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Japan's Damaged Reactors: No Chernobyl

UPDATED: The quake-damaged reactors still haven't released enough radiation to harm the public, a testament to good design and emergency planning. "The first quality for a commander-in-chief is a cool head to receive a correct impression of things. He should not allow himself to be confused by …

Written by Sean Linnane on Wednesday March 16, 2011

Nuke Critic: U.S. Has 23 Fukushima-Type Reactors

Could a Japanese style nuclear disaster happen in the United States? Could a Japanese style nuclear disaster happen here? There are currently 23 GE nuclear plants currently operating in the United States with a design that is identical to the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi installation which has …

Written by Shawn F Summers on Wednesday March 16, 2011

The Right Way to Defend Nuke Power

The accident in Japan shouldn't make us abandon nuclear energy. The nuke industry though is doing a poor job convincing the public. The tragedy in Japan has led to much criticism of nuclear energy (mostly by the left), attempts to defend it (mostly by the right), and a lot of confused and …

Written by Charles Kozierok on Wednesday March 16, 2011

China's New Wave Nuke Plants

Japan's damaged nuclear reactor may be grabbing all the headlines, but in China, a new generation of nuclear plants are powering up. Evan Osnos in the New Yorker on the design of China's new generation of nuclear plants: [H]ow do some of these Chinese plants look up close? For that, I …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 15, 2011

The GOP's Oil Drilling Pipe Dream

The unrest in the Middle East is leading to an uptick in gas prices. But the GOP’s solution, more domestic drilling, won’t bring voters relief at the pump. Here we go again. Every time gasoline prices spike, no matter the reason, Republican leaders and talk radio’s libertarian elite reach for …

Written by David Jenkins on Tuesday March 15, 2011

The Fake Japanese Nuke Scare

An explosion at an earthquake damaged nuclear plant in Japan has raised fears of a nuclear incident. How worries should we be? An explosion at an earthquake damaged nuclear plant in Japan has raised fears of a nuclear incident. But how realistic are the fears? This dramatic headline blasts out …

Written by Sean Linnane on Saturday March 12, 2011

Why Are the Feds Peddling Light Bulbs?

Fans of eco-friendly bulbs are quick to point out their benefits: lower costs and better efficiency. Why then do we need government to help sell them? In a recent piece at Frum Forum , David Jenkins criticizes the GOP for looking to undo energy standards on light bulbs. Jenkins certainly …

Written by Jean Granville on Friday March 11, 2011

The GOP's Dim Bulb Bill

This week, the Senate will hold hearings on a bill to undo energy standards on light bulbs. Is defending the wasteful incandescent light bulb really a priority? This week the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will have a hearing on Senator Mike Enzi’s “ Better Use of Light Bulbs Act , …

Written by David Jenkins on Thursday March 10, 2011

Will GOP Give Climate Science a Fair Shake?

The House is holding hearings today on the science of climate change. But can credible testimony really change the minds of the GOP's climate skeptics? House Democrats persuaded Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) to hold a hearing today on climate science. At a time when …

Written by David Jenkins on Tuesday March 8, 2011

Hands Off Our Oil Reserves

Democrats in Congress are pushing Obama to tap our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to drive down pump prices. But the plan's a bad deal for taxpayers. Democrats in Congress are clamoring for President Obama to open the stopcocks at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and let the crude splash into the …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Sunday March 6, 2011

Chu's Energy Research Hijack

Energy Secretary Steven Chu's budget would transform his department into a huge government-run research and development firm. Nobel Laureate and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu seems to have taken a page from early 20 th century labor leader Samuel Gompers: at every turn he screams for “more.” …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Saturday February 26, 2011

Pique Oil

Ever since oil hit $147 a barrel last summer, analysts predicting "peak oil" - the point at which oil production begins sliding inexorably - have had a field day. Perhaps it's true, but the earth doesn't seem to want to cooperate, at least not yet. Case in point: BP yesterday announced the …

Written by Gusher on Thursday September 3, 2009

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