Miami Herald: Concern raised over nuclear waste storage at Turkey Point

Nuclear regulators are questioning spent-fuel issues at Turkey Point as FLorida Power & Light squeezes more waste into holding pools.

BY JOHN DORSCHNER
jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com


The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has called a special meeting next week to discuss three apparent violations involving a spent-fuel pool at Turkey Point -- a critical issue as the long-held plans for storing waste in Nevada have collapsed.

Technically, the meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday involves the degradation of ``a neutron-absorbing material called Boraflex in the Unit 3 spent-fuel pool.''

Used nuclear fuel has been building up at Turkey Point for the 35 years of its operation.

The degradation involves systems intended to cram more spent fuel into the pools, according to Lawrence King, a former NRC inspector.

More than two million pounds of waste now sit at the South Miami-Dade site in pools of water -- although Florida Power & Light spokesman Michael Waldron says it's more accurate to think of the spent rods as occupying a 16-foot cube if bunched together

Read more: miamiherald.com

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From Florida Today: Job-killing mistake; Legislature's failure on farsighted energy policy hurting Florida's future

State lawmakers are halfway through a legislative session they say is all about creating jobs.  But when it comes to passing a comprehensive energy policy to make Florida a major player in renewable energy, they’re failing miserably.  That’s a job-killing mistake that’s preventing the creation of new businesses and industries, and Florida will pay a steep economic price unless they change course.  It’s particularly harmful to the Space Coast, where 9,000 NASA workers at Kennedy Space Center may lose their jobs with the shuttle fleet’s retirement and cancellation of the Constellation moon program.  Their high-technology skills make them a perfect fit for the solar, biomass, wind and other renewable industries taking root, an industry that grew three times faster than the U.S. economy in 2007.

There’s also a local foothold:

Florida Power & Light’s new $78.9 million solar power project on 60 acres of old citrus field south of the KSC Visitor Complex. It’s one of three solar plants the company is building in Florida and has already created 100 jobs.

Lawmakers block action

But Republican lawmakers consumed with wrong-headed moves to open the state’s coasts to oil drilling, or who contend that state government shouldn’t take a major role in building a renewable energy market, are blocking action.

That’s sending businesses to other states and nations at a time when Florida — with a 12.2 percent unemployment rate, a 35-year high — should be pulling out the stops to plug in.

For example, eight renewable energy companies that have expressed an interest in Brevard County say they won’t come unless the state moves forward, says Lynda Weatherman, CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

Another casualty is a FPL proposal to build a much larger, 100-megawatt solar plant at KSC.

That could bring 1,000 temporary construction jobs and 50 long-term science and engineering jobs here. The facility also could become a hub to attract companies that manufacture solar components.

more on Florida Today (highly recommend the read)

 

Miami-Dade looks into tax financing of solar for homeowners

Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson pushed a piece of legislation through the Commission calling on the Mayor to develop the "Berkeley model" for renewable energy financing.  Basically a person who lives in an area offering this type of service (currently the City of Berkeley and Palm Springs County, California, Boulder Colorado and a couple other places in the country) can "op-in" to a taxing district like you have for street lights or landscape maintenance.  But instead of mowing the commons of a development, the property owner can use funds to install solar or do major efficiency enhancements like super-efficient windows or an A/C or cool roof and pay back the loan through an assessment on their tax bill.

The resolution calls for a plan to come back for the legislative body's review in three months.

You can read the resolution here

and if you really want a glimpse of what nonsense the Board of County Commissioners can be, watch how long the "debate" dragged out because perennial opponent to Sorenson - Natash Sejas tried to kill the idea and ended up voting against the item along with allies Diaz and Martinez: Video  and click on item 11A9 on the left.

County developing sustainability plan - comments wanted on first report

Miami-Dade County is developing a comprehensive sustainability plan. Hopefully it will go from plan to action instead of a shelf collecting organic dust.

I won't let the pessimist in me rule the day, so I'll be one to dig into the report and send some comments.  The County released an "assessment report" a couple weeks ago and is looking for comments ASAP.  Please take a look at the site and see what you think, let them know if you like the measures they're using to determine "where we are" and send ideas on what you want to see in the report if it isn't there.

Climate change and energy are two major subject areas in the report.

miamidade.gov/greenprint/milestone_one.asp

Here's some additional info from the County's Sustainability office:

Please note that the purpose of the Assessment Report is to identify how County residents / businesses / governments / organizations are doing with regard to sustainability (environmental/economic/social equity) issues and to identify existing challenges.   In addition to trying to get a snapshot of where things stand with regard to sustainability, the function of the Assessment Report is also to identify metrics that can be used in the future to  assess how much (or how little) progress we make each year with regard to identified challenges.

The purpose of the Assessment Report is not to set goals or decide which initiatives should be a priority  – these will be different steps of the sustainability plan process, and we will be requesting public input for these steps in the future.

Miami-Dade College PV installation and design workshops - January 15, 16, 22, 23

Workshops for basic and now advanced photovoltaic installation and design are available again at Miami-Dade College through the Earth Ethics Institute.  Classes from January 15 through the 23rd.  Visit their site for details and how to register: www.earthethicsinstitute.org/pvworkshops.asp