Small nuclear reactors are no fix for California’s energy needs
James Heddle James Heddle

Small nuclear reactors are no fix for California’s energy needs

On Monday, the Natural Resources Committee of the California Assembly will consider a bill to repeal a longstanding moratorium on nuclear plants in the state, which was meant to be in place until there is a sustainable plan for what to do with radioactive waste. Defeated multiple times in the past, this bill would carve out an exception for small modular reactors, or SMRs, the current pipe dream of nuclear advocates.

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Nuclear Power Is a Dead End. We Must Abandon It Completely.
James Heddle James Heddle

Nuclear Power Is a Dead End. We Must Abandon It Completely.

Amid a confluence of crises—the Ukraine war, an energy crisis, and climate breakdown—nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance, at least in the rhetoric of politicians and pundits across Europe, North America, and beyond. After all, it’s tempting to propose these generators of low-carbon energy as a panacea to this daunting phalanx of calamities

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France and Switzerland shut down nuclear power plants amid scorching heatwave
James Heddle James Heddle

France and Switzerland shut down nuclear power plants amid scorching heatwave

Due to a scorching heatwave which has spread across Europe in recent days, a number of nuclear power plants in Switzerland and France have been forced to either reduce activity or shut down completely as extreme temperatures have prevented sites from relying on water from local rivers.

To cool down, nuclear power plants pump water from local rivers or the sea, which they then release back into water bodies at a higher temperature.

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Nuclear boosterism has gotten reckless
James Heddle James Heddle

Nuclear boosterism has gotten reckless

Despite clear evidence nuclear power makes climate change worse. Massive taxpayer-funded bailouts for existing plants and untested “advanced” reactors are sailing through statehouses and Congress. Nuclear subsidies remained sacrosanct during the FY24 federal budget fight, even as conservatives demanded cuts in almost everything else.

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The Lying Piper of Nukeland
James Heddle James Heddle

The Lying Piper of Nukeland

On March 21, more than 40 groups, mainly from Europe, protested the false promises and nuclear fairy tales being spun at the March 21 International Atomic Energy Agency’s Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels. Prior to our fairy tale-themed rally close to the venue we issued a declaration signed by 621 organizations from across the world and issued a press release.

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