June 10, 2009

Nuclear power's challenges are unending. At the heart of the issue now is whether the energy form is a cost-efficient alternative or whether it remains a black hole.

In the United States, some notable members of Congress are saying that the country needs to build 100 new nuclear reactors over the next 20 years, all to achieve energy independence and to meet the nation's clean air goals. That would in essence double the current output from 20 percent of the electric generation to 40 percent -- at a cost of about $700 billion.

June 08, 2009

Talk of intelligent utilities and smart meters is hot these days -- things that the American people never pondered before. And while the descriptions may be arcane, the purpose of the technologies is rather simple: to get consumers to use less energy and to minimize power outages.

How's that? Utilities that have adequate capacity generally concentrate on the tools to increase grid reliability while those with tight supplies focus more on trying to cut consumption. As such, many regulated utilities try to optimize their networks whereas several unregulated ones center on the meters that link right into homes.

June 5, 2009 

According to Whole Foods and Safeway, solar companies need to up their knowledge of potential solar customers. Hara Software must have had that information when it pitched to Coca-Cola. Solar companies shouldn't lose hope – even First Solar started out as a small fry.

June 05, 2009

Summer weather will soon arrive. But the demand for power this year will be less than usual. And while the economic slump will hit power producers, they are expected in the near future to crank back up.

That's why policymakers along with industry officials are touting a regional transmission system that can span across state lines. Many systems are overburdened and are therefore putting reliability at risk. More capacity is needed to shore up the system. Investment in new modern networks would not only alleviate the congestion but it would also promote the intelligent use of electricity by allowing two-way communications between utilities and their customers as well as allow access to more alternative energies.

May 22, 2009

Demand for enriched uranium is escalating. Three facilities in the works will help fill a gap that will hit in 2013, when an agreement with Russia to supply the material for U.S. nuclear power plants expires.

The nation's existing fleet of 104 reactors must find alternative sources of uranium. Recently, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission had 27 applications for new ones. Some of those could come online as early as 2015, and the companies must line up their supplies well in advance, said John Donelson, vice president of marketing and sales for USEC, which is building a massive enrichment plant using new gas-centrifuge technology in Piketon, Ohio.