Feb 1, 2025: AI on the Susquehanna River

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

Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island

Did you catch "The Meltdown: Three Mile Island" on Netflix?
TMI remains a danger and TMIA is working hard to ensure the safety of our communities and the surrounding areas.
Learn more on this site and support our efforts. Join TMIA. To contact the TMIA office, call 717-233-7897.

    

MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission/Atomic Safety Licensing Board Virtual/Remote Hearings, 11am ET, Feb. 12, with Listen-only Call-in Line: Environmental Coalition Opposes Palisades Reactor Restart

NEWS FROM BEYOND NUCLEAR

  For immediate release 

  Contact: Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist, Beyond Nuclear, kevin@beyondnuclear.org, (240) 462-3216
 
  Michael Keegan, Don't Waste Michigan, mkeeganj@comcast.net, (734) 770-1441
 
  (Media reporters wishing to speak with the environmental coalition's expert witness, Arnie Gundersen, chief engineer of Fairewinds, can do so by contacting Kevin Kamps, above.)
 

MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission/Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Virtual/Remote Hearings, with Listen-only Call-in Line

Environmental Coalition Opposes Palisades Reactor Restart

COVERT, MI, and ROCKVILLE, MD, 11:00 AM ET, WED., FEB. 12, 2025--

[Please note that the time and format for this pre-hearing have been changed. Although the pre-hearing will be held on the same date as previously announced, Wednesday, February 12th, the start time has been changed to 11:00 am Eastern Time (It had previously been 8:30 am ET). In addition, the pre-hearing will no longer be held in-person. Instead, it will be held virtually/remotely. A listen-only call-in line will still be made available, which members of the public and news media can use to listen in on the pre-hearing: dial (301) 576-2978, and then enter passcode 101 394 753#.

(The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -- NRC -- has instructed that: After successful entry of the passcode, the following message will be heard: “You are not allowed to unmute. To raise your hand press *5.” Please note that this telephone line is not being monitored and pressing “*5” will not allow participation in the conference.For additional information, please contact NRC staffer Twana Ellis at Twana.Ellis@nrc.gov or 301-415-6094.)

These changes were ordered by the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP) in an ORDER issued at 5:16pm ET on Thursday, February 6, 2025.]

A three-judge (administrative law judges, or hearing examiners) ASLBP has ordered oral argument pre-hearings to be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, beginning at 11:00 am Eastern Time, regarding Holtec’s scheme to restart the closed-for-good Palisades reactor on Lake Michigan's shore in Covert Township, Van Buren County, southwest Michigan. See the updated ORDER, dated Feb. 6, here.

The ASLBP’s administrative law judges are: Emily I. Krause, Chair; Dr. Gary S. Arnold; and Dr. Arielle J. Miller. The oral argument pre-hearings will take place virtually.

The environmental coalition opposing Palisades’ restart includes: Beyond Nuclear; Don’t Waste Michigan; Michigan Safe Energy Future; Nuclear Energy Information Service of Chicago; and Three Mile Island Alert of Pennsylvania. The coalition’s legal counsel are Terry Lodge of Toledo, Ohio, and Wally Taylor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The coalition’s expert witnesses include Arnie Gundersen, chief engineer at Fairewinds, and Dr. Mark Jacobson, professor at Stanford University.

Links to the environmental coalition's intervention petition and hearing request, dated October 7, 2024, the NRC's and Holtec's November 4, 2024 "Answers" to the petition and request, and the environmental coalition's November 12, 2024 "Replies" to NRC and Holtec, are posted at: https://beyondnuclear.org/intervention-against-palisades-zombie-reactor-restart/

On Jan. 22, 2025, NRC published a press release about the ASLBP oral argument pre-hearings. But please note that aspects of the original press release have been changed — as mentioned above, the ASLBP’s ORDER of Feb. 6, 2025 has changed the start time to 11am ET, and has cancelled the in-person format for the pre-hearing, now making it virtual/remote participation-only.

More Beyond Nuclear website posts regarding Holtec’s "zombie" reactor restart scheme at Palisades, and its so-called “Small Modular Reactor” new build schemes at Palisades, as well as Big Rock Point (located in Hayes Township, MI, between Charlevoix and Petoskey, Palisades' sibling nuclear power plant, also closed for good, as well as decommissioned), are posted in reverse chronological order, here.
By admin at Tue, 02/11/2025 - 13:17

Australia satirical short (3 min), “Honest Government Ad for Nuclear”

Australia satirical short (3 min), “Honest Government Ad for Nuclear”, 2025.  
 
Skip ad
By admin at Sat, 02/08/2025 - 13:00

NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Oconee Nuclear Station Subsequent License Renewal

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: 25-009 February 7, 2025
CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200

NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Oconee Nuclear Station Subsequent License Renewal

 
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has published its final environmental impact statement for the proposed second license renewal for Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2 and 3.
 
The statement, or EIS, examines the environmental report, as supplemented, submitted by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, as part of its subsequent license renewal application. NRC staff concluded there are no adverse environmental impacts to preclude the renewal of Oconee’s operating licenses for an additional 20 years.
 
Duke Energy is seeking a second, or subsequent, licensing term to extend the plant’s operations from 60 to 80 years. The licenses for the Oconee reactors, located 30 miles west of Greenville, South Carolina, currently will expire Feb. 6, 2033, for Unit 1; Oct. 6, 2033, for Unit 2; and July 19, 2034, for Unit 3.
 
NRC staff issued its Safety Evaluation Report for Oconee’s subsequent license renewal in December 2022. The agency will consider the safety and environmental reports in making a final decision on extending the Oconee licenses from 60 to 80 years. Information about the Oconee subsequent license renewal review is available on the NRC website.
 
By admin at Sat, 02/08/2025 - 12:58

Beaver Valley Unit 2 Event Report AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP

Dear Beaver Valley Trackers,

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR
02/05/2025 - 02/06/2025

EVENT NUMBERS

Power Reactor
Event Number: 57535
Facility: Beaver Valley
Region: 1     
State: PA
Unit: [2] [] []


RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: Jim Schwer
HQ OPS Officer: Bill NytkoNotification Date: 02/05/2025
Notification Time: 12:55 [ET]
Event Date: 02/05/2025
Event Time: 10:02 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/05/2025

Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation

Person (Organization):
Young, Matt (R1DO)

Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby
Event Text
AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

"At 1002 EST, on February 5, 2025, with Unit 2 in mode 1 at 100 percent power, the reactor automatically tripped due to lowering 'B' steam generator level. All control rods fully inserted into the core and the auxiliary feedwater system automatically started as designed in response to the full power reactor trip. The trip was not complex, with all systems responding normally post-trip. There was no equipment inoperable prior to the event that contributed to the reactor trip or adversely impacted plant response.

"Operations responded and stabilized the plant. Decay heat is being removed by discharging steam to the main condenser using the condenser steam dump valves. Unit 1 is not affected and remains at 100 percent power and stable. Due to the reactor protection system actuation while critical, this event is being reported as a four-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B). Additionally, this event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that resulted in a valid actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
By admin at Thu, 02/06/2025 - 14:13

TMI-2 SOLUTIONS, LLC, THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 2 - NRC INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 05000320/2024004 AND 07200080/2024004

TMI-2 SOLUTIONS, LLC, THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 2 - NRC INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 05000320/2024004 AND 07200080/2024004

This document use the ADAMS number provided.
By admin at Thu, 02/06/2025 - 14:09

Don't fall for the Big Lie of nuclear energy by Cindy Folkers, Amanda M. Nichols

 
They won’t tell you these truths about nuclear energy by Cindy Folkers and Amanda M. Nichols, opinion contributors - 02/02/25 7:00 AM ET

 ​​​​​​​

By admin at Wed, 02/05/2025 - 12:25

Ex-Holtec VP's lawsuit says he was a scapegoat in NJ tax credit saga

https://www.inquirer.com/business/holtec-international-lawsuit-martin-babos-20250204.html

By admin at Wed, 02/05/2025 - 12:23

AI and Nuclear Power on the Susquehanna River: More Questions than Answers

AI and Nuclear Power on the Susquehanna River:
More Questions than Answers.

Eric Epstein,
February 1, 2025
 
By admin at Sat, 02/01/2025 - 07:37

THREE MILE ISLAND Activist protests restart Stilp urges county to join his fight against site’s reactivation

THREE MILE ISLAND
Activist protests restart 

Stilp urges county to join his fight against site’s reactivation

TOM LISI


A longtime government-reform activist known for his attention-getting props and feisty public awareness campaigns urged Lancaster County commissioners Wednesday to join him in a fight to block the planned return to operation of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

Dauphin County-based activist Gene Stilp, who has run for office in the past as a Democrat, was clad in a business suit Wednesday with the words “NO T.M.I. RESTART” embroidered across the back of his jacket.

Stilp told the commissioners that the county government must approve new emergency preparedness plans for the plant to reopen, and they could help stop that from happening.

Baltimore-based energy giant Constellation Energy announced in September it had reached an agreement with Microsoft for the tech giant to be its sole energy customer from the facility’s main nuclear reactor, Unit 1, which shut down in 2019.

Constellation has a plan to bring the plant back online within the next three years.

“The citizens of central Pennsylvania are not Constellation Energy and Microsoft slaves,” Stilp said Wednesday. Stilp, who opposes the use of nuclear energy, argued the plant poses a safety risk to residents in the region.

Stilp was an attention-getter before social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok made attention a more universal pursuit. In 2005, he handed out stockings full of coal to Pennsylvania legislative leaders after lawmakers gave themselves pay raises.

And he is no stranger to activism against Three Mile Island: In 1999, he placed a fake historical marker near the plant commemorating the 1979 partial meltdown of one of the plant’s reactors.

Microsoft wants to use the carbon-neutral energy from Three Mile Island to power data centers connected to the region’s power grid, according to Constellation, which bought TMI in 1999.

The energy company plans to rename the plant the Crane Clean Energy Center, after a former corporate leader of Constellation, who died last year.

The plant’s second reactor, Unit 2, experienced the infamous partial meltdown in 1979 and has been decommissioned ever since.

Constellation said last year the reopening of Unit 1 would be an economic boon for the region, claiming it would create some 3,400 jobs and generate $3 billion in state and federal taxes.

Lancaster County commissioners did not respond to Stilp’s remarks at the meeting.


Democratic Commissioner Alice Yoder said via email after the meeting that the commissioners do not play a role in the restart of Three Mile Island.

“Should the plant restart, our emergency management team will follow the proper procedure to create an evacuation plan that will keep Lancaster County residents safe, as they do for all facilities in Lancaster County,” Yoder wrote. “I appreciated Mr. Stilp’s comments and plan to follow up with our Public Safety department to learn more about previous and future plans.”


Three Mile Island in Middletown is seen in this photo on April 18, 2018. Dauphin County-based activist Gene Stilp urged Lancaster County commissioners Wednesday to join him in a fight to block the planned return to operation of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

By admin at Thu, 01/30/2025 - 11:12

Governor Josh Shapiro Reaches Agreement with PJM to Prevent Unnecessary Price Hikes and Save Consumers Over $21 Billion on Utility Bills; Positive Impact for TMI restart.

Governor Josh Shapiro Reaches Agreement with PJM to Prevent Unnecessary Price Hikes and Save Consumers Over $21 Billion on Utility Bills

In December, Governor Shapiro filed a lawsuit with federal energy regulators to prevent energy price hikes on 65 million consumers, including 13 million Pennsylvanians.
 
Governor Shapiro’s work to find a pathway to resolving this lawsuit with PJM has averted runaway prices and will save Pennsylvanians money on their electricity bills.
 
January 28, 2025

 
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced he has reached an agreement with PJM Interconnection on a plan to resolve his recent lawsuit and to save consumers over $21 billion over the next two years. In December, Governor Shapiro filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)(opens in a new tab) against PJM Interconnection, criticizing flaws in PJM’s capacity auction design that threatened to impose significant new price increases. The agreement will avoid historic price hikes on consumers across all 13 states PJM serves, including Pennsylvania.
Left unaddressed, PJM’s next capacity auction scheduled for July 2025 would have resulted in billions in unnecessary energy costs for 65 million people across the region. The Governor worked with PJM to significantly lower the capacity auction price cap – from over $500/Megawatt-Day to $325/MW-Day – averting a runaway auction price that would have unnecessarily increased energy bills.
The Commonwealth is a leading producer of energy and the nation’s largest exporter of electricity – nearly a century ago, Pennsylvania helped to found PJM, and today still serves as a generation backbone for the region. At the same time it has led this fight against unnecessary price increases on consumers, the Shapiro Administration is committed to meeting the need for new generation by getting more power projects built in Pennsylvania as part of an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy to create jobs, reduce emissions, and ensure safe, reliable, affordable power for Pennsylvanians for the long term.
“When PJM’s next auction was set to result in historic price hikes, I filed a lawsuit to stop this price hike on consumers and defend Pennsylvanians,” said Governor Shapiro. “PJM did the right thing by listening to my concerns and coming to the table to find a path forward that will save Pennsylvanians billions of dollars on their electricity bills. My Administration will continue to work to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable power for Pennsylvanians for the long term.” 
PJM operates a capacity market, which means that operators are paid to commit to providing energy in the future. Over the last several years, demand for energy has risen rapidly but PJM has been slow to allow new power sources onto its grid – and as a result, PJM capacity prices have skyrocketed. PJM’s 2025/26 capacity auction, held in July 2024, resulted in costs of $14.7 billion – an over 800 percent increase from the prior year. 
The Governor pushed PJM to reduce their price cap, and a diverse coalition came together support the Governor’s message, including four governors(opens in a new tab), energy and consumer advocates, and the Organization of PJM States (OPSI). The Shapiro Administration’s energy leadership promises to save the PJM region over $21 billion on utility bills in the next two years.
PJM and the Shapiro Administration have agreed to a path forward for the complaint, subject to consultation with PJM members and the PJM Board of Managers. In order to avoid further delays to the auction schedule, PJM will soon seek a FERC order by proposing a cap and floor mechanism through an FPA section 205 filing with the FERC.
This resolution follows over a year of engagement with PJM. Governor Shapiro continues to repeatedly(opens in a new tab) press for long-term solutions that address increasing costs, urging PJM to: 
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By admin at Thu, 01/30/2025 - 09:15

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