German Green Party Fudge Facts to Fast-Track Shutdown🚨

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This is what we got for you this week:

• German Green Party Fudge Facts to Fast-Track Shutdown🚨

• G7 Summit Boosts Nuclear🌱

• NRC Rule Speeds Up Reviews, Slashes Costs by 45%💲

• Restart in Store: Tarapur Reactors Revived for Another Decade⚛️

German Green Party Fudge Facts to Fast-Track Shutdown🚨

German officials reportedly manipulated documents to hasten the phase-out of nuclear power, according to a report by Cicero. Key figures from Germany's Green party and officials from the economics and environment ministries are accused of falsifying expert reports, thus misinforming Economics Minister Robert Habeck. For instance, an altered note from the Environment Ministry in 2022 falsely argued against extending nuclear plant operations for safety reasons, despite expert advice suggesting their viability. Cicero criticizes the Green party leaders in these ministries for ignoring expert guidance and pushing for the nuclear shutdown. Despite this, there is potential for reactivating at least five German nuclear plants, with parties like CDU and CSU expressing intentions to revive nuclear energy if they gain power.

G7 Summit Boosts Nuclear🌱

At the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Climate, Energy, and Environment in Turin, nuclear industry leaders from G7 and other countries emphasized nuclear energy's crucial role in climate mitigation, as recognized at COP28 and the recent Nuclear Energy Summit. They highlighted the nuclear sector's ability to provide continuous low-carbon electricity and support decarbonization in various sectors. The associations commended past support and funding commitments from G7 nations for nuclear expansion and urged clear governmental plans for nuclear deployment to meet COP28 targets. They advocated for extending the life of existing reactors, restarting shut-down units, deploying new technologies, and ensuring nuclear energy is included in global finance mechanisms as a sustainable investment. They stressed the importance of G7 leadership in nuclear policy, finance, and supply chain development to enhance global energy security and climate goals.

NRC Rule Speeds Up Reviews, Slashes Costs by 45%💲

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a rule to streamline environmental reviews for new fission reactor licenses, which could cut costs by up to 45%. This rule, applicable to future reactor applications, is based on the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Generic Environmental Impact Statement (ANR GEIS). It simplifies the process by using generic environmental impacts for reactors that meet specific site and design criteria, distinguishing between minor environmental issues covered by generic guidelines and more significant issues requiring detailed site-specific analysis. The rule aims to allow applicants, NRC staff, and stakeholders to focus primarily on specific environmental concerns. NRC Secretary Carrie Safford noted that the ANR GEIS should be reviewed every 10 years and suggested possible title changes to better reflect its scope. The new rule will not cover near-term fusion systems, which will follow a separate regulatory framework.

Nuclear Nuggets:

Reactor 1 and 2 of India's Tarapur Atomic Powerplant, shutdown in 2020, to be restarted for an additional 10 years of operation.

Support for Nuclear Power rise to more than 60% in Finland.

Russia’s worst flooding in decades has submerged Soviet-era uranium mines in the Urals.

Meme of the week: