Japan's nuclear regulator has "demonstrated independence and transparency" since it was established in 2012, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) peer review mission has concluded. However, it suggests the regulator needs to bolster its technical competence ahead of the restart of more of Japan's nuclear facilities. world-nuclear-news.org The State of New York Public Service Commission yesterday ruled that non-carbon-emitting generation resources including nuclear power plants must be included in the state's Clean Energy Standard (CES) portfolio. The CES is to include a support mechanism for upstate nuclear power plants at risk of closure for economic reasons. world-nuclear-news.org A federal appeals court in Washington has denied a motion to block the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan, which seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the country's power generation industries by 32 percent over the next 15 years. nuclearstreet.com Iran has wasted little time, post Implementation Day, in revving up its efforts to ramp up a nuclear power program for the country that was long considered a destabilizing threat by Western nations, including the United States, the European Union, China and Russia. nuclearstreet.com