Nuclear Future Is Now Because That’s Where Profit Is for Exelon: Real M&A

Exelon Corp. (EXC) is trying to pull off its largest takeover by acquiring more nuclear power plants -- less than two months after the industry’s worst disaster since Chernobyl.

The biggest U.S. operator of nuclear power facilities agreed to purchase Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) of Baltimore for about $7.9 billion in stock, giving the Chicago-based company stakes in five more reactors. Including net debt, the transaction would be Exelon’s first acquisition over $1 billion since 2002 after three deals fell apart in the past seven years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Now is not the time for energy-starved India to increase nuclear dependency

Japan's nuclear disaster has fuelled fear and uncertainty among all of the world's producers of nuclear power. For India, an energy-starved country with big nuclear plans, much is at stake.

The wider fear over nuclear power has two main causes. Firstly, although it ranks as a "clean" source of energy, it is accompanied by the terrible shadow of nuclear war and Japan's last reckoning with nuclear catastrophe 65 years ago at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Secondly, the secrecy that attends all things nuclear has left people not knowing enough to feel confident.

World not prepared for climate conflicts - security experts

Accelerating climate change and competition for limited supplies of water, food and energy are poised to ignite long-simmering conflicts in fragile states, monopolising the world's military resources and hampering development efforts, security experts say.

Defusing these new 21st century conflicts – or at least preparing governments and citizens to cope with them – will require a broad range of innovative interventions, a gathering at Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) heard earlier this month.

US govt to train PHL forces in energy exploration security

Filipino naval forces assigned to secure oil and gas exploration activities are set to undergo training from the US government, according to the Energy Department.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of National Defense (DND) will be buying military equipment from the US within a three-year period in exchange for the training services.

Increased calls for nuclear energy use in Jamaica

Professor Gerald Lalor has renewed his call for nuclear technology to be introduced in Jamaica.

This, despite safety concerns raised by the meltdown at Japan’s Dai-ichi nuclear power plant and the Golding administration’s rejection of atomic energy as a near-term contributor to Jamaica’s energy grid.

International Energy Agency Supports Biofuels Roadmap

Biofuels can provide up to 27% of world transportation fuel by 2050, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The report says that “the widespread deployment of biofuels can play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector and enhancing energy security, when produced sustainably.”

Jaitapur decision to be based on 'energy, environment security'

With situation in Ratnagiri remaining volatile, the Congress party Wednesday said Maharashtra will take a decision on the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in the best interest of "energy and environment security".

One person was killed and several others were injured when police opened fire on a crowd protesting the proposed 9,900 MW nuclear power plant Monday.

Iran ready to create 'energy security'

Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says Tehran is ready to cooperate with the West to create lasting global energy security based on “mutual respect” and “fairness.”


Speaking at an energy conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Monday, Larijani said, “Should Western countries enter oil trade in a manner which benefits both the supplier and the customer, the Islamic republic will help create a lasting energy security.”

Iran calls for oil investments, asks West to cooperate on energy security

ccalled for investments in the country's oil industry on Monday and asked the West to be cooperative to create global energy security.

Iran's Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi on Monday urged domestic and international companies to invest in the country's oil industry.

Minister Stresses Iran's Key Role in Energy Security

Addressing the opening session of the 16th Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals Exhibition here in Tehran on Friday, the Iranian minister advised the consumer states to pursue the policy of further engagement rather than confrontation with Iran's oil industry.

"Iran is ready to vigilantly and logically enter negotiation with foreign companies and have transactions to promote global economy in light of energy security," Mir-Kazzemi noted, adding, "Iran is now having high talents and science. The opportunity is now available for domestic industrialists to compete with the foreign rivals."

Energy security top issue in Keystone XL approval: Suncor chief

Energy security will be key to U.S. government's decision on approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, Suncor Energy CEO Rick George told a New York audience Thursday.

"I think energy security will trump in regards to the Keystone XL pipeline," George said at a luncheon sponsored by the Consulate General of Canada and the Alberta government.

White House’s clean energy proposal inadequate, tame

What do turmoil in the Middle East, a Japanese earthquake and the approaching summer all have in common? The answer is that they all raise both the cost of and the public's anxiety about energy. Right on the cue, on March 30, the White House offered its new plan to protect "America's Energy Security." Unfortunately, the plan is incredibly timid. Despite President Barack Obama's attempts to turn his last State of the Union address into a "winning the future" parade, this energy proposal is stuck in the past, coming nowhere close enough to accommodate the pressing demands of a looming energy crisis.

Smart meter security under the spotlight

The saboteurs who struck at Iran's uranium enrichment programme in late 2009 didn't need to set foot inside the heavily guarded underground facility that held the equipment. Instead, the interlopers planted a malicious virus on its computers. The virus, known as Stuxnet, burrowed its way into the the facility's control systems and cranked up the power, causing critical equipment to spin itself apart.

BritNed power cable boosts hopes for European supergrid

It stretches 260km under the North Sea, contains 23,000 tonnes of copper and lead, and may represent the first step towards a renewable energy revolution based on a European electricity "supergrid". The £500m BritNed cable, which has just entered operation, is the first direct current electricity link from the UK to another country in 25 years.

Global Energy Ministers Agree to Speed Up CO2-Capture Projects

Global energy ministers agreed to accelerate the development of projects that capture carbon- dioxide emissions for permanent storage.

Leaders at the Clean Energy Ministerial pledged to speed up carbon capture projects in a meeting in Abu Dhabi, the U.K. government said today in an e-mailed statement. The initiative was proposed by the Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Action Group, headed by the U.K. and Australia.

Obama promotes energy policy at wind-turbine plant

Washington – U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday visited a wind-turbine plant near Philadelphia to push his proposals for energy security and he warned that "it won't be easy" to achieve independence from foreign oil imports.

"I think that what you do here is a glimpse of the future, and it's a future where America is less dependent on foreign oil, more reliant on clean energy produced by workers like you," Obama told employees of the Spanish firm Gamesa.

John Lewis to pilot AFC Energy fuel cells in store

John Lewis is to test the use of fuel cells to produce clean energy at one of its stores for the first time.
The John Lewis Partnership has signed a commercial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AFC Energy, to test its low cost alkaline fuel cells in one of the retailer’s stores. If successful, the technology will be rolled out across the retailer’s 226 Waitrose supermarkets, allowing the retailer to reduce its carbon emissions at the same time as increasing its energy security.

Exploding the Myth of Nuclear Energy Security

The old-time claim that nuclear power was not only safe and clean, but also cheap and secure was never strong - and is today even weaker. The time for major energy policy change is now.

In an incredibly ill-fated play of both publishing date and policy being urged on deciders in the energy field, the Japan-based United Nations University (UNU), in February 2011 published a long research paper on how Japan, thanks to nuclear power, could shield itself from a possible new Oil Shock.

UK and Dutch electricity grids united by undersea connection

In a first step towards a single European electricity market, the UK and Dutch electricity grids were united on Friday when the 260 km BritNed undersea cable went live.

The £500 million, 1000 MW high voltage connection runs between the Isle of Grain in Kent and Maasvlakte near Rotterdam and transmits power in both directions, depending on demand, supply and price differentials.
The joint venture between National Grid and TenneT, the Dutch transmission system operator, will also allow more integration of renewable energy such as wind farms in both the UK and mainland Europe into the grid.

Energy independence requires bold goals, bold leadership

The president believes in energy security. I believe in energy independence. In case you missed the president’s weekly radio address, here is what the White House released on energy security, so I will not be accused of not understanding what they meant. The title of the address was “Energy Security Can Only Come If We Invest in Cleaner Fuels and Greater Efficiency.”

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama discussed his strategy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and secure our nation’s energy future. When the President was elected, America imported eleven million barrels of oil a day. This week he announced a bold, but achievable goal of cutting this number by one-third by 2025.

Kingdom steps up role in global energy security

Saudi Arabia holds the key to global energy security. It plays an extremely significant role in balancing the overall demand and supply.

With many in the Western world continuing to be skeptical of the Saudi potential and capacity, at least in the longer run, eyes continue to remain focused on Riyadh.

Obama's latest vision on energy security

Obama's grab-bag approach, forced by political reality, contains a bit of everything – oil drilling, nuclear, renewables, even coal. But the unifying goal is still less US dependence on foreign oil.

Talk in Washington about “cap and trade” as a way to curb carbon emissions has evaporated like a greenhouse gas. Now, with gasoline prices nearing $4 a gallon and job creation a top priority, there’s talk only of offshore drilling, nuclear power, and domestic shale gas.