If Not Yucca, where?
There has been vigorous debate on the future of nuclear energy both domestically and abroad since Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. Regardless of whether the Japan crisis tempers supports for nuclear energy, U.S. policy makers will have to confront the challenges posed by the management and disposal of nuclear waste. Japan’s nuclear crisis could spur new momentum for the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository due to heightened concerns among the pubic and politicians related to the current storage of spent fuel at U.S. nuclear power plants. Currently, the majority of nuclear waste is stored at cooling pools that are similar to those at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan, and this fact is sparking debate on the safety of these pools.
Continue Reading...Support for nuclear persists but will the Japanese crisis instead kill negotiations over a clean energy standard?
Amidst the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, the Obama Administration and key Congressional leaders continue to express their support for nuclear energy. Energy Secretary Steven Chu testified this week that the Administration opposes a halt in licensing for nuclear plants, and he also reiterated support for the White House’s budget request of $36 billion in loan guarantees for new nuclear plants. At a National Energy Resources Organization luncheon, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, stated that it is “too premature to suggest the nuclear renaissance is dead.” Other key Congressional leaders, including House Energy and Natural Resources Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), have issued statements over the past several days signaling their continuing support for nuclear energy.
Continue Reading...EU Commission Roadmap: An 80% to 95% Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
On March 8th, the European Commission adopted “A Roadmap for Moving to a Competitive Low Carbon Economy in 2050” in which it proposed an 80% to 95% reduction of GHG emissions by 2050 from a 1990 baseline. The Commission thereby confirmed the European Council’s “Low Carbon 2050 Strategy” announced at its February Summit.
In order to reach this ambitious long-term target, the Commission recommended achieving transitional reductions across all GHG-intensive sectors: 20% by 2020, 40% by 2030 and 60% by 2040. The Commission nevertheless observed that the EU should be in a position to reduce up to 25% of its total GHG by 2020 provided (amongst others) that:
