Hauling dangerous nuclear waste across America
Say NO to hauling dangerous nuclear waste across America, NIRS, 17 June 20 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is accepting comments on two proposals to build Consolidated Interim Storage (CIS) facilities in New Mexico and Texas. Building these so-called ‘interim’ sites would require hauling dangerous, high-level nuclear waste all over the country twice: Once to the ‘interim’ sites, then once again to the permanent site—if that is ever built. If the permanent site is not built, the ‘interim’ sites could become de-facto permanent storage sites. Communities in New Mexico and Texas would become the latest sacrifice to the nuclear industry.
We can’t allow this dangerous, high-level nuclear waste to be hauled around the country to storage sites that won’t be permanent solutions to our nuclear waste problem. Tell the NRC and your member of Congress to say NO to the CIS facilities in New Mexico and Texas….. https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5502/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=27069
Total renewable investment on renewable energy predicted to $16 trillion over the next decade – Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs says renewable-energy spending will surpass oil and gas for the first time ever in 2021 — and sees total investment spiking to $16 trillion over the next decade, Business Insider, 17 June 20,
- Green-energy investing will account for 25% of all energy spending in 2021 and, for the first time ever, surpass spending on traditional fuel sources like oil and gas, Goldman Sachs said in a Tuesday note.
- Should the US aim to hold global warming within 2 degrees Celsius, the pivot to renewable energy sources will create between $1 trillion and $2 trillion in yearly infrastructure spending, the team of analysts added, or an investment opportunity as big as $16 trillion through 2030.
- While past economic downturns halted efforts to lift clean energy initiatives, the coronavirus recession “will be different,” the firm said.
- Green technologies “are now mature enough to be deployed at scale,” and the transition can benefit massively from cheap capital and “an attractive regulatory framework,” according to Goldman.
The transition to renewable power from traditional fuels will create a $16 trillion investment opportunity through 2030 as spending shifts to new infrastructure, Goldman Sachs analysts said Tuesday.
The bank projects green-energy spending to pass that of oil and gas for the first time ever next year and account for roughly 25% of all energy spending. The share stood at just 15% in 2014, but a dive in fossil-fuel investing over the past decade shifted more dollars to clean energy initiatives.
If the nation aims to hold global warming within 2 degrees Celsius, the move toward renewable energy would create between $1 trillion and $2 trillion in yearly infrastructure spending, the team led by Michele Della Vigna wrote in a note to clients.
Economic downturns have historically slowed efforts to boost clean energy investing, but Goldman sees the coronavirus downturn bucking that trend and accelerating the nationwide pivot. …… https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/renewable-energy-trillion-investment-opportunity-surpass-oil-first-time-goldman-2020-6-1029318482
Enviro groups slam Morrison’s Covid Commission over false claims of consultation — RenewEconomy
A group of leading environmental groups slam NCCC head Nev Power for falsely claiming they had been consulted on Covid-19 economic response. The post Enviro groups slam Morrison’s Covid Commission over false claims of consultation appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Enviro groups slam Morrison’s Covid Commission over false claims of consultation — RenewEconomy
“Impacts of Climate Change on Nuclear Safety and Supply Security”
Nuclear Risk & Public Control (accessed) 17th June 2020, Nuclear & Climate** Currently nuclear energy promoters are trying to make use the climate crisis for their goals by claiming that nuclear energy is a solution. But can nuclear energy contribute to a decarbonized future? Rather the contrary: climate change poses new challenges and risks to the operation of nuclear power plants, increasing nuclear risk and challenging supply security. In this Joint Project – Nuclear Risk & Public Control webinar we presented our new working paper “Impacts of Climate Change on Nuclear
Safety and Supply Security”. A report of the webinar can be downloaded here.
Julian Assange in Limbo, by Patrick Cockburn — Rise Up Times
“The WikiLeaks documents exposed the way the US, as the world’s sole superpower, really conducted its wars – something that the military and political establishments saw as a blow to their credibility and legitimacy.”
via Julian Assange in Limbo, by Patrick Cockburn — Rise Up Times
Time to ‘Reinvest in People’ and ‘Cut Weapons of War’: Barbara Lee Unveils Plan to Cut Up to $350 Billion From Pentagon — limitless life
Time to ‘Reinvest in People’ and ‘Cut Weapons of War’: Barbara Lee Unveils Plan to Cut Up to $350 Billion From Pentagon “Redundant nuclear weapons, off-books spending accounts, and endless wars in the Middle East don’t keep us safe.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer 68 Comments Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) puts on a mask during […]
Let them eat weapons: Trump’s bizarre arms race — IPPNW peace and health blog
The Trump administration has followed through on its promise to pour American tax dollars into the arms race through a vast expansion of the US military budget. Against a backdrop of economic and social collapse, plus potential global destruction, the obvious thing to do is to pull out of this immensely costly and bizarre arms race and, instead, foster arms control and disarmament agreements with other nations.
via Let them eat weapons: Trump’s bizarre arms race — IPPNW peace and health blog
Under Cover of Covid19 – New Nuclear Continues to Spread its Tentacles – even in Essex. —
ON 17 JUN 2020 BY MARIANNEWILDARTIN UNCATEGORIZEDEDIT A Message regarding Bradwell B – the New Nuclear Reactors Planned for EssexDear all,Japanese Against Nuclear UK and some other Japanese persons residing in the UK created and released the following press release yesterday (12th June)We kindly ask you to spread the word to anyone who you think would be interested. We also invite you […]
via Under Cover of Covid19 – New Nuclear Continues to Spread its Tentacles – even in Essex. —
June 17 Energy News — geoharvey
Science and Technology: ¶ “Australian Researchers Claim New Record For Direct ‘Solar-To-Hydrogen’ Solar Cells” • Australian researchers claimed a new world efficiency record for solar panels that can directly split water using sunlight. They were able to demonstrate 17.6% solar to hydrogen efficiency. The call reaching this an “unprecedented” milestone. [RenewEconomy] ¶ “Temperatures In India […]
Global reports call for renewables to lead a green recovery from Covid-19 — Work and Climate Change Report
Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019 was released on June 2 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), showing that “more than half of the renewable capacity added in 2019 achieved lower power costs than the cheapest new coal plants.” The analysis spans around 17,000 renewable power generation projects from around the world, and includes discussion of […]
World’s biggest renewables fund targets $23 billion investment, including Australia — RenewEconomy
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners launches what it believes will become the world’s largest renewable energy fund. The post World’s biggest renewables fund targets $23 billion investment, including Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via World’s biggest renewables fund targets $23 billion investment, including Australia — RenewEconomy
“Too late for gradual transition”: Quiggin calls for coal exit by 2030 — RenewEconomy
A new research paper spells out benefits of a rapid coal phase-out and calls on governments to develop a plan for the transition. The post “Too late for gradual transition”: Quiggin calls for coal exit by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via “Too late for gradual transition”: Quiggin calls for coal exit by 2030 — RenewEconomy
Kimba farmer, neighbouring Napandee, stands firm against nuclear waste dump on agricultural land
Confidential Submission. National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020 [Provisions] Submission 37 Inquiry into National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment
I am a farmer residing and working on a cereal crop and sheep property near the nominated site Napandee, within the Kimba District Council region. I have a good understanding of the project and I remain strong in my opposition to the siting of a Radioactive Waste Management Facility on agricultural land. Please find following my response in relation to the site selected.
The site selection process declared that the location should not be on agricultural land. The Code for Disposal of Solid Radioactive Waste provided by ARPANSA clearly stated that the siting of a Radioactive Waste Management Facility should not be on agricultural land:
“Section 3.1.29 (a) the immediate vicinity of the facility has no known significant natural resources, including potentially valuable mineral deposits, and which has little or no potential for agriculture or outdoor recreational use.”
The National Radioactive Waste Management Facility, Nomination of Land Guidelines, November 2016 also clearly stated in Attachment A, Section A8 under the Community Well Being Objective the criteria: “Is the site located within an area that is likely to be expanded upon for community or industrial use or for natural/agricultural use in the foreseeable future”. The weighting to this criteria when taking site selection into consideration according to the guidelines was stipulated as “High”
Both these documents show that the facility should not be located on agricultural land, and yet the nominated site at Kimba is specifically located on a farm. Directly next to farming country, and entirely neighboured by productive farms.
That this part of the ruling is not being enforced is beyond me. It would be apparent to most people that under best practice the production of food should be separated from the production or storage of nuclear waste. That it is not the case in other countries does not provide adequate reason as to why Australia should lower their standards with regards to this.
It is imperative that this part of the legislation is upheld and made mandatory, rather than being optional. The increased focus globally on the production and storage of food shows that society values a clean green source of food highly and the scrutiny around this is ever increasing.
Lack of Broad Community Support. The requirement for broad community support has never been defined which has created chaos and confusion throughout the process. Neither the definition of community, nor the term “broad” were explained prior to any research being undertaken, so any suggestion of support or otherwise has been clearly manipulated to ensure the required outcome is achieved. The constantly moving goalposts throughout this project has been an obvious undertaking, so that opposition is selectively removed. The division and angst created through the district is genuine and has had devastating effects. It has bred an attitude of bullying and intimidation, resulting
in a strong feeling of mistrust throughout the community.
Project of Best Practice. I note that a recent development project of significant size occurring on the Eyre Peninsula has secured an Aboriginal Land Use Agreement (ALUA) showing genuine commitment to working with the Barngala people in an inclusive manner. It provides evidence that the Barngala people are not opposed to development within their region, and for the Australian Government to not be able to achieve a similar agreement with the Barngala people should be a significant red flag process to trample over the opinions of both the Barngala people and the South Australian people. In
the attempts of best practice, ensuring that the South Australian law prohibiting the storage of nuclear material is upheld (not overridden) and that the unanimous opposition shown by the local indigenous community is acknowledged (not overridden) this site should have been removed as a contender. While overriding these things is possible, it clearly does not support the attitude of a “best practice” approach.
If the government was genuinely focussed on best practice, there would be a good explanation as to why the Leonora, WA site has been continually disregarded. I can only feel that there is a political agenda being pushed here, rather than a genuine effort to find a permanent solution.
Australian government has spent not one sent on finding a permanent solution for ANSTO’s nuclear waste
Kazzi Jai Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste In The Flinders Ranges, 16 June 20,
Remember that NOT ONE CENT has been spent to find a permanent disposal site for the Intermediate Waste – not ONE!
FORTY YEARS and NOT ONE CENT!
What does THAT tell about this current proposal? That the “promised 30 years +” is somewhat fanciful at best for dealing with the “tag-a-long” Intermediate Level Nuclear Waste at best!
STRANDED WASTE would more aptly describe it! And it becomes SOLELY SA’s responsibility and liability..
…
Oh, and the permanent disposal of the Low Level Nuclear Waste using concrete encasement is meant to hold and contain that Low Level Waste WITHOUT BREACH for 300 years? With our conditions and environment…ALL ABOVE GROUND??
Remember that the sites were chosen by LANDOWNER NOMINATION – not for the VERY BEST GEOLOGY!!
And the ONLY SIDE we have heard from is the Government with a VESTED INTEREST in making this happen.
But the main problem with the Legislation being amended at the moment is that NO-ONE and I mean NO-ONE can debate and perhaps stop a dump being built and a site being selected, based on incorrect assumptions.. That is against our freedoms and rights as Australian citizens to debate and put forward conflicting information and viewpoints to that of the Government.
Don’t get too smug about it – it means that ANOTHER dump can THEN be built anywhere else in Australia upon the Government’s mood without debate…..Let’s see…Rockhampton seems like a nice place for a nuclear dump….or Cradle Mountain….or Uluru….
Scott Morrison gives a boost to uranium mining at Olympic Dam
Poor old BHP. My heart bleeds! The so-called “Big Australian” (about 70% owned by overseas interests), is so poor that it’s had to get exemptions from just about every regulation that matters. The SA Roxby Downs Indenture Act legislation allows the mine to operate with 
wide-ranging exemptions from the Aboriginal Heritage Protection Act, the Environment Protection Act, the Natural Resources Act, and the Freedom of Information Act. There are constant problems with tailings such as ongoing seepage and large numbers of bird deaths.
Probably worst of all, BHP plans to increase extraction of precious Great Artesian Basin water to an average 50 million litres per day for the next 25 years, with likely serious adverse impacts on the unique and fragile Mound Springs ‒ which are listed as an Endangered Ecological Community and are of significant cultural importance to Aboriginal people.
Olympic Dam expansion on fast track,e InDaily, 15 June 20
The Olympic Dam expansion is being fast-tracked as part of a Federal Government plan to boost employment and reduce the length and severity of the coronavirus-induced recession.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to today announce $1.5 billion to immediately start work on priority projects identified by the states and territories…….
BHP is proposing for a staged increase in copper production at Olympic Dam from 200,000 to up to 350,000 tonnes per annum.
The expansion has been granted Major Development status by the state government …. https://indaily.com.au/news/2020/06/15/olympic-dam-expansion-on-fast-track/
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