Nuclear utilities beg for bailouts to avert reactor shutdowns -- Obama administration appears amenable

In a pair of articles, E&E's Hannah Northey reports that nuclear utility giants such as Exelon and Entergy are lobbying hard for changes to electricity marketplace rules that would enable them to keep uncompetitive atomic reactors operating. For its part, the Obama Dept. of Energy appears poised to do all it can to prop up its favorite dirty, dangerous, and expensive energy industry. 

Exelon considers closing two GE BWR Mark Is in IL

As reported by Crain's Chicago Business, Exelon -- the largest nuclear utility in the U.S. -- is considering shuttering its Quad Cities nuclear power plant, because it cannot compete on the wholesale electricity market. Quad Cities consists of two General Electric Mark I Boiling Water Reactors, identical in design to Fukushima Daiichi Units 1 to 4.

At the same time, Exelon is considering permanently closing its single unit Clinton nuclear power plant -- a GE BWR Mark III. A decade ago, Exelon was riding high at Clinton -- recipient of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rubber-stamp support for an "Early Site Permit" for a proposed new reactor at the site.

The Chicago Tribune has also reported on this story.

International Uranium Film Festival coming to DC and New York

If you live in the Washington, DC or New York metro area, please consider attending the International Uranium FIlm Festival. It comes to DC February 10, 11 and 12 and to Brooklyn, NY February 14-19. The DC festival, at the Goethe-Institut, opens with The Atomic States of America (poster at left) which investigates the history and health impacts of nuclear power in several communities around the U.S. It also includes, Nuclear Savage, a documentary that makes a case that the U.S. government deliberately experimented on the Marshall Islanders through atomic weapons testing. Commissioned by PBS, the network has refused to air Nuclear Savage for more than two years, prompting questions about censorship. Admission to the DC festival is free and each evening will include a panel discussion with filmmakers and policy experts. Beyond Nuclear is a co-sponsor of the DC festival. Linda Gunter, Beyond Nuclear's international specialist, will moderate the nuclear power discussion after the screenings on February 12. Read the Beyond Nuclear press release.

50 Reasons We Should Fear the Worst from Fukushima

Harvey Wasserman edits www.nukefree.org, and wrote Solartopia! Our Green-Powered Earth. Harvey has published the first of a two part series at EcoWatch, entitled "50 Reasons We Should Fear the Worst from Fukushima."

Part Two will be on how Fukushima threatens our human freedom and material survival.

Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps appeared on Harvey's radio show, "Green Power and Wellness," on Feb. 4th. The show is carried by the Progressive Radio Network. The segment was entitled "How much radiation?", and also featured Susan Shapiro of Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, as well as Gretel Johnson of MATTR.

Pete Seeger has them singing along, wherever he is

American folk icon Pete Seeger passed away on January 27, 2014 at 94 years old.

Pete was more than America’s beloved folklorist and singer, he was a nonviolent troubadour waging world peace and justice, a balladeer to save the environment for future generations and a defender of labor from greedy bosses. He put his body and his melodic voice on the same line his songs proclaimed whether it was in the hobo jungle, the vineyard, on the picket line, union hall or concert hall.  Now, as he did on solid ground, Pete has that heavenly choir already singing along in three-part harmony.

We will remember Pete and his banjo as part of the clarion call for a halt to nuclear power on the construction site of New Hampshire’s Seabrook nuclear power plant in 1978 in a gathering of 20,000 protesters before the meltdowns at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. He persisted for decades calling for the now nearer closing of New York’s Indian Point nuke on the shore of his cherished Hudson River.

Pete had his banjo emblazoned with the motto “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender.” It was this love of all life and freedom that taught us, inspired us with “‘do-so’ is more important that ‘say-so,’” often with a forgotten verse from a popular folk song. 

One such verse, from “This Land is Your Land” belongs evermore to Pete, now:

“Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.”

So long, Pete, it’s been good to know you.  We miss you.