German reactor accident worse than first admitted

The Krummel reactor near Hamburg, Germany was shut down on July 4, 2009 following a transformer fire caused by an electrical short circuit. The reactor had been running for only two weeks after a previous fire in the other transformer in 2007 had closed the plant for two years and cost Vattenfall, its Swedish owner, $420 million in repairs and upgrades. Vattenfall officials reluctantly disclosed that this time the SCRAM was complicated by damage to "perhaps a few fuel elements" but would not elaborate other than to say all safety systems operated and there was no radiation leak. Der Spiegel reports that evidence of sharp metal shavings and other foreign objects left behind from repairs inside the reactor vessel are evidence of the company's even more problematic carelessness and mismanagement. If you can understand German (and even if you can't), please enjoy the Greenpeace video on the Vattenfal reactor situation.

Urge DOE to Extend Nuclear Loan Guarantee Comment Period!

Action Alert, Sept. 2, 2009    

Urge Energy Dept. to Extend Public Comment Period on Nuclear Loan Guarantee Rules!

The U.S. Department of Energy is attempting to fast track its nuclear loan guarantee program by drastically limiting the opportunity for the public to comment on changes to its regulations. We must all act now to extend the comment period to ensure a transparent, democratic and fair public process, not a DOE rubber stamp. Taxpayers could be left holding the bag for tens of billions of dollars, when risky new nuclear reactor projects default on their loan repayments. Read Beyond Nuclear's action alert, where you'll see how to email DOE, urging a public comment period extension.