Energy and Climate Change


FY2019 NRC Fees Increased for Operating Reactors

The FY2019 annual fees are increasing for operating reactors, research and test reactors, and some materials users. Annual fees will decrease for spent fuel storage/reactor decommissioning, fuel facilities, select materials users, U.S. Department of Energy transportation activities, and the DOE Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Program.

EPA Region 9 Launches Smart Sectors Pacific Southwest

In the Pacific Southwest, EPA is engaging with the oil and gas sector initially and plans to expand to several other sectors this year.

Understanding LEED, WELL, and the Differences

The WELL program was started by many of the same people involved in the original LEED program established by the U.S. Green Building Council back in 1998. The WELL program was created far more recently, in October 2014, which is likely one reason few of us are familiar with it.

More Federal Loan Guarantees Given for Vogtle Expansion

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry was on hand for the announcement of the closing of approximately $1.67 billion in additional Department of Energy loan guarantees for the Vogtle 3 and 4 units, which Georgia Power has predicted will cost about $25 billion to complete, or nearly twice their original estimated cost.

GM Dials Up More Wind Power in Michigan

At this point, GM has contracted or invested in a total of 1.71 terawatt hours of clean energy power in North America, equivalent to the power consumed by more than 145,000 U.S. households.

Resident Inspectors Chosen for New Vogtle Units

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials in Atlanta recently announced the selection of Kenya Carrington and Patrick Heher as resident inspectors for the construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4, new units being built near Waynesboro, Ga.

TVA to Retire Two Coal-Fired Power Plants

TVA's board of directors on Feb. 14 approved the retirement of Paradise Unit 3 in Drakesboro, Ky., and the Bull Run facility in Clinton, Tenn., older coal generating units that TVA describes as "not designed to efficiently respond to today's continually fluctuating power needs of customers."

California's Governor Warns Climate Change Pressuring Utilities

In his first State of the State address, Gov. Gavin Newsom said climate change is putting pressure on all of California's utilities, public and private, and that two recently had their credit ratings downgraded.



Marathon Subsidiary Signs Contracts with Solaris Water

Solaris Water Midstream, LLC will manage all produced water transportation, disposal, fresh water, and recycled water needs within a 369,000-acre region in Lea County, N.M.

IKEA Norfolk Store to Feature Large Solar Array

The new store will feature a 180,000-square-foot solar array and three EV charging stations.

NRC Raising Some Fees This Year

Proposed annual fees for FY2019 have increased for operating reactors, some materials users, and Department of Energy transportation activities.

Top Energy Efficiency Strategies for Building Owners

Investing in new "green" technology to reduce energy use can be intimidating at first, but it doesn't need to be.

New ASTM Test Method Addresses Corrosion in Petrochemical Pipelines

The annual estimated cost of microbiologically induced corrosion to the oil and gas industry ranges from $4 billion to $30 billion.

IRENA Chooses New Director-General

Francesco La Camera will take office on April 4, 2019, succeeding Adnan Z. Amin, who has been the International Renewal Energy Agency's director-general since 2011.

NRC Sets Hearing in Albuquerque on Holtec Fuel Storage Application

The oral arguments on Jan. 23 and, if necessary, Jan. 24, will be open to the public. Signs, banners, posters, demonstrations, and displays will not be permitted by NRC policy, according to the agency.

NRC Sets Hearing, Webinar on Pilgrim Nuclear Plant Decommissioning

The Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report includes a table showing that the entire period from shutdown of the plant to license termination will last 60 years.

General Motors is turning its employees

International Statistic of 2018: 90.5 Percent of Plastic Waste Never Recycled

The winning International Statistic of 2018 is 90.5%: the proportion of plastic waste that has never been recycled. The UK Statistic of 2018 is 27.8%: the peak percentage of all electricity produced in the United Kingdom from solar power on June 30, 2018.

Industrial LED Lighting: The New Secret Weapon in the Battle Against Pollution

Switching from conventional High-Intensity Diode (HID) lighting, such as high-pressure sodium fixtures, to modern, high-efficiency industrial-grade LED lighting has proven to be one of the most effective sustainability practices.

Wind Turbine Manufacturers Notch Big Orders

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy announced it received the order for the 487 MW SeaMade offshore wind power project in Belgium from customer Seamade NV, while Vestas announced it has received an order for 100 V120-2.2 MW turbines for an undisclosed project in the United States.

The study found that more than half of the surveyed home builders are building at least 16 percent of their new homes green.

Why It's the Perfect Time to Go Solar

For those on board with renewable energy, the wave of residential solar is exciting. Homeowners can now get solar that once only well-funded government projects had.