Legalectric

How many nuclear plants near today’s earthquakes in the US?  Dominion’s North Anna nuclear plant is right there, and was shut down:

Dominion’s North Anna Nuclear Plant Loses Power After Quake

Quake raises safety concerns as US nuclear plant shut

Check the USGS site and you’ll be amazed how many earthquakes there are each day, but look at the U.S. for today, OH MY!

USGS EARTHQUAKE SITE HERE

Earthquake, a biggie, 5.9, today in Virginia, reported on the USGS site:

the epicenter is near Domion’s North Anna nuclear plant, Washington Post says they’re waiting to hear from Dominion about the status …and google for more info…

Also today, looking westward, a 5.3 in Colorado:

And the USGS details on that:

A little birdie asked a question about need for Susquehanna-Roseland recently, and got me thinking.  This PJM press release came out a while ago and I forgot to post it.  It’s a legit PJM press release with an astonishing and crucial and decidedly “against interest” admission:

THEY ARE NOT USING DEMAND RESPONSE TO REDUCE LOAD!!!

Well, that makes business sense, they’re there to sell power, why refrain from selling it if they can!  They’re also wanting to build more transmission, which they can’t do if they can’t prove need!  And what better way to prove need than having a record peak demand?  But we know what they’re doing…  How many MW do they have in demand response, DSM, interruptibles, demand reduction by any name?  How much lower would the peak demand be if they had used it as they should?

Here’s their press release:

PJM and members set new record for peak power use

And here’s that telling admission:

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

… once more with feeling…

Demand response was not called on to reduce load.

How dare they… and then to claim a “RECORD” peak demand…

Slowly but surely, Delmarva Power/PEPCO is admitting the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP) isn’t needed. We’ve weathered the weather, and they’re not even utilizing demand response, so where’s the need?  They’ve delayed this project, shortened it when they cut out the part through Delaware from Indian River Power Plant to the Salem nuclear plant, delayed and delayed, and now they’re REALLY delaying it, putting it off until at least 2019-2021.

Remember how the sky would fall and we’d be sweltering in the dark on a respirator without a job if this didn’t go through right away?  Well, guess again, and again, and again… the system is just fine, we can turn the lights on, we’re OK, and this line still isn’t needed and won’t be, probably ever!

MAPP PHI announces delay in project 8-19-11

From MAPP’s corporate parent, PEPCO Holdings Inc.:

As the Environmental Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP), I want to provide you with a brief update on the project.

As you may recall, MAPP is a proposed, high-voltage, electric transmission line that Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) plans to build, beginning in northern Virginia, crossing the southern and eastern shores of Maryland, and ending in Delaware.

I want you to know that PHI has notified the Maryland Public Service Commission and Virginia State Corporation Commission that the company is requesting temporary delays in the Commissions’ reviews of the respective applications filed by the utility’s subsidiaries, Pepco and Delmarva Power, for state regulatory approval of MAPP. These requests were filed after PJM Interconnection’s recent analyses indicated that the MAPP in-service date should be moved from 2015 to the 2019-2021 time frame. (PJM is the operator of the regional electric power grid).

However, PJM is also currently evaluating the criteria it uses to determine the need for transmission projects. Once this process is completed, PJM will reassess the need and timeline for transmission expansion in the region.

At this time, PHI will review the work required to support MAPP based on the new in-service date, and will keep you informed on subsequent developments regarding this project.

Please be assured that PHI and PJM are dedicated to maintaining the reliability of this region’s transmission system, and will continue to analyze the need for new transmission projects that provide safe and reliable service for customers.

For additional information about MAPP, please visit the project website at www.powerpathway.com or contact me via phone at 302-283-6115 or e-mail at mark.okonowicz@pepcoholdings.com.

Also, members of our MAPP team would be happy to meet with you in person to discuss the project. Please let me know if you would like to have a meeting scheduled.

Sincerely,
Mark Okonowicz
MAPP – Environmental Coordinator

There a link on the Press Release to a PJM letter:

PJM’s MAPP Letter to PEPCO

The MAPP transmission project is needing a DOE EIS because they’re getting DOE funding for it.  What’s the status on that?  D-E-L-A-Y… delay delay delay…

DOE’s Key EIS Schedule

The MAPP EIS doesn’t seem to be happening… The DOE site says that it was to be released next month, or maybe December, but rumor has it that the DOE is waiting on info from the applicants… delay delay delay… and in the meantime, the DOE is still accepting (sounds like REQUESTING) Comments:

Community and Environmental Defense Services states that:  While the Scoping comment period ended April 4, 2011, DOE will continue accepting comments, which should be directed to:

Douglas Boren
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC–54)
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585
Douglas.Boren@hq.doe.gov
Fax: 202–586–7031
202–287–5346

Again, contact info if you’d like to send a “Thank You” note of appreciation  to Mark Okonowicz and PEPCO for admitting what we’ve all known all along, that this MAPP transmission line is not needed:

302-283-6115

or

mark.okonowicz@pepcoholdings.com

Good, I’ve got a few things to rattle his cage about… as if…

Remember when Clinton came to Carleton?  He flew into MSP and then hopped a helicopter to Stanton Airport.  Initially I figured that’s how they’d do it this time, just head east instead of west, but thinking about that “bus” bit, and the FAA no fly zones, errr, methinks it will be along 52 from MPS to Cannon Falls down to Decorah, IA.

President Barack Obama is planning to stop in Minnesota on Monday to begin a three-day bus tour to promote his economic policies. The White House announced Thursday that Air Force One will land in Minneapolis on Monday morning and then the president will host a town hall meeting in Cannon Falls at Lower Hannah’s Bend Park.
Monday, Aug. 15, 2011:

Lower Hannah’s Bend Park (just north and west of downtown)

Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 – 11:45 AM

Tickets required.  Tickets may be picked up at 1 PM on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, at 1 PM at the Cannon Falls City Hall.

Only two tickets/person are allowed and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
(Rumor has it only 500 tickets being distributed.)

The bus tour will also include events in Peosta, Iowa, and in western Illinois.

From the White House Press Release:

For security reasons, do not bring bags and limit personal items.  No signs or banners permitted.  All attendees will go through airport-like security.  Due to limited space at the event the White House will only be able to fulfill a limited number of requests for tickets. Tickets are not for sale or re-sale.

Peosta, Iowa???  That’s where Art Hughes died!

… to put it mildly.

I’ve posted a few things about the Fukushima nuclear disaster:

Past Legalectric posts about Fukushima

And it’s just so depressing to read about this, but here we go again, finally some admission that yes, it is really that bad.  From the Washington Post:

Japanese scientist: Fukushima meltdown occurred within hours of quake

Well, DUH!  A choice paragraph from that article:

About 11 hours later, all of the uranium fuel in the facility’s unit 1 reactor had slumped to the bottom of its inner containment vessel, boring a hole through a thick steel lining, the University of Tokyo’s Naoto Sekimura told a committee of the National Academy of Sciences.

From the Mainichi Daily News:

Study says fuel at Fukushima reactor possibly melted twice

And from the Voice of America:

Japanese Nuclear Crisis Leaves Fukushima Town Broken

The International Atomic Agency’s most recent post was as of June 2:

Fukushima Nuclear Accident Update Log

adsf