NRC panel OKs arguments on SC nuclear fuel plant - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com

Ray Henry

Associated Press

"Judges on the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board voted 2-1 to allow the groups to raise arguments about the security plan of the Shaw Areva MOX Services plant being built near Aiken, S.C. The facility would take weapons-grade plutonium left over from the Cold War and turn it into a specially blended fuel consisting of uranium and plutonium that can be used to power civilian nuclear reactors that generate electricity."

NRC: Hartsville nuke plant needs move oversight - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Matthew Daly

"Jaczko did not identify the plants, but an agency spokesman said they are the H.B. Robinson nuclear plant in Hartsville, S.C., Fort Calhoun in Nebraska and Wolf Creek in Kansas.
The NRC said three reactors at the Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina had been on the watch list, but were removed two weeks ago after improved performance reviews.
The NRC stressed that all 104 U.S. nuclear reactors operate safely, and that the heightened review of the three plants was routine."

Adding jobs and growing a green economy in South Carolina : News : MidlandsConnect.com

"Michael Couick with The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina said, 'if we were to retrofit 225,000 homes of South Carolina Cooperative members which is our goal under a bill Senator Graham has sponsored we would create 3500 jobs in South Carolina just within the first two years.'"

South Carolina Homes Receive Energy Efficiency Retrofits | Environmental and Energy Study Institute

"The next step in the development of the rural energy savings program will be to apply an “on-bill” financing program, where residents receive a low-interest loan to pay for their own retrofit costs. Loans would be paid back through installments on monthly utility bills. “We expect the energy savings to drive down bills for these families substantially during peak energy seasons,” said Mueller. “Two-thirds of that savings will be used to pay back the loan, and after the payback period, all of the energy savings will just be cash in the pocket.”"

Obama to Set Goal of Reducing Oil Imports by One-Third in Decade - NYTimes.com

By JOHN M. BRODER

Published: March 30, 2011

"He will call for a consistent long-term fuel-savings strategy of producing more electric cars, converting trucks to run on natural gas, building new refineries to brew billions of gallons of biofuels and setting new fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles. Congress has been debating these measures for years.

The president will also repeat his assertion that despite the frightening situation at the Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex in Japan, nuclear power will remain an important source of electricity in the United States for decades to come, aides said."

US group wants no new N-plants, end to relicensing - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com

By WAYNE PARRY - Associated Press

"Earlier this month, just after the Japanese crisis erupted, the NRC decided to conduct short- and long-term safety reviews of all U.S. nuclear plants 'to check on whether the Japanese reactor events hold any implications for them,' he said.
A quick-look review should be completed within 30 days.
'Subsequent to that, the NRC will continue to look for lessons learned from the events involving the Japanese plants,' Sheehan said, adding a task force has been appointed to carry out a long-term review."

US group wants no new N-plants, end to relicensing - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com

US group wants no new N-plants, end to relicensing - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com: "The U.S. Public Interest Research Group issued a report Tuesday citing a history of safety problems at nuclear reactors in the United States."

SC S.Ct. - Utilities Services v. Regulatory Staff

March 28, 2011, SC Judicial Department: "26952 - Utilities Services v. Regulatory Staff (printer friendly version) In this appeal from the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Court affirms the PSC's role as fact-finder but reverses and remands in light of several errors of law."

Columbia Regional Business Report | Columbia, SC

James T. Hammond, March 28, 2011

"Certainly, he said, there will be changes in nuclear strategy, construction and operations because of the Japanese nuclear crisis that followed the earthquake and tsunami on Japan’s coast earlier this month."

New facility at Cardinal site would make fuel from grease - Business - TheState.com

By SAMMY FRETWELL - sfretwell@thestate.com

"Coastal Biodiesel, with headquarters in Conway, serves restaurants that need a place to dispose of grease, which can clog sewer systems. The company collects used cooking oil from restaurants for conversion into biodiesel fuel. In addition to Columbia, the company operates in the Myrtle Beach and Charleston areas. Coastal Biodiesel’s website notes that its process is environmentally friendly. Biodiesel is often blended with petroleum diesel, which helps reduce wear and tear on engines, according to the website.
Columbia utilities director Joey Jaco said Coastal already has a contract with the city to process grease at Columbia’s sewer plant, but it would move the operation to the Cardinal site."

Radiation levels reach new highs as conditions worsen for workers - The Washington Post

By Chico Harlan and Brian Vastag, Sunday, March 27,

"Evidence of rising contamination in and around the plant has tempered optimism from one week ago, when engineers began work to restore power to the first of the damaged reactor buildings. Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Sunday that a new measurement of seawater taken about 1,000 feet from the facility showed an iodine level 1,850.5 times the legal limit, higher than a reading taken the previous day."

York County, SC | How safe is the Catawba nuclear plant? | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC

By Jamie Self - jself@heraldonline.com

"Only once has the plant issue an 'alert' - the second lowest of four threat levels. A loose valve in the coolant system came open as the plant heated up and caused a leak of about 10 gallons of water a minute, said Jim Morris, site vice president for the Catawba Nuclear Station."

Progress Energy: Low levels of radiation detected in U.S. :: WRAL.com

"Progress Energy spokesman Drew Elliot said very sensitive equipment at the utility's Robinson and Crystal River nuclear plants, in South Carolina and Florida, respectively, detected iodine radiation in the atmosphere, but said it did not pose a health threat for U.S. residents."

Browns Ferry Plant Opens Doors to Show Preparedness - NYTimes.com

By MATTHEW L. WALD

Published: March 26, 2011

"Yet it is clear that from fire hoses to batteries on wheels to components like a strobe light, the three reactors at Browns Ferry have preparations in place that operators say would help in a nightmare situation like Japan’s, a loss of electricity for running its pumps, valves and safety systems. While a tsunami is not an issue in northern Alabama, more than 300 miles from the sea, the loss of all power is always a threat. The plant sits on the banks of the Tennessee River, where floods can reasonably be anticipated, although plant officials say that water levels have never risen high enough to threaten the reactors."