NEI Nuclear Notes

Early this morning over at NAM Blog , our friend Carter Wood posted about the opening of the Vallecitos Atomic Electric Power Plant , the proud owner of NRC Reactor License #1 : Two generations later, America's nuclear renaissance is picking up speed. Last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 5-0 to authorize an Early Site Permit (ESP) to System Energy Resources Inc. for the Grand Gulf site near Port Gibson, Miss. Supporting documents are here and the NRC's news release is here . The ESP process, while cutting government red tape, still covers all the important areas to ensure each site's plant safety, environmental protection and comprehensive emergency response plans. [...] Good news, good developments, indeed. Two generations after the first commercial nuclear power plant began generating electricity, nuclear energy is being reborn in the United States. All the more reason to make 2007 a year to celebrate. Here, here.

Details from Reuters .

Details from the Cape Times .

The Hawaii Reporter looks at the possibilities. For more from our archives, click here .

From the Globe and Mail : OTTAWA -- Russia's nuclear energy agency is looking to forge a partnership with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. to develop the next generation of reactors, as part of the country's effort to become a global leader in the nuclear power industry. Russia has one of the world's most ambitious nuclear programs, both for its domestic market and in international sales, and it is looking to AECL to collaborate on a new generation of high-efficiency reactors. [...] Valery Rachkov, head of atomic power at Rosatom, the state nuclear agency, visited Ottawa last week to attend Russia's first formal session in an international organization for nuclear research that promotes co-operation on reactor development. In an interview at an Ottawa hotel, Mr. Rachkov said Russian and Canadian nuclear efforts bear similarities, including plans for the development of a new pressure tube reactor, and the two sides are exploring avenues of mutual interest.

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity prices were mostly decreasing throughout the country last week (see pages 1 & 2). Gas prices fell at the Henry Hub $0.05 to $6.88 / MMBtu (see page 4). Twelve reactors were in refueling outages with two beginning and two finishing last week. Four reactors were down for maintenance with three finishing last week (see pages 2 & 3). Uranium prices rose to $95 / lb U3O8 according to TradeTech and Ux Consulting. For the report click here (pdf). It is also located on NEI's Nuclear Statistics webpage .

Rod Adams has some thoughts.