NEI Nuclear Notes

Here's a passage from a speech that long-time energy executive T. Boone Pickens gave back in May 2005 that's still relevant today: Pickens went to explain that if he were Energy "Czar", he'd immediately begin to phase out the use of natural gas in electric power generation and encourage the construction of more coal-fired and nuclear power plants. He'd use the natural gas to power transportation instead. Speaking of the various alternative fuels, he stated, "I don't think any of them can miss. I think some will be further out than others. Hydrogen, I think, is going to take a long time". Thanks to the Peak Oil blog for the pointer. Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Politics , Technology , Economics , Oil , Peak Oil

Here's Thomas Sowell on the no-solutions brigade: [W]e are left with nothing we can do about the rising demand for oil around the world, nothing we are willing to do about increasing the supply of oil, and angry denunciations of rising oil prices. The politically correct answer is that we must have "alternative energy sources" and "conservation." At what cost -- in money, in jobs, in constraints on people's lives -- is too crass a question for those delicate souls who are dead set against producing more oil. These souls are apparently not so delicate, however, that they are bothered by the deaths of coal miners who get killed producing one of those "alternative energy sources" that sound so nice when you don't count the costs. Many of the same delicate sensitivities have kept nuclear power plants or hydroelectric dams from being built in the United States for decades. Some in liberal political or media circles talk ominously about the Three Mi...

There's talk about a possible new plant near Lake Powell. See the Political State Report for more. UPDATE: And for those of you shaking your heads, yes, this is the same state of Utah that fought the licensing of PFS all the way to the Supreme Court . Interesting. Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Politics , Technology , Economics , Utah , Arizona , Palo Verde

From Wisconsin, meet On the Borderline . And be sure to visit Ambiance Force too. And take a peak at a post from the archives of Thoughts of a Common Man . And here's more information on relative risk in power generation by Dr. Cohen. You can find the document he's referencing, here . Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Politics , Technology , Economics , Wisconsin

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity prices mostly decreased across the country due to warmer weather and lower gas prices (see pages 1 & 2). Gas prices at the Henry Hub fell $0.58 to $6.82/MMBtu (see page 4). From 2006-2010, the expected capacities coming online are 40,913 MW for natural gas, 37,297 MW for coal and 17,999 MW for wind (see page 7). For the report click here (pdf). It is also located on NEI's Nuclear Statistics webpage . Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Natural Gas , Coal , Oil

News release from the Basin Electric Power Cooperative : Bismarck, N.D. – Curtailment plans are being formulated at Missouri Basin Power Project’s Laramie River Station in Wheatland, Wyo., because the rail transportation system has not been delivering the fuel required to keep the plant operating at full production. Since May of 2005 deliveries out of the Powder River Basin to all utilities have been highly sporadic. Basin Electric Power Cooperative is the operator of and part owner of Laramie River Station. Ron Harper, Basin Electric’s CEO and general manager, said “the reduced rail deliveries aren't a result of a lack of supply or ability to produce coal in the Powder River Basin; it’s simply a lack of rail transportation of coal to Laramie River Station. We are concerned about a decline in service and efficiency.” Maintaining full generation levels at the 1,650 megawatt, three-unit station requires 24,000 tons of coal per day, which is what BNSF Railway is normally scheduled to...

That's a proposal on the table from the Green Party of the Ukraine. Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Politics , Technology , Economics