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February 13, 2013

News about the nuclear technologies industry

News Roundup

NRC considers amending rules for Calif. plant's restart
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission may alter requirements for the restart of Southern California Edison's San Onofre nuclear plant in California. Last year, the NRC detailed several conditions for the plant's restart, including discovering how to stop tube damage in the facility's steam generators. The plant has been offline since January 2012 because of steam-generator problems. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration)/The Associated Press (2/12)

Ore. university begins development of nuclear tech facility
The construction of a $4.8 million center for testing new nuclear technology has started at Oregon State University. The technology to be studied uses a "super-hot" reactor with helium as a coolant. "Like any new technology, it will take some time for this to gain acceptance," said the project's director, Brian Woods, an associate professor of nuclear engineering. SustainableBusinessOregon.com (2/12)

Experts: Reliability contracts could help some reactors stay open
More nuclear-plant operators could follow Dominion Resources' move and shut down their facilities amid weak natural gas prices and depressed electricity demand, observers say. Reliability contracts could help such plants remain open, as there are political hurdles for other options, experts added. SNL Financial (free content) (2/11)

Management & Leadership

What executives can learn from Pope Benedict XVI quitting
Pope Benedict XVI's resignation is a reminder of just how tough leadership really is, says Nancy F. Koehn, a professor and historian. Neither CEOs nor spiritual leaders are supermen, and it's important that they admit that to themselves. "I don't think this is primarily about age. I think it's really about energy and enthusiasm and a kind of physical, moral, intellectual, and emotional verve -- an appetite," she says. "It's something that every leader is responsible for maintaining and feeding." Harvard Business Review online/HBR Blog Network/Our Editors (2/11), Forbes (2/11)

Child-like thinking can help you build a company
To spark creative and potentially lucrative business ideas, try "reigniting a child-like wonder and questioning everything," advises Jeff Hoffman. Learning to think like a 5-year-old helped him come up with a business idea that eventually led to a nine-figure buyout deal, he says. Inc. online (free registration) (2/11)

NEI News

NEI responds to State of the Union address
In response to the president's State of the Union address, NEI Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Alex Flint reminded of the role that reliable and affordable energy plays in economic growth. He also detailed the sizable global market for nuclear goods and services, and the imperative of U.S. businesses having efficient access to that market. Read more.

Nuclear plants have been addressing cyber attacks for decade
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama outlined action to bolster the nation's critical infrastructure against cyber attacks. Nuclear plants have been actively addressing the cyber threat for over 10 years, writes NEI cybersecurity expert Bill Gross. Read NEI's statement on the executive order.

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International

USIBC calls on India to tackle concerns over nuclear liability bill
India should address concerns related to its nuclear liability bill to lure foreign nuclear-technology suppliers to take part in the country's civil nuclear program, according to the U.S.-India Business Council. Westinghouse Electric and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy are in active talks with Nuclear Power Corporation of India and are looking forward to the closing of early work agreements, according to the council. "The US remains committed to the full implementation of the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement," the council said. The Economic Times (India) (2/12)

TEPCO regrets incorrect info on Fukushima reactor's conditions
Tokyo Electric Power apologized for providing incorrect information about conditions inside one of the reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan that prevented a parliamentary panel from inspecting the site. A TEPCO official said the building's interior was completely dark when in fact lamps were available and sunlight was able to penetrate the structure's outer cover. TEPCO President Naomi Hirose said the utility will cooperate in any future probe. The Mainichi (Japan)/Kyodo News (2/12)

NNSA plan seeks to haul Canadian radioactive waste to S.C. site
A proposal being developed by the National Nuclear Security Administration and other agencies would allow the transfer of liquid radioactive waste from the Chalk River Laboratory in Canada for disposal at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The project is part of efforts to retrieve U.S.-origin highly enriched uranium that was supplied to foreign research facilities. The Augusta Chronicle (Ga.) (2/12)

SmartQuote

Several excuses are always less convincing than one."

--Aldous Huxley,
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