Fukushima Chronicles, the Continuing Saga - GE Mark 1 Reactors in the United States and the Costs of Nuclear Power

Update: Nov 3, 2011 Apparently another explosion in Fukushima, Reactor #2. It is reported the mass is critical, again. http://enformable.com/2011/11/breaking-fukushima-daiichi-did-unit-2-just-blow-a-hole-in-the-side-photos/

Report from Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-01/tepco-says-nuclear-fission-possible-at-fukushima-plant-2-.html

"“Melted fuel in the No. 2 reactor may have undergone a sustained process of nuclear fission or re-criticality,” Tetsuo Ito, the head of Kinki University’s Atomic Energy Research Institute, said by phone. “The nuclear fission should be containable by injecting boron into the reactor to absorb neutrons.”"

"It’s possible there are similar reactions occurring in the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the other cores damaged at the station," Matsumoto said.

The former Fukushima Daiichi #3 Reactor Oct 8, 2011, side view.

The former Fukushima Daiichi #3 Reactor Oct 8, 2011, overhead view.
(courtesy Cryptome Nuclear Power Plants and WMD Series http://cryptome.org/nppw-series.htm )

Official IAEA Fukushima Daiichi Status with radiation reports links: http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2011/fukushimareport271011.html

The continuing saga of the worlds greatest commercial nuclear reactor disaster. First up will be 3 videos by Fairewinds Associates on the Fukushima Reactor Disaster and the concern over the GE Mark 1 Reactors.

Oct 31,2011 update: Radiation Exposure to the Population in Japan After the Earthquake: APHA Link to Official Document
Radiation Exposure to Population, Confirmation of Hot Particles

Scientist Marco Kaltofen Presents Data Confirming Hot Particles from Fairewinds Associates on Vimeo.

Concerns Over the Mark 1 Reactors in the United States.


Updates on Fukushima video.

New TEPCO Photographs Substantiate Significant Damage to Fukushima Unit 3 from Fairewinds Associates on Vimeo.

Next, worker interviews at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Facility.


Costs of the nuclear renaissance from the Huffington Posts Green Blog:

"Despite buzz about a "nuclear renaissance," the industry has had trouble attracting private investment, and relies almost exclusively on government subsidies and support...exorbitant construction costs remain... PDF of a report by Senior Fellow at Yale University's Institute for Energy and the Environment Mark Cooper. "

"Meanwhile in the first quarter of 2011, renewable energy production in the U.S. surpassed nuclear for the first time. All signals point to significant growth in the solar and renewables markets over the next decade, while nuclear production has remained flat for years."

"Speaking at an American Nuclear Society conference in August 2011, John Rowe, CEO of Exelon, the country's largest nuclear utility said 3 of the 4 conditions necessary for expanding nuclear cannot be met. While newer designs offer the right technology, Rowe argues that the government has not resolved waste disposal issues. Additionally, there is currently excess generation capacity because the economic recession has slowed energy consumption. While this will likely change as we retire more coal plants and the economy grows, the influx of cheap natural gas from shale has undercut nuclear's higher prices."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-mannle/nuclear-energy-a-fuel-with_b_1032727.html 

A thought provoking editorial about radiation reporting from Huntington, WV
"Radiation Reporting: Blind, Idiotic, Corrupt — or All Three" http://www.huntingtonnews.net/12126

Will the TVA learn the lessons of Fukushima or ignore the lessons of disaster?