Tepco Halts Filtering of Tainted Water at Japanese Plant

TOKYO — The Tokyo Electric Power Company said Saturday that the filtration system it had struggled to put into operation at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had broken down after just five hours, a disappointing setback in its efforts to cool the reactors.

The company said that the sprawling system, which is designed to siphon oil, radioactive materials and salt from the water used to cool the reactors, was shut down because of readings that indicated one of the filters had filled up with radioactive cesium. The rapid depletion of a filter that was supposed to have lasted several weeks suggested the presence of far greater radioactive material than anticipated.

Battlefield Energy Plan Aims to Spark Major Changes in the Pentagon

In the most significant step the Defense Department has yet taken to address its substantial thirst for energy, the Pentagon yesterday released its first strategy (pdf) for changing the way it uses energy on the battlefield.

The plan will be fleshed out with more details in the next three months, including the goals and timelines that motivate the Pentagon's bureaucracy. They will target three main areas: reducing consumption on the battlefield, transitioning to alternative energy sources and building more energy-efficient vehicles and weapons systems.

Financing, Incentives Key to Driving Greater Energy Efficiency in Buildings

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Availability of financing and incentives are among the key elements to driving increased energy efficiency in buildings, according to leaders who attended the North America Energy Efficiency Forum. The forum, co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the U.S. Energy Association, examined how advanced efficiency technologies, energy policies and consumer education can improve energy security, global competitiveness and accelerate economic growth.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., told leading policymakers and energy experts that: "The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is very interested in advancing opportunities for the federal government to serve as a model for the increased utilization of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies. Such policies and measures can save significant taxpayer dollars, create private sector jobs, and greatly enhance energy markets. Two specific and highly effective ways for the federal government to achieve this goal have been through energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and federal power purchase agreements (PPAs)."

House Panel: Oil Sands Project Critical to U.S. Energy Security

Obama administration is the 'one thing standing in the way,' says energy committee chairman.

The United States should look to its neighbors up north for additional oil supplies that could have a major impact on the nation's energy security, say oil industry analysts and Republican lawmakers.

A proposed oil pipeline called Keystone XL could pump 700,000 barrels per day from Canada's oil sands to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Tokyo Electric stock surges after approval of rescue plan

(CNN) -- Japan's beleaguered Tokyo Electric Power Co. received some rare good financial news Wednesday as its stock soared 32% after the government approved a rescue plan a day earlier.

TEPCO shares added 80 yen to close at 329 yen.

Speculators were in a buying mood after Japan's government approved the rescue plan for the owner of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. The plan also must be approved by the Japanese parliament

U.S. Reactors Gird for the Next Fukushima

If a nuclear plant in the United States had a serious accident and the managers asked for help from a neighboring company, chances are that the nuclear Samaritans would arrive with radios that worked on a different frequency, or with emergency pumps that required hoses of a different size or pressure rating, industry officials say.

But three nuclear organizations said on Thursday that in response to Japan’s Fukushima accident, they are acting jointly to learn everything they can, seeking to reduce the risk of an accident and prepare for the consequences should one occur.

Atomic energy to be safe and affordable, Rosatom chief says

Atomic energy should be safe for people and affordable for everyone, Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko said.

Speaking at the third Moscow International Forum Atomexpo-2011 on Moscow on Monday, June 6, Kiriyenko said, “The number of exhibits showing achievements of the Russian nuclear industry has increased considerably from the previous years.”