'Nothing to hide' tour of Jenkinsville nuclear plant - Local / Metro - TheState.com

By JEFF WILKINSON - jwilkinson@thestate.com

“Jenkinsville is not a tsunami zone,” he told the media Tuesday. He said the tour was arranged to counter the public’s “fear of the unknown.”
“We have nothing to hide,” he said. “The plants are safe.”
Byrne added the two most powerful earthquakes in the state occurred in 1886, centered in Charleston, and 1913, centered in Union County. The intensity of the quakes was well within the plant’s safety parameters, he said."

Studies Say Natural Gas Has Its Own Problems - NYTimes.com

By TOM ZELLER Jr.

Published: April 11, 2011

"The problem, the studies suggest, is that planet-warming methane, the chief component of natural gas, is escaping into the atmosphere in far larger quantities than previously thought, with as much as 7.9 percent of it puffing out from shale gas wells, intentionally vented or flared, or seeping from loose pipe fittings along gas distribution lines. This offsets natural gas’s most important advantage as an energy source: it burns cleaner than other fossil fuels and releases lower carbon dioxide emissions."

Japan Nuclear Disaster Put on Par With Chernobyl - NYTimes.com

By HIROKO TABUCHI and KEITH BRADSHER

Published: April 12, 2011

"The decision to raise the alert level to 7 from 5 on the scale amounts to an admission that the accident at the nuclear facility, brought on by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, is likely to have substantial and long-lasting consequences for health and for the environment. Some in the nuclear industry have been saying for weeks that the accident released large amounts of radiation, but Japanese officials had played down this possibility."

Duke Energy says no health threat from tritium released by Oconee reactors into SC waterways

"Duke Energy spokeswoman Sandra Magee says the releases are safe, well below federally mandated limits and are reported to nuclear regulators. Duke monitors and tests waterways around its nuclear plants as well as groundwater.

But Columbia environmental attorney Bob Guild says there are so many different ways to get radiation exposure and no additional doses are good for anyone. Although naturally occurring, tritium is also a byproduct of nuclear power operations. Long-term exposure to high amounts can increase a person's cancer risk."

Ore. city offers incentives for solar energy installation - The Washington Post

By JO BECKERand WILLIAM J. BROAD

Published: April 10, 2011

"The city borrowed from the sewer account to offer no-interest loans of $9,000 each. The repayment schedule, over four years, is tied to residents’ tax returns each spring, when they receive refunds of state and federal renewable energy tax credits.">

Duke Energy says no health threat from tritium released by Oconee reactors into SC waterways

AP

"Duke Energy spokeswoman Sandra Magee says the releases are safe, well below federally mandated limits and are reported to nuclear regulators. Duke monitors and tests waterways around its nuclear plants as well as groundwater.

But Columbia environmental attorney Bob Guild says there are so many different ways to get radiation exposure and no additional doses are good for anyone. Although naturally occurring, tritium is also a byproduct of nuclear power operations. Long-term exposure to high amounts can increase a person's cancer risk."

Commissioner Clyburn pledges vigilance of wireless industry - The Hill's Hillicon Valley

By Sara Jerome - 04/10/11 09:19 AM ET/

"'In considering all of the factors relating to America’s minority and lower-income citizens, and realizing how hard people work to claw past their monthly bills only to immediately start fretting about next month, we must be vigilant – super-vigilant – about the direction the wireless industry is heading,' she said.

She cited some of the wireless issues the commission is already handling. She said the White Spaces decision lowers the cost to serve communities; the data roaming order will help spread rural broadband; and the effort to prevent 'bill shock' will help consumers avoid overage fees."