Europe Revisits Nuclear Power as Climate Deadlines Loom

While wind and solar ramp up, several countries, including France and Britain, are looking to expand their nuclear energy programs. Germany and others aren’t so enthusiastic.

  • A nuclear power station operated by Électricité de France. The company is deep in debt after contending with nuclear plant construction delays and cost overruns.
    A nuclear power station operated by Électricité de France. The company is deep in debt after contending with nuclear plant construction delays and cost overruns.Credit…Stephane Mahe/Reuters


By Liz Alderman and Stanley Reed, New York Times, Nov. 29, 2021

PARIS — European countries desperate for a long-term and reliable source of energy to help reach ambitious climate goals are turning to an answer that caused earlier generations to shudder: nuclear power.

Poland wants a fleet of smaller nuclear power stations to help end its reliance on coal. Britain is betting on Rolls-Royce to produce cheap modular reactors to complement wind and solar energy. And in France, President Emmanuel Macron plans to build on the nation’s huge nuclear program.

Did South Jersey celebrate departure of Oyster Creek nuclear energy plant too soon?

As world leaders pledge to avert a climate catastrophe, the nuclear industry sees an opportunity for a revival. Sidelined for years after the disasters at Fukushima and Chernobyl, advocates are wrangling to win recognition of nuclear energy, alongside solar and wind, as an acceptable source of clean power.

More than half a dozen European countries recently announced plans to build a new generation of nuclear reactors. Some are smaller and cheaper than older designs, occupying the space of two football fields and costing a fraction of the price of standard nuclear plants. The Biden administration is also backing such technology as a tool of “mass decarbonization” for the United States.

Read the full story here

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Environment and Energy bills scheduled for votes in the NJ Assembly on Dec. 2, 2021

New Jersey Assembly Chamber in Trenton


The following bills are scheduled for consideration in the New Jersey Assembly on December 2, 2021

A2294 – Prohibits use of receipt paper containing bisphenol A.

A4393 – Increases maximum penalty for certain violations concerning asbestos hazard abatement; allocates moneys from increased penalties to asbestos programs.

A5016 – Establishes Water Apprenticeship, Training, and Resources Pilot Program in DOLWD.

A5033 – Authorizes motor vehicle dealers to sell motor vehicles online and obtain electronic signatures for motor vehicle transactions.

S83 – Establishes “Jersey Native Plants Program.”

A1580 – Establishes “Jersey Native Plants Program.”

S228 – Requires EDA to establish loan program for certain costs of electric-powered school bus purchases by local school districts and school bus contractors.

A1626 – Requires EDA to establish loan program for certain costs of electric-powered school bus purchases by local school districts and school bus contractors.

To view any of the above bills, paste their number into the Bill Search block in upper right corner

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Recycling picture in Philly is looking brighter

Recycling before being picked up on along Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.

In recent years, there hasn’t been a lot of good news about recycling. But Philly says it’s no longer mixing recycling with waste, and there’s renewed demand for plastic and cardboard.

By Frank Kummer Philadelphia Inquirer

Kyle Lewis, Philadelphia’s recycling program director, knows that residents were irked when Streets Department crews began mixing trash with recycling during the pandemic — the result of staff shortages and a big increase in residential waste as people spent more time at home. And they weren’t happy about the delays in pickup, either.

But the city is catching up.

Lewis said recycling pickups are largely back on track after extra hires were brought on and second shifts were added, though she concedes there still might be some rough patches. She encourages residents to call 311 to report any lingering issues.

“We’ve improved significantly,” Lewis said. “Right now, we’re on time with collections and about a half a day behind only in some areas in recycling. And so we definitely turned the corner, and are not mixing materials anymore.”

Lewis said that she knew the commingling of trash and recycling “was really frustrating for residents” and that she appreciates their patience. However, she fears that some gave up and are no longer recycling.

“We really want to encourage Philadelphians to continue to recycle,” Lewis said.

Recycling costs are down

One big positive: It’s costing the city less to recycle. During the height of the pandemic, Philadelphia was paying about $100 a ton to have its recycling processed. Now, it’s paying $68 to $70.

“Costs have gone down significantly,” Lewis said, largely because the market for recycled plastics is growing again.

Read the full story here

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Did South Jersey celebrate departure of Oyster Creek nuclear energy plant too soon?

Hyundai joins Holtec in plan that could put small reactor at Oyster Creek

By Amanda Oglesby Asbury Park Press

A subsidiary of South Korean automaker Hyundai and the nuclear company Holtec International have partnered to build a nuclear plant prototype that could be placed in Lacey in the future.

Holtec International, the Camden-based company that is decommissioning the former Oyster Creek nuclear plant, announced the new partnership this week. The companies are working to build Holtec’s SMR-160 plant, a “small modular reactor” meant to reduce costs for nuclear power and re-energize nuclear’s place in electricity markets. 

Holtec International is seeking federal approval of a new nuclear reactor design, shown here. The company says the design is safer than many earlier reactor designs.
Holtec International’s new nuclear reactor design

Holtec expects its SMR-160 prototype to be complete by 2030. The company has also expressed interest in its Lacey property as the site for the prospective reactor. Other communities are also under consideration.

Across the nation, aging and expensive nuclear plants are being closed or bolstered with government subsidies to remain economically viable against competition from cheaper natural gas plants. Nuclear companies hope new designs in small modular reactors will provide an energy-generating alternative that is less expensive than traditional nuclear and carbon-free, a factor they hope will be an advantage over cheap, carbon-emitting natural gas plants.

The nuclear companies are also touting the emerging small modular reactor technology as more reliable than solar and wind power and safer than older, more complex nuclear reactor designs.

Lacey Mayor Peter Curatolo is pleased that Holtec is eyeing its Oyster Creek property for the prototype’s location. Watch the 2017 video for Curatolo speaking about plans for the township after the closing of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. 

“Anytime that there’s an expansion and the possibility of increasing employment in our town… I would support that,” he said. “I’m very comfortable with the level of security there and the level of federal oversight (of decommissioning) that continues… there at the plant location.”

Read the full story here

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New bill in Florida legislature would end solar net metering

By Kelsey Misbrener Solar Power World

Legislation filed November 22, 2021 in the Florida Legislature aims to end net metering for rooftop solar customers, effectively shutting down this key sector of the state economy and undermining energy freedom for tens of thousands of Floridians.

Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley introduced SB 1024, which aims to “revise and provide legislative findings relating to the redesign of net metering to avoid cross-subsidization of electric service costs between classes of ratepayers” and require the Public Service Commission to propose new net metering rules that comply with specified criteria by a certain date; while authorizing certain customers who own or lease renewable generation before a specified date to remain under the existing net metering rules for a specified time.

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National and state solar advocates are calling on lawmakers to reject this legislation and allow the state’s rooftop solar market to continue growing.

“This is a tired tactic that utilities have used to maintain their monopoly grip on electricity markets. Net metering is a popular program that gives people the right to choose the energy that works for them, provides benefits to all ratepayers and creates thousands of energy jobs across Florida. The bill is another of a long line of cynical efforts carried out in the state of Florida at the behest of monopoly utilities to the detriment of Florida residents,” said Will Giese, southeast regional director for SEIA, in a statement.

Read the full story here

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