TMI Update: Jan 14, 2024

Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment Report Shows Threats to Human Health, Water and Air Quality

HARRISBURG, PA -- Pennsylvanians should prepare for dangerously high summer temperatures and more severe storms, increased threat of certain diseases carried by insects, and drastic changes to agriculture and water quality, according to a new report on the impact of climate change from Penn State University. The report was authored by Dr. James Shortle with assistance from a multidisciplinary team of colleagues at Penn State.

The Pennsylvania Climate Change Act (PCCA) (Act 70), enacted by the General Assembly in 2008, directed Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a study of the potential impacts of global climate change on Pennsylvania over the next century. This report is the second update to the original report published in 2009.

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NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments for Nation’s Nuclear Plants

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued mid-cycle assessment letters to the nation’s 99 operating commercial nuclear power plants regarding their performance through the first half of 2015. The mid-cycle assessment period concluded on June 30, with 96 plants in the two highest performance categories.

“NRC senior management and staff perform a systematic review of all current performance indicators, recent inspection findings and other pertinent information for each domestic power reactor facility,” said Scott Morris, Director of the Division of Inspection and Regional Support in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. “One key outcome from this semi-annual process is to ensure that all of our stakeholders clearly understand the basis for our assessments of plant performance and the actions we are taking to address any identified performance deficiencies.”

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Mid-Cycle Assessment Letter for Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (Report 05000289/2015005)

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Mid-Cycle Assessment Letter for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (Report 05000277/2015005 and 05000278/2015005)

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PLAN FOR THE AUDIT OF EXELON GENERATION COMPANY, LLC'S FLOOD HAZARD REEVALUATION REPORT SUBMITTAL RELATING TO THE NEAR-TERM TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION 2.1-FLOODING FOR PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3 (TAC NOS. MF6598 AND MF6599)

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Event Summary   
Date - September 17, 2015
Location - Keystone Solar Project
1067 Lancaster Pike (at Deaver Road)
Quarryville, Pennsylvania  17566

Registration & Light Refreshments: (10:00-10:30)
Interactive Presentation (10:30-11:15)
Tour (11:15-12:00)
Working Lunch and Wrap-Up (12:00 - 12:30)

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Dear Pennsylvania wind stakeholder:

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pennsylvania has deployed 1,340 megawatts of wind energy, resulting in an estimated $1.5 billion of economic development over 20 years. But that’s less than 20% of Pennsylvania’s wind potential!

To explore the future of Pennsylvania’s wind energy opportunities and challenges, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), in collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, will host a Pennsylvania State Wind Energy Forum on October 14 in Harrisburg. You are cordially invited to attend. The program will:

• Address a wide variety of Pennsylvania wind stakeholders’ questions about the current status of wind energy technology, markets, and impacts, as well as opportunities for future development
• Include perspectives from utilities, wind developers, advocacy groups, wildlife specialists, researchers, and government officials
• Allow attendees to engage with topical experts during a lunchtime session of 20 table topics and in-depth Q&A.

The agenda will feature:

    John Hanger, Pennsylvania Secretary of Planning and Policy
    Larry Schweiger, CEO, Penn Future
    Gladys Brown, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chair
    Rob Gramlich, AWEA VP of Policy
    Brent Alderfer, CEO and co-founder of Community Energy
    Shawn Garvin, EPA Regional Administrator (invited)
    A host of other Pennsylvania and regional leaders.

The panelists will address national and regional markets, the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, wind-natural gas integration, Pennsylvania wind project case studies, and wind developer perspectives. Attendees will wrap up the day by discussing Pennsylvania’s wind futures.

Please go to www.awea.org/pennsylvania to see the agenda details and register for the Forum (which includes lunch and an evening reception). We look forward to seeing you at Penn State’s Harrisburg campus on October 14.

Larry Flowers
AWEA State Wind Forums facilitator

Work To Extinguish Mine Fire In Carbon County Continues To Progress

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is continuing drilling work to map the limits of the Jeansville mine fire in Banks Township, Carbon County.

“DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation is continuing to monitor the progress of efforts to extinguish this mine fire,” said John Stefanko, deputy secretary for Office of Active and Abandoned Mine Operations. “We are working with the contractor to complete the exploratory drilling work as fast as is safely possible.”

Minichi Inc., of Dupont, Luzerne County has drilled 38 of the proposed 51 holes. Drilling activity is expected to finish by the end of August, but could be extended if additional drilling is needed to accurately define the limits of the fire.

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Commission Denies Pepco/Exelon Merger Application

(Washington, D.C.) Today, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (“Commission”) voted to deny an application for acquisition of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) by Exelon Corporation as not being in the public interest. In determining whether the Proposed Merger is in the public interest pursuant to D.C. Code §§ 34-504 and 34-1001, the Commission first considered the effect of the Proposed Merger transaction on each of the seven public interest factors. This included the effects of the transaction on ratepayers and shareholders, on competition in the local retail and wholesale markets and on conservation of natural resources and preservation of environmental quality. In doing so, the Commission identified how the effects of the Proposed Merger on each of the seven public interest factors would benefit or harm the public (including Pepco, District ratepayers, and the District community). The Commission then used its findings to assess the transaction as a whole. The Commission concluded that, taken as a whole, the transaction as proposed by Exelon and Pepco is not in the public interest. In a separate opinion, Commissioner Phillips concurred in part and dissented in part.

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