Switzerland follows Germany in nuclear phaseout

From Reuters: "The Swiss government decided on Wednesday to phase out nuclear power by 2034 after the Japan disaster shook public confidence in the industry, but said it will not shut any existing power plants prematurely.

The Swiss government suspended the approvals process for three new nuclear power stations in March pending a review into safety after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima plant.

Last weekend 20,000 people rallied against nuclear power -- the largest demonstration of its kind since the 1980s."

Areva stops construction of nuclear component plant

Citing unfavorable market conditions, Areva announced that it will indefinitely suspend construction of the Areva Newport News manufacturing facility. The plant was to supply heavy parts like reactor vessels and steam generators for Areva’s U.S. EPR reactor.

New reactor build at Calvert Cliffs, Maryland hits the wall on foreign ownership ban

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff determined today that UniStar Nuclear Corporation is "ineligible" to proceed with the proposed new construction of the  Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 reactor in Lusby, Maryland because the applying corporation is determined to be 100% foreigned owned, controlled and dominated by the French government. 

The original US domestic application partner, Constellation Energy of Annapolis, MD dropped out of UniStar in October 2010 because of the mounting cost of increasingly risky financing even with an $8 billion in federal loan guarantee. Electricitie de France, now the sole owner, has been looking for a new domestic partner without success.  Foreign ownership and domination of a US reactor is prohibited under federal law via the Atomic Energy Act.

UniStar Corporation (aka the French Government) was hoping to incorporate a subcommittee of US nationals to claim compliance but has failed to convince anybody. So its back to the drawing boards.

Illinois decides against lifting nuclear moratorium

An Illinois state lawmaker has shelved plans to push for an end to Illinois’ moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction given Japan’s nuclear catastrophe. State Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch) introduced legislation in January that would have lifted the state’s 24-year ban on nuclear power plant construction but said it no longer is on her legislative front burner.

New South Texas reactors on hold due to Japan situation

Yet another halt to U.S. nuclear expansion plans was announced last week as the twin new reactor projects at the South Texas Nuclear Project were put on hold. The two reactors were due to start construction in 2012. But this now looks doubtful. Ironically, embattled Japense utility, Tepco, was to be an investor in the project along with NRG Energy, the majority owner, which was even looking for loans from the Japanese government.