PPL energy conservation plan sparks debate

Debate is heating up regarding a PPL proposal to charge customers $246 million over four years to implement energy conservation programs mandated by the state. The plan, which would cost the typical residential customer about $24 a year beginning in December, will be the subject of a 6 p.m. public hearing Thursday at Bethlehem City Council Chambers. It is the only public hearing scheduled for the proposal, which will affect all of PPL's residential and business customers in Pennsylvania. The added cost is in addition to a 30 percent rate hike customers are expected to see in 2010 when state-imposed caps on electric rates expire.

The Morning Call

Exelon terminates offer to acquire NRG Energy

Exelon Corporation has terminated its offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of NRG Energy, Inc. Both the companies are based in the US. Exelon is engaged in the distribution of electricity and gas, while NRG is a wholesale power generation company. Exelon has terminated its offer in light of the proxy vote results announced today at the NRG annual meeting.

Trading Markets

Peach Bottom Station Environmental Monitoring Program Identifies Tritium On-site

Peach Bottom nuclear plant workers performing environmental monitoring this week identified tritium in a localized area on plant property. The tritium was identified on July 8 from a sample that was drawn on July 6. “This is not a public or employee health and safety issue, but we are committed to being open about the status of our plant operations,” said Peach Bottom Site Vice President Bill Maguire.

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NRC launches special probe of Oyster Creek outage

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has started a special investigation into an emergency shutdown of the nation's oldest nuclear power plant.

Over the weekend, the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station had to shut down when severe thunderstorms knocked out power to the area.

The NRC said Thursday it is trying to determine whether problems with equipment, communication or operator performance contributed to the problem.

Philly.Com

New drug offers radiation protection

A drug developed with Pentagon approval offers protection from radiation in the event of a nuclear attack, U.S. and Israeli researchers said.

The medication could offer effective protection in the event of nuclear or dirty bomb attacks, an exclusive report published Friday in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth said.

The drug developed by Professor Andrei Gudkov may affect the future balance of world powers, the paper said, and will offer cancer sufferers better protection as they undergo radiation treatment.

United Press International

Yucca Mountain reopens nuclear waste debate

The withdrawal of Nevada's Yucca Mountain as a potential nuclear waste repository has reopened the debate over how and where to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste. In an article in the July 10 issue of Science, University of Michigan geologist Rodney Ewing and Princeton University nuclear physicist Frank von Hippel argue that, although federal agencies should set standards and issue licenses for the approval of nuclear facilities, local communities and states should have the final approval on the siting of these facilities. The authors propose the development of multiple sites that would service the regions where nuclear reactors are located. "The main goal . . . should be to provide the United States with multiple alternatives and substantial public involvement in an open siting and design process that requires acceptance by host communities and states," the authors write.

Spero News

Peach Bottom plant cited by NRC

A control-room operator at the Peach Bottom nuclear plant spent 10 minutes reading a novel, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission alleges.

The violation of federal regulations came to light while the NRC was at the plant for an inspection prompted by a 2007 incident in which security guards at the plant were filmed sleeping in an off-duty room where they were allowed to rest but not sleep.

The latest incident occurred in July 2007, according to a notice of violation sent to Peach Bottom owner Exelon Generation on Thursday.

The control-room operator was seen by another Peach Bottom staffer reading the novel on a computer, according to the NRC.

Non-job-related materials are not permitted in the control room, and the use of computers is restricted to company-related work.

Lancaster Online