NEI Nuclear Notes

On Friday, we showed you a clip from Dr. Patrick Moore of the CASEnergy Coalition on why he thinks nuclear energy is getting a second look from the American public . In today's clip from my interview with the co-chair of CASEnergy, he talks about his work with the coalition and why it's important: As always, to join CASEnergy, click here .

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices rose between $2-16/MWh at all hubs except for ERCOT. The eastern hubs, NEPOOL and PJM West, increased by $8/MWh and $16/MWh last week due to unseasonably hot weather at the beginning of the week (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub rose from $6.22/MMBtu to $6.26/MMBtu. By the end of 2008, U.S. liquefied natural gas import capacity is expected to double to more than 10 Bcf per day (EIA). Total U.S. gas consumption in 2006 averaged about 60 Bcf per day (see pages 1 and 3). Gas futures at the Henry Hub for September 2008 averaged nearly $8/MMBtu (see page 2). Nuclear plant capacity availability averaged 91 percent last week. Six reactors began refueling outages last week while two were in maintenance. River Bend’s unexpected shut down is under investigation and Browns Ferry 3 was down briefly for drywell leak inspections (see pages 2 and 4). Cushing OK WTI oil prices increased $3.31 t...

Yesterday proved to be a bit busier than I had originally anticipated, as I was afforded the opportunity to speak with Dr. Patrick Moore, the co-founder of Greenpeace and the co-chair of the CASEnergy Coalition . I met Dr. Moore at the Washington, D.C. offices of Hill and Knowlton and spoke with him for about 25 minutes. Then, for most of the rest of the day, I edited the interview into a number of bite sized pieces for Web consumption. In this first clip, Dr. Moore talks about why nuclear energy is getting a second look from the American public: More clips later. As always, to join CASEnergy, click here .

Want to know what public attitudes are like in one of the most anti-nuclear energy regions in the world? Just take a listen to a few minutes of yesterday's edition of The Conversation , a program on KUOW-FM 94.9 in Seattle. Click here (MP3) or here (Real Audio) to listen. I understand that the region has its own problematic history with nuclear energy, but that's no excuse for some of the nonsense that the host, Guy Nelson, who immediately repeats an utter falsehood about total lifecycle emissions and nuclear energy . After listening for a few minutes, I was impressed with the bravery of a number of listeners who called to make the case for nuclear energy.

From DOE: Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued the final regulations for the loan guarantee program authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). DOE’s action today will pave the way for federal support of clean energy projects using innovative technologies and will spur further investment in these advanced energy technologies. DOE also today invited 16 project sponsors, who submitted pre-applications last Fall, to submit full applications for loan guarantees. These projects include advanced technologies involving the uses of biomass, fossil energy, solar, industrial energy efficiency, electricity delivery and energy reliability, hydrogen, and alternative fuel vehicles. Projects supported by loan guarantees will help fulfill President Bush’s goal of reducing our reliance on imported sources of energy by diversifying our nation’s energy mix and increasing energy efficiency. “Loan guarantees aim to sti...

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is the latest Presidential candidate to talk to Grist about his positions on energy and the environment . Here's his answer on nuclear energy: Q. Do you think we need to expand the role of nuclear power in the U.S.? A. Absolutely. France is almost completely nuclear, and it's not like they're a nation given to risky behaviors. There's been a real bias against nuclear energy in the United States, going all the way back to Three Mile Island in 1979, but I think most of it is unfounded. I mean, we've been running nuclear submarines for 60 years without accidents.

Diarist wagsbags decides to do some myth busting .