Group items tagged

Most folks missed it, because the vote came just before the bailout bill, but on Wednesday the US Senate voted 86-13 to approve the India 123 bill, giving India access to US nuclear know-how and materials for the first time since India conducted a nuclear weapons test three decades ago. Both presidential candidates voted for the bill and the House had already passed it 298 to 117. The roll call for the Senate vote shows that Boxer, Byrd, Feingold, Leahy and Sanders were among the few "Nay" votes.

The U.S. House voted Wednesday to ban importing foreign low-level radioactive waste and block an attempt by EnergySolutions to bring tons of it from Italy to Utah. It voted 309-112 for a bill pushed by Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., to bar such foreign waste, which includes lab coats, shoe coverings and cleaning cloths from nuclear power plants. EnergySolutions has proposed to process 20,000 tons of Italian waste in Tennessee and dump it in Utah. The bill now goes to the Senate. Matheson and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, voted for the bill. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, was with Utah students touring Virginia and missed the vote but has spoken against it previously. He was once a state lobbyist for EnergySolutions and received about $26,000 from the company's political action committee and employees for his 2008 election and $5,000 this year.

The U.S. House voted Wednesday to ban importing foreign low-level radioactive waste and block an attempt by EnergySolutions to bring tons of it from Italy to Utah. It voted 309-112 for a bill pushed by Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., to bar such foreign waste, which includes lab coats, shoe coverings and cleaning cloths from nuclear power plants. EnergySolutions has proposed to process 20,000 tons of Italian waste in Tennessee and dump it in Utah. The bill now goes to the Senate. Matheson and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, voted for the bill. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, was with Utah students touring Virginia and missed the vote but has spoken against it previously. He was once a state lobbyist for EnergySolutions and received about $26,000 from the company's political action committee and employees for his 2008 election and $5,000 this year.

A $75 million bond meant to finance the construction of a low-level radioactive waste site was passed in Andrews County by a 3-vote margin Saturday leaving those in opposition preparing for their next step and those in favor planning for construction they say will start this summer. As county officials wrote the voting totals on a board outside of the Andrews County Courthouse the about 30 gathered both in favor and opposition screamed at the final results - 642 for and 639 against. In early voting, 337 voted for the bond and 381 against it.

On June 26, the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed the House 219 to 212 in a partisan vote that saw 44 Democratic representatives vote against the bill. 8 Republican representatives crossed party lines and voted for it. By the time Waxman-Markey bill got out of committee, it was a very different animal - loaded down with compromises, exceptions, and special favors. It was so compromised that Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth urged progressive representatives to vote against it. * johnnygunn's diary :: :: * In fact, Dennis Kucinich and Pete DeFazio voted against the bill because it had become so bloated. DeFazio stated: "There's an unholy alliance of big business, some environmental groups and Wall Street" backing cap-and-trade, said DeFazio, comparing the scheme to the deregulation of the electricity markets that ultimately led to soaring rates in some states. "Wall Street is excited about another thinly regulated market."

A key vote that would have cleared the way for the nation's oldest commercial nuclear power plant to get a new 20-year license has been postponed. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission had planned a vote Wednesday to reject concerns from opponents of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. They say the steel liner surrounding the nuclear reactor has degraded to the point where it is no longer safe. The liner is designed to contain radiation if there is an accident. The plant's owner, Chicago-based Exelon Corp., says the barrier is fine. It's not immediately clear why the vote was put off. But a coalition of groups opposing the license renewal filed a last-minute appeal late Monday seeking to block the vote.

"In an unusual state foray into nuclear regulation, the Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 Wednesday to block operation of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant after 2012, citing radioactive leaks, misstatements in testimony by plant officials and other problems. The Vermont Senate has voted to block a license extension for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in Vernon, Vt. Nuclear opponents celebrated a State Senate vote Wednesday that could help close the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in 2012. Unless the chamber reverses itself, it will be the first time in more than 20 years that the public or its representatives has decided to close a reactor. The vote came just more than a week after President Obama declared a new era of rebirth for the nation's nuclear industry, announcing federal loan guarantees of $8.3 billion to assure the construction of a twin-reactor plant near Augusta, Ga."

"he shareholders of FPL Group, Inc. voted today to change the name of the company to NextEra Energy, Inc. The company announced the proposed name change on March 19, 2010. During the company's annual meeting today, the proposal was approved by more than 95 percent of the shareholders who cast a vote. Following the shareholder vote, the name of the company was formally changed from FPL Group, Inc. to NextEra Energy, Inc. The change is intended to better reflect the company's scale as one of the largest and cleanest energy providers in the country, its diverse scope of operations across 28 states and Canada, and its forward-thinking, innovative approach to providing energy-related solutions for customers. "

Voters in canton Vaud have come out against a proposal to keep a nuclear energy plant running indefinitely. With 64 per cent against, they rejected plans to extend the licence for the Mühleberg plant, in neighbouring canton Bern. But the federal authorities still have the final say. The plant, which supplies energy to the canton, has a licence to operate until 2012. The energy ministry had been waiting for the outcome of the consultative vote before deciding whether to prolong the centre's life. It is obliged to ask the cantons concerned by the decision: Bern and Solothurn have already said yes; Neuchâtel and Freiburg have said no. Vaud was the only canton to vote on the matter.

Voters in canton Vaud have come out against a proposal to keep a nuclear energy plant running indefinitely. With 64 per cent against, they rejected plans to extend the licence for the Mühleberg plant, in neighbouring canton Bern. But the federal authorities still have the final say. The plant, which supplies energy to the canton, has a licence to operate until 2012. The energy ministry had been waiting for the outcome of the consultative vote before deciding whether to prolong the centre's life. It is obliged to ask the cantons concerned by the decision: Bern and Solothurn have already said yes; Neuchâtel and Freiburg have said no. Vaud was the only canton to vote on the matter.

A vote on the plan to reduce San Antonio's share in the nuclear project will be postponed at least a week. CPS Energy's board had been expected to vote Monday on a proposal pushed by Mayor Julián Castro to decrease its stake in the expansion of the nuclear South Texas Project to 20 percent to 25 percent, meaning it would have to sell about of half its current ownership. But any public discussion and decision on nuclear by the utility's board has been postponed tentatively until Oct. 13. "This decision is much too important to rush," Castro said via e-mail. "By moving board consideration back a week, we will give the CPS board, the City Council and, most importantly, the public additional time to hear from CPS Energy on this critical issue." The delay comes a day after Castro halted a closed-door meeting between the City Council and CPS Energy to discuss nuclear because of a challenge from the San Antonio Express-News.

A vote on the plan to reduce San Antonio's share in the nuclear project will be postponed at least a week. CPS Energy's board had been expected to vote Monday on a proposal pushed by Mayor Julián Castro to decrease its stake in the expansion of the nuclear South Texas Project to 20 percent to 25 percent, meaning it would have to sell about of half its current ownership. But any public discussion and decision on nuclear by the utility's board has been postponed tentatively until Oct. 13. "This decision is much too important to rush," Castro said via e-mail. "By moving board consideration back a week, we will give the CPS board, the City Council and, most importantly, the public additional time to hear from CPS Energy on this critical issue." The delay comes a day after Castro halted a closed-door meeting between the City Council and CPS Energy to discuss nuclear because of a challenge from the San Antonio Express-News.

Sacramento's Rancho Seco nuclear power plant has been formally decommissioned by the federal government, the first action of its kind in response to a public vote. The 20-year decommissioning process cost Sacramento Municipal Utility District ratepayers $500 million. District voters decided in June 1989 that such a costly endeavor was justified to eliminate the risks posed by nuclear power. The vote followed a long series of accidents and costly unplanned shutdowns at Rancho Seco, which began operating in 1975.

Sacramento's Rancho Seco nuclear power plant has been formally decommissioned by the federal government, the first action of its kind in response to a public vote. The 20-year decommissioning process cost Sacramento Municipal Utility District ratepayers $500 million. District voters decided in June 1989 that such a costly endeavor was justified to eliminate the risks posed by nuclear power. The vote followed a long series of accidents and costly unplanned shutdowns at Rancho Seco, which began operating in 1975.

For the second time in two weeks, Commissioners at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have rejected staff recommendations to improve security at nuclear power plants by a tie vote of two-two. NRC rules establish that a tie vote means a rejected vote. The first NRC action was to reject a staff recommendation that would have provided the public with more information on the results of security inspections at nuclear power plants. This is a topic that POGO feels strongly about: in fact, we recently submitted public comments in favor of the staff recommendations.

Advancing the hope for an early Indo-US nuclear accord, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to approve the Bill by 19 to 2, sending it to the full Senate (rpt) Senate. The two law makers who voted against the deal were Senators Barbara Boxer (by proxy) and Russel Feingold, both Democrats. Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama and the Vice Presidental candidate Senator Joseph Biden, currently the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voted by proxies to move the agreement to the Senate floor.

Votes to Ignore Sound Science, Its Own Prior Analysis, and Radiological Safety Decision an Apparent Bow to Burgeoning Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Industry TAKOMA PARK, Md. - March 18 - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted today to declare that depleted uranium (DU) from enrichment plants is a Class A low-level radioactive waste -- the least dangerous kind that supposedly consists mainly of short-lived radionuclides. In 2005, the NRC had concluded that large amounts of DU were not covered by its existing low-level waste rule and directed its staff to develop recommendations regarding DU classification. The Commission's action also opens the door to classification of other dangerous radioactive wastes in the least hazardous category -- Class A. Commissioner Jaczko dissented and voted in favor of a rulemaking process to determine the classification of DU within the existing low-level waste framework.

On the heels of the Russian- Ukrainian gas crisis, which left many EU citizens without heat this winter, European Parliament members in Strasbourg on February 3 adopted a report that calls for strengthening the security of supplies to the 27-country bloc and puts the focus back on nuclear energy and coal. The report by French MEP Anne Laperrouze on the Second Strategic Energy Review, which will be on the agenda for the European Council debate on the EU's future energy strategy on March 19-20, was adopted by 406 votes in favour, with 168 votes against and 87 abstentions. Members of the EPP-ED Group voted overwhelmingly in favour of the report. MEPs asked the Commission and the Czech Presidency to present "a new ambitious and far-sighted diversification plan" to the next meeting of the EU's heads of state.

* Workers vote 96 pct to reject latest contract offer * Plan to strike at midnight, union says * Company says no meetings with union have been scheduled (Adds details) TORONTO, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Unionized workers at Cameco Corp's (CCO.TO) Port Hope, Ontario, fuel manufacturing division voted overwhelmingly on Friday to strike, and will officially walk out at midnight, a union official said. Mohamed Baksh, a staff representative for the United Steelworkers, said the vote was 96 percent to reject Cameco's most recent contract offer. He represents 137 workers at the operation, formerly known as Zircatec, which makes up a bit less than half of the total work force at the facility.

Overriding Western objections, a 150-nation nuclear conference on Friday passed a resolution directly criticizing Israel and its atomic program for the first time in 18 years. Iran hailed the vote as a "glorious moment." The result was a setback not only for Israel but also for the United States and other backers of the Jewish state, which had lobbied for 18 years of past practice - debate on the issue without a vote. It also reflected building tensions between Israel and its backers and Islamic nations, backed by developing countries. Of delegations present at the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting Friday, 49 voted for the resolution. Forty-five were against and 16 abstained from endorsing or rejecting the document, which "expresses concern about the Israeli nuclear capabilities," and links it to "concern about the threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons for the security and stability of the Middle East."

House and Senate members will begin working out their differences on an energy bill this week, and that's expected to include another discussion on nuclear power. The Senate voted to lift Minnesota's current ban on new nuclear power plants, but the House defeated the measure by 12 votes. The failed House vote hurts the measure's chances, but environmentalists who oppose expanding nuclear power have said they will be watching closely as the energy conference committee meets. Its first meeting is set for Monday.

Republicans on the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said Wednesday that panel Chairman Jeff Bingaman has agreed to include some incentives for new nuclear energy projects, clean coal and waste-to-energy in a renewable electricity mandate, though the change will not be enough to satisfy most of the panel's minority party members. The committee will vote on amendments Thursday, with a final vote on the full energy bill due as early as next week. Changes made to the renewable electricity standard will likely garner enough support to clear the committee, though only Kansas Republican Sam Brownback is considered likely to vote with Democrats in favor of the measure. In its current form, the RES supported by Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat, and most or all of the panel's other Democrats would require utilities to derive 11% of their output from renewable energy and 4% from energy efficiency improvements. Robert Dillon, a spokesman for the panel's top Republican Lisa Murkowski, said that Bingaman had also agreed to take all new nuclear energy projects out of a utility's baseline, reducing the amount of renewable energy required to meet the standard. Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, would like existing nuclear energy to receive the same treatment.

The Project On Government Oversight has obtained hundreds of pages of internal NRC documents from an NRC Inspector General investigation into then-Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifield. The documents outline, among other things, how he disregarded advice from NRC's General Counsel and voted on two matters that "could have potentially" financially benefitted three companies-Shaw Group, Westinghouse, and General Electric-during the time he was directly involved in employment negotiations with those companies. The IG investigation found that in the two months before accepting a job created for him at the Shaw Group, Commissioner Merrifield voted both to approve China's purchase of AP 1000 reactors (in which the Shaw Group had a financial interest) and to change criteria of emergency cooling systems that would directly benefit Westinghouse (of which the Shaw Group owned a 20 percent interest). The IG referred the case to the Department of Justice.

The Project On Government Oversight has obtained hundreds of pages of internal NRC documents from an NRC Inspector General investigation into then-Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifield. The documents outline, among other things, how he disregarded advice from NRC's General Counsel and voted on two matters that "could have potentially" financially benefitted three companies-Shaw Group, Westinghouse, and General Electric-during the time he was directly involved in employment negotiations with those companies. The IG investigation found that in the two months before accepting a job created for him at the Shaw Group, Commissioner Merrifield voted both to approve China's purchase of AP 1000 reactors (in which the Shaw Group had a financial interest) and to change criteria of emergency cooling systems that would directly benefit Westinghouse (of which the Shaw Group owned a 20 percent interest). The IG referred the case to the Department of Justice.