Sep 29, 2024: The case against restarting Three Mile Island’s Unit-1

From Vermont Public Radio:

(Host) Vermont utility regulators will not allow the proposed spin-off of Vermont Yankee into a new company.

The Public Service Board said the corporate restructuring was financially risky, and was not good for the public.

As VPR's John Dillon reports, the ruling appears to close the books on the deal.

(Dillon) For several years, Entergy tried to convince regulators and lawmakers that it made sense to borrow $4 billion dollars to create a new company called Enexus. The debt-heavy company would own Vermont Yankee and five other aging nuclear plants.

Read more

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit Nos. 2 and 3: Request for withholding Information From Public Disclosure (TAC Nos. MD9154 and MD9155)

Download ML101600702

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit No. 2: Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action to change Safety Limit Minimum Critical Power Ratios (TAC No. ME3994)

Download ML101680426

The OpposePPL.com website is now live.  "The purpose of this site is to provide energy users with 'plain english' information about PPL's proposed rate increase."

From Cleveland.com:

FirstEnergy Corp. said Monday it has purchased a replacement lid for the Davis-Besse reactor near Toledo and wants to install it in 2011.

Davis-Besse has been shut down since Feb. 28 for extensive work to repair cracks in the lid that sprouted unexpectedly in critical components. Such cracks can allow radioactive coolant into the reactor's containment building -- or worse. Federal rules require an immediate shutdown if leaks are detected.

The cracks are similar to fissures that opened up in the late 1990s in parts of Davis-Besse's original lid and led to a pineapple-sized corrosion hole in that lid before it was discovered in 2002.

Read more

On Friday, February 26, 2010 PPL increased its dividend to shareholders then the following Monday March 1, 2010 PPL issued a media release titled "PPL Electric Utilities to request modest distribution rate increases for 2011." To conclude the statement of reasons for the increase PPL stated, "PPL Electric's proposed distribution rate increase is just and reasonable and should be approved by the Commission."

PPL states it is modest, just, and reasonable to:

• Increase its rates $114,676,490 annually
• Increase residential customer service charges 82%
• Increase PPL's portion of the average residential bill 27%
• Require residential customers to pay 100% of the increase
• Request a rate increase every few years
• Implement a rate structure that provides the greatest increase to smallest users

PPL believes that its proposed rate increase is modest, just, and reasonable; do you? The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission has ordered an investigation into the lawfulness, justness, and reasonableness of PPL's rates, rules, and regulations. Sustainable Energy Fund encourages all consumers affected by the proposed rate increase to come to the hearings.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

6PM

Harrisburg

Commonwealth Keystone Building
2nd Floor Hearing Room,
400 North St.
Harrisburg, PA 17120

"We have concluded that the best policy for electric distribution companies, such as PPL Electric Utilities, is to charge a flat monthly fee for electricity delivery services, rather than fees based on the kilowatt-hours used" said John Sipics, PPL's former President, concerning PPL's 2005 rate increase.

In response to feedback and requests from stakeholders, the NRC and FEMA will be holding an additional public meeting on the proposed changes to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Supplement 3.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 in Tampa, FL from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT.  Teleconferencing and web conferencing will be available for those individuals who wish to participate remotely.  To participate remotely, interested individuals should contact Sara Mroz or Annette Stang via email at Emergencypreparedness.resource@nrc.gov by July 15, 2010.

The meeting notice and details can be found online at:

http://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/idmws/doccontent.dll?library=PU_ADAMS^PBNTAD01&ID=101720248
 

The following power uprates are currently under review by the NRC.  The licensees for the following plants have not been authorized by the NRC to operate the plants at power levels that reflect the following increases.

Download PDF

The Environmental Protection Agency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting four public information meetings on the proposed study of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and its potential impacts on drinking water. Hydraulic fracturing is a process that helps production of natural gas or oil from shale and other geological formations. By pumping fracturing fluids (water and chemical additives) and sand or other similar materials into rock formations, fractures are created that allow natural gas or oil to flow from the rock through the fractures to a production well for extraction. The meetings will provide public information about the proposed study scope and design. EPA will solicit public comments on the draft study plan.

The public meetings will be held on:

• July 8 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. CDT at the Hilton Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas
• July 13 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. MDT at the Marriot Tech Center’s Rocky Mountain Events Center in Denver, Colo.
• July 22 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT at the Hilton Garden Inn in Canonsburg, Pa.
• August 12 at the Anderson Performing Arts Center at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y. for 3 sessions - 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT

Natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future and hydraulic fracturing is one way of accessing this vital resource. However, serious concerns have been raised about hydraulic fracturing’s potential impact on drinking water, human health and the environment. To address these concerns, EPA announced in March that it will study the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water.

To support the initial planning phase and guide the development of the study plan, the agency sought suggestions and comments from the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB)—an independent, external federal advisory committee. The agency will use this advice and extensive stakeholder input to guide the design of the study.

Stakeholders are requested to pre-register for the meetings at least 72 hours before each meeting.

More information on the meetings:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_hydrofrac.html

From the Brattleboro Reformer:

The NRC is meeting its mission of protecting public health, safety, and the environment ..." stated the Groundwater Task Force.A report issued by a Nuclear Regulatory Commission task force concluded the NRC has responded appropriately to the radioactive contamination of groundwater and soil at the nation's nuclear power plants.

The task force was made up of a number of NRC staffers, which issued its report on June 11.

It conducted several months of evaluations of the agency's past, current and planned actions regarding radioactive contamination of groundwater and soil.

Read more