Energy

Show Only ...
Maps - Photos - Videos

C Stuart Hardwick’s answer to What happened to the radiation that was supposed to last thousands of years in Hiroshima (1945)?

|

C Stuart Hardwick’s answer to What happened to the radiation that was supposed to last thousands of years in Hiroshima (1945)?

"If you were expecting Hiroshima to be uninhabitable for thousands of years, you are (understandably, given the deplorable state of science education) making a whole bunch of errors in your understanding of radiation.

First of all, radiation isn’t magic death cooties. You and I are radioactive (traces of unstable potassium in our bones). My kitchen is radioactive (traces of unstable uranium in my granite countertop). If you have smoke detectors in your home (and you should) there’s a good chance they are radioactive (americium—quite, quite radioactive, but harmless unless you eat it or inhale it)."

Buoyed by State Aid, U.S. Nuclear Plant Still Fails at Auction

|

Buoyed by State Aid, U.S. Nuclear Plant Still Fails at Auction

Apparently in states where they don't hand out subsidies to nuclear plant operators like their Halloween candy, they aren't doing so hot.

"Exelon’s Three Mile Island station, scene of the worst accident in the history of U.S. commercial nuclear energy, may not be so lucky. After failing to clear at the past three PJM auctions, the plant is at risk of early retirement. It hasn’t made a profit in five years and remains “economically challenged” given the lack of federal or Pennsylvania energy policies that value zero-emissions nuclear power, the company said."

Short-Term Energy Outlook

|

Short-Term Energy Outlook

"For the 2017 summer driving season (April through September), U.S. regular gasoline retail prices are forecast to average $2.39/gallon (gal), compared with $2.23/gal last summer. The higher forecast gasoline price is primarily the result of higher forecast crude oil prices. The annual average price for regular gasoline in 2017 is forecast to be $2.34/gal, which, if realized, would result in the average U.S. household spending about $160 more on motor fuel in 2017 compared with 2016."

By 2020, every Chinese coal plant will be more efficient than every US coal plant

|

By 2020, every Chinese coal plant will be more efficient than every US coal plant

"The result is a report — authored by Melanie Hart, Luke Bassett, and Blaine Johnson — that offers the clearest picture yet of the big picture on coal in China. And a closer look, it turns out, utterly destroys the conservative argument. Far from sitting back and coasting while the US acts, China is waging an aggressive, multi-front campaign to clean up coal before eventually phasing it out — reducing emissions from existing plants, mothballing older plants, and raising standards for new plants. Unlike the US, it is on track to exceed its Paris carbon reduction commitments."

Platts Analytics

|

New Northeast US gas pipelines will be hard to fill: Platts Analytics

"A wave of new gas pipeline capacity is set to come online in the Northeast US before the end of 2017, but current drilling and output in the area suggests that producers are unlikely to meet transportation obligations. Luke Jackson evaluates the Rover, TCO Leach Xpress and TETCO Adair/Southwest/Lebanon projects and the chances that they will fill with new supply — before even more pipeline capacity is expected in the area in 2018 and 2019."