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A logical evolution as an industry ‘matures’. The Wyoming legislature has just passed a $1 per Megawatt generation tax on windfarms in existence for 3 years or more. With double depreciation and federal subsidies for implementation completing, it’s logical to apply this measure as that state does on energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil production. Since it was proposed by the governor, it will likely be signed. The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency estimated in 2008 that wind receives $23.37 in federal subsidies per megawatt hour. So Wyoming is only asking for 4.3% of what is given to the operators by every US taxpayer. Let windpower stand on its own feet. Three local leaders (Tri-City Herald, Feb 19, 2010) are advancing concern about violation of law with regard to the present federal administration’s canceling of funding for Yucca Mountain nuclear material storage licensing. Missing from this gray cloud observation is the silver lining that the US now has an opportunity to revise all used nuclear fuel policies. The national commercial used nuclear fuel inventory can now be considered for re-cycling in order to gain a majority portion of the 95% remaining energy available. This concept was missing from the position of the leaders. Hanford has 2100 metric tons of government used fuel and several hundred tons of commercial fuel in area inventory, sufficient to continue closed cycle electrical generation for decades. But, this option requires forward thinking about our long term energy needs rather than whining about something that is not causing harm in current storage. An interesting visual effect of US unemployment since 2007 has been provided by the American Observer. It is a month to month change in county unemployment rates, 2007-2009. Take a look. The American Nuclear Society has been a long standing advocate of the safe societal progress of using nuclear energy. The following noteworthy position statements (pdf) were released in November of 2009. Utilization of Surplus Weapons Plutonium As Mixed Oxide Fuel (Revised November 2009) Great idea! Use the energy of this national and international treasure for societal benefit. Nonproliferation (Revised November 2009) An obvious reality. Hysterical policy of ‘once-through’ nuclear power fuel has not stopped proliferation. It has only defeated US progress while responsible countries are re-cycling used fuel. Creation of an Independent Entity to Manage U.S. Used Nuclear Fuel (New November 2009) Base the management on engineering, science, and regulatory and national security requirements. Remove it from the political realm that has defeated progress for 30 years. There are doubts about Dept. of Energy Sec. Chu regarding support to nuclear energy. Nearly all of his public actions to date have lacked focus related to this. However, Sec. Chu sent a letter to the White House’s OMB in December 2009 complaining about the [OMB] recommendation to curtail advanced reactor research and implementation. Is the OMB independent or is it listening to the President? Based on Chu’s rant, the OMB is working counter to the DOE and the necessary efforts to have a full portfolio of useful solutions for energy and used nuclear fuel streams. Several commentators* have picked up on this internal high level dirty laundry. Put together with other contradictory messages from the White House (http://kandg.org/WPBlogger/?p=272), one could consider the present administration to be governing in a Byzantine** manner. *http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/2429274/posts **of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation <a Byzantine power struggle> b : intricately involved : labyrinthine <rules of Byzantine complexity> |
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