentially energy independent by 2035. This transformation is a direct result of the private-sector innovation and investments to develop new …
The Fukushima nuclear reactor accident in March 2011 challenged the public’s perception of nuclear power. However, much of this disillusionment simply stems from a lack of understanding of how a nuclear power plant functions. Inside a Nuclear Reactor A nuclear power plant is a lot like most coal or natural …
This Friday, the House of Representatives will vote on the No More Solyndras Act, which would prohibit any new loan guarantees from Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. For applications that are already under consideration or have received conditional commitment, the bill would require the Secretary of …
“What is radiation?” That simple, three-word question largely embodies the concerns that many Americans have about nuclear power. The answer can be just as complicated as one wants to make it. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, radiation is “energy radiated in the form of waves or particles.” Jim Hopson puts it …
