“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity”
Aug 30, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet detailed her energy policies as the Democratic presidential nominee. AP
LLAW’s NUCLEAR ISSUES & COMMENTS, Friday, (08/30/2024)
I hesitated to highlight this New York Post article concerning Trump and his so-called “Platform” on nuclear energy because it scares me half to death should he actually be elected. So I am relying on my absolute belief that Trump will go the way of the Dodo bird, losing by a landslide to Kamala Harris.
I have to laugh that right out of the box the headline says Trump says he will make electricity cheap, llolloll! He says he will do it by making electricity cheap with ‘hundreds of new power plants’ and modular nuclear reactors. That remark is pure insanity, and Trump will be long deceased before a single new plant ever comes online, and if ever happens the cost of electricity will continue to skyrocket because the price of uranium fuel alone will be just one of many mind-boggling expenses. As usual, Trump simply spouts noise and untruths every time he opens his mouth. I believe he is menace to the future of the world . . .
But I must say ‘all things nuclear’ have nothing to do with preventing global warming/climate change, and nuclear issues are nothing to be fibbing about nor playing political games with. Yet the deceitful promises of ‘clean’ energy, along with “threats” of nuclear war are delivered from the 9 nuclear armed countries to the media all around the globe every day, but it will only take one truth behind the lie to create nuclear war, aka World War III, which will end all wars — as well as virtually all life on a dying Mother Earth. ~llaw
Trump vows to make electricity cheap with ‘hundreds of new power plants’ and modular nuclear reactors
By
Steven Nelson and
Published Aug. 29, 2024
Updated Aug. 29, 2024, 6:42 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump touted plans Thursday to reduce electricity costs by quickly approving the construction of new power plants and spurring the deployment of small modular reactors for nuclear energy — saying it would unleash an economic boom.
Trump, 78, said that more electricity would tame inflation and meet the future energy needs of artificial intelligence.
“To achieve this rapid reduction in energy costs, I will declare a national emergency to allow us to dramatically increase energy production, generation and supply, which Comrade Kamala has destroyed,” the Republican presidential nominee said at a rally in Potterville, Mich.
“Starting on day one, I will approve new drilling, new pipelines, new refineries, new power plants, new reactors and we will slash the red tape. We will get the job done. We will create more electricity, also for these new industries that can only function with massive electricity.”
Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt previewed the plans on a morning press call, saying, “In the future, every manufacturing plant, every data center, every semiconductor facility and assembly line will want to be built in America — because America will be the place where the cost of energy is lower than anywhere else on Earth.”
President Trump will address his energy policies during a Thursday afternoon visit to swing-state Pennsylvania, where he has frequently campaigned.Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock
The 45th president laid out his energy vision — including tapping domestic reserves of oil and gas and easing regulation of vehicle efficiency — in a swing-state area where cars are made while slamming Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ record as vice president.
“Between soaring demand and retiring coal, we are facing a great capacity shortfall of at least 30% by 2032,” Bernhardt said. “You should ask Harris [and Tim] Walz how they are going to make up for that shortfall under their net zero vision. I submit to you they can’t.”
One new aspect of the Trump energy plan is the boost to nuclear energy, which currently makes up 18.6% of US electricity production — far behind natural gas (43.1%), and only narrowly ahead of coal (16.2%) and wind (10.2%).
Billionaire-led nuclear boom
Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) are not currently in commercial use in the United States and none are scheduled to open before 2030 — though advocates of the technology, including billionaire Bill Gates, whose company TerraPower is behind that inaugural facility in Wyoming, think they can reshape the industry.
The current timeline means that — at least as of now — no small modular reactors would be in commercial use until after a second Trump term, said Daniel Kammen, a professor of nuclear engineering at the University of California at Berkeley.
“Nuclear SMR proponents will say this is the brave, bright new wave for nuclear power and these private sector operators are going to essentially do for nuclear what they seem to have done for space launches,” Kammen said.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is working to open the first commercial small modular reactor for nuclear power.via REUTERS
Still, “the number of barriers in design to protect public safety that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission runs means even a massively pro-nuclear president would have a hugely difficult time stepping through those,” the prof said.
Advocates believe modular technology could pave the way to faster and cheaper deployment of nuclear power as an environmentally friendly alternative to high-emissions sources — and outgoing President Biden also has supported research into SMR use.
The major differences between conventional nuclear power plants and SMRs is the power-production capacity — with “small” facilities with cores roughly the size of an 18-wheeler truck generating less electricity.
“There are effectively SMRs operating around the world. Russia delivers nuclear-powered icebreakers to its Arctic cities and then they take the power directly off of that boat. We have nuclear aircraft carriers,” Kammen said.
“If someone really cut away legislation and regulation, you certainly could” deploy them commercially, he added — warning, however, that nuclear technology comes with significant potential risks including human operator-caused disasters.
“The technology of this size has existed for decades,” Kammen said. “These are just machines that are tailored for commercial use.”
Smaller-scale reactors would in theory allow for greater adoption — as has been the case with solar energy, which has grown to produce 3.9% of US electricity thanks in part to increased affordability of solar panels associated with higher production volume, Kammen said.
Steve Milloy, a senior fellow at the Energy & Environment Institute who previously served on Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transition team, said the 45th president seems to be putting “more emphasis now on nuclear” than during his term of office.
“More work is going to be needed than just that [with] the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He’s also going to have to change how EPA regulates radiation exposures. So I think all that stuff is doable,” he told The Post.
Milloy posited that Republicans have warmed up to nuclear power because it could help counter Democrats on the issue of climate change.
“They want to dodge talking about climate, which I think is ridiculous,” he said. “I mean, they should beat Harris-Walz over the head with climate, especially in Pennsylvania. So they talk about energy solutions [instead],” he said.
Reversing green policies
The former president’s campaign also restated a raft of familiar pro-fossil fuel policies — including easing domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal while trashing policies intended to phase out vehicles that use gasoline and diesel fuel.
Milloy contended that one of Trump’s most significant energy proposals is his mantra of “drill baby, drill,” which he argued would “unleash the US oil and gas industry.” He also cautioned that Trump could run into roadblocks with the EPA.
“EPA is famous for its resistance that developed during the Trump administration — the first one. Those guys slow up things, sabotage them, and Trump’s going to have to appoint strong agency leaders that understand the resistance, and know how to combat the resistance,” he said.
Under the Harris-Biden administration, the federal government imposed a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal land, axed construction of the KeyStone XL oil pipeline from Canada and forbade drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Trump had criticized Harris’ past support for a fracking ban.
Harris, 59, has not laid out her energy policies in detail but previously supported bans on fracking and a complete phase-out of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Her aides have distanced her from both of those pledges, though the veep has yet to do so herself.
Trump has vowed to claw back at least some of the $369 billion in environmental funding included in Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which Republicans argue has contributed to inflation — which has surged 20% since Biden took office in January 2021.
“Energy isn’t part of the economy, it’s the heart of the economy, and if the energy costs increase, everything increases,” American Energy Institute CEO Jason Isaac told The Post.
Democrats have defended themselves from blame over energy prices by pointing out that domestic crude oil production hit an all-time high last year.
“Go back and look at [Energy Information Administration] projections well before the Biden administration took office,” Bernhardt said in pushing back. “What you would see is that the projections far exceeded today’s current production. And so, while production has increased, the reality is that’s actually below what would have occurred under the policies of President Trump.
“So they can take credit for missing the mark.”
Subscribed
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’S ALL THINGS NUCLEAR” RELATED MEDIA:
There are 7 categories, with the latest addition, (#7) being a Friday weekly roundup of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) global nuclear news stories. Also included is a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives. The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
- All Things Nuclear
- Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Power Emergencies
- Nuclear War
- Nuclear War Threats
- Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There are no Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in this evening’s Post.)
- IAEA Weekly News (Friday’s only)
Whenever there is an underlined link to a Category media news story, if you press or click on the link provided, you no longer have to cut and paste to your web browser, since this Post’s link will take you directly to the article in your browser.
A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
TODAY’S NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS, Friday, (08/30/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Nuclear Power in the Modern Age – Yahoo Finance
Yahoo Finance
In this podcast, Motley Fool host Ricky Mulvey caught up with Oklo CEO Jake DeWitte for a conversation about: … To catch full episodes of all The …
Nuclear Power in the Modern Age – AOL.com
AOL.com
All things we’ve done, all of which helped radically change how much it costs to take new technologies to market in a very favorable way and …
U.N. Agency Issues Fresh Warning Over Iranian Nuclear Activities – WSJ
The Wall Street Journal
… Things with Kim Strassel · Potomac Watch Podcast · Foreign Edition … all-out regional war. Iran has massively expanded its nuclear program …
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Switzerland moves to remove ban on new reactors – World Nuclear News
World Nuclear News
… nuclear power plants, which has been in place since 1 January 2018. It said all clean energy sources will be needed to meet expected electricity …
Update 247 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
International Atomic Energy Agency
… Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where nuclear safety and security remains precarious. It will be the fifth time that the Director General crosses the …
New Swiss nuclear dawn seen decades away at best | Reuters
Reuters
… nuclear power plant KKW Leibstadt behind the hydropower plant Eglisau in Rheinsfelden,. Steam rises from the cooling tower of the nuclear power plant …
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Cooper Nuclear Station implementing new notification system – MSC News
MSC News
(KLZA)–The Nebraska Public Power District’s Cooper Nuclear Station will soon be implementing the use of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s …
Two nuclear power plant units were disconnected during Russia’s August 26 attack, Ukraine …
Euromaidan Press
… emergency power outages. According to the communication, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure …
Trump vows to make electricity cheap with ‘hundreds of new power plants‘ and modular … – NY Post
NY Post
Trump vows to make electricity cheap with ‘hundreds of new power plants’ and modular nuclear reactors … emergency to allow us to dramatically …
Nuclear War
NEWS
Kim Jong Un Prepares For “Nuclear War” Over Massive US Troop Deployment – YouTube
YouTube
Kim Jong Un Prepares For “Nuclear War” Over Massive US Troop Deployment | From The Frontline The United States and South Korea held massive …
Grossi to visit Zaporizhzhia, warns security situation remains ‘extremely challenging’
World Nuclear News
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for a fifth time, …
The only threat to Europe’s nuclear security is russian aggression against our country
Кабінет Міністрів України
This week, russia, which systematically violates the norms of international humanitarian law and nuclear safety and security regulations, …
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Russia Stays Unfazed by U.S. Nuclear Threats: Intelligence Chief – Sri Lanka Guardian
Sri Lanka Guardian
Russia Stays Unfazed by U.S. Nuclear Threats: Intelligence Chief. The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced earlier in May that …
The only threat to Europe’s nuclear security is russian aggression against our country
Кабінет Міністрів України
… war, but also to fundamental principles of the safety of nuclear facilities. … In order to avoid risks and threats to nuclear safety, it is necessary …
Kursk Nuclear Power Plant: The Newest Target for Russian Disinformation – RUSI
RUSI
… attack would not meaningfully threaten Russian energy production. Gorchakov notes that, outside of the Kursk Oblast, any Russian loss of energy …
IAEA Weekly News
30 August 2024
Read the top news and updates published on IAEA.org this week.
30 August 2024
Climate-Smart Agriculture Enables Asian Farmers to Increase Rice Productivity
Farmers in six Asian countries have used nuclear derived climate-smart agricultural practices and significantly increased their rice yields with the help of the IAEA and the FAO. Read more →
29 August 2024
Update 247 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will next week travel to Ukraine to hold high-level talks and assess developments at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where nuclear safety and security remains precarious. Read more →
28 August 2024
Understanding Human Calorie Needs: IAEA Supports FAO and WHO
For the first time the IAEA is to help United Nations nutrition experts reevaluate human energy requirements: a key input for assessing global hunger that was last evaluated in 2001. Read more →
27 August 2024
Mozambique is Prioritizing Cancers Affecting Women and Children
The sub-Saharan African country of Mozambique is currently experiencing a high burden of infectious disease coupled with a growing burden of non-communicable diseases including cancer. Read more →
26 August 2024
IAEA Director General Statement on Kursk Nuclear Power Plant
Given the serious situation, I am personally leading the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in the Russian Federation. The safety and security of all nuclear power plants is of central and fundamental concern to the IAEA. Read more →