NEI Nuclear Notes

Iceland Review is running a Q&A with CASEnergy's Patrick Moore today . Here's an excerpt: EW: You left Greenpeace in 1986. Why leave what was perhaps the first environmental organization with clout? PM: I left because I saw my colleagues abandoning science and logic and adopting zero-tolerance policies that made no sense. In many ways, Greenpeace is now promoting policies that are environmentally negative. Genetically modified crops reduce pesticide use; nuclear energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions ; sustainable forestry produces the most abundant renewable material; aquaculture produces healthy oils and protein, and takes pressure off the wild stocks. Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Technology , Politics , Patrick Moore

We've been following the story of the Alberta oil sands for some time now, especially since word first surfaced that the best way to generate electricity to support any project there might need to leverage the power of nuclear energy rather than natural gas . Now we've gotten word that one candidate to lead the federal Liberals says that nuclear power needs to be on the table when it comes to extracting new oil from Alberta: Canada's former Liberal environment minister set foot yesterday for the first time in Fort McMurray and says he'd be open to discussing nuclear energy as a source of power for Alberta's oilsands. [...] Last week, provincial Tory leadership frontrunner Jim Dinning said nuclear power must be an option. Dion said he'd like to hear more, particularly on the issue of safe options for nuclear-waste disposal. It's good news when the issue of nuclear energy is decoupled from partisan politics. Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Environment , En...

Congratulations and kudos are due to the hardworking folks at the American Nuclear Society ( ANS )! At the plenary session of the 2006 ANS Winter Meeting , we learned from Dr. Harold McFarlane that this year's meeting has 1575 people registered! It's an amazing period in history for all things nuclear - and the crowds are out to find out what the future may have in store. Record participation is also a testimony to the high quality events ANS is known for putting together. This Winter Meeting continues that streak. The speakers from yesterday morning's session in Albuquerque, New Mexico painted an enlightening picture for us: "Ensuring the Future in Times of Change: Nonproliferation and Security." Co-chairs Dr. Tom Hunter and Dr. Mike Anastasio together covered both world history as it related to the development of nuclear weapons, stockpiling, and post-cold war politics for nations who have had nuclear weapons and those who are seeking them, and then set the...

One-time media mogul Ted Turner gave a backhanded compliment to nuclear energy last night : The broadcast mogul Ted Turner told a group of wealthy philanthropists yesterday that the country needs to turn to nuclear power as part of a new energy plan, but that terrorists could blow up a nuclear power plant. The multibillionaire megaphilanthropist called power plants "gigantic land mines" but said, "At the end of the day, I think it's a risk we have to accept." As we've said he before at NEI , we beg to differ, and believe nuclear power plants are the best defended pieces of industrial infrastructure in the U.S. Senator Schumer seems to agree with us . For more from our Web site, click here . For a post we did on provisions for air attack on nuclear facilities, click here . Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Politics , Ted Turner

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, outgoing chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee , addressed the 2006 ANS Winter Meeting by video yesterday (transcript). Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Politics , Nuclear Power , Electricity , Environment , Energy , Technology

After reading Iain Murray's piece in the Examiner on the recent NERC Report , Glenn Reynolds had this to say: It seems to me that nice, clean nuclear plants are just what the doctor ordered, especially if you're concerned with global warming. As one blogger might write, indeed. Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Power , Energy , Electricity , Politics , NERC , Grid Reliability

Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman declared that we must “safely expand the use of nuclear energy – in this country and across the world” during a speech at the Middle East Institute’s 60th Anniversary Conference in Washington, DC today. Referencing the conference’s theme – developing new approaches to enduring conflicts – Bodman focused his comments on energy concerns, specifically the “global dependence on fossil fuels.” “What I’m saying, is that this is a global problem and it goes like this: if we are to encourage economic growth around the world if we are to raise living standards for all people of all nations the world needs a clean, affordable, diverse energy supply,” Bodman said. Bodman noted that the president’s Advanced Energy Initiative and Global Nuclear Energy Partnership could also play a role in developing a lasting solution to the world’s growing energy demand. He said, “GNEP aims to address our growing global energy demands in a way that will foster economic develo...