The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station near San Diego on the California coast was permanently shut down in 2013. Recently installed turbines from a Japanese manufacturer caused vibrations that damaged the steam pipes in the plant after only two years of operation. South California Edison decided to shut down the plant after the damage was discovered.
There have been tensions between India and Pakistan since both countries came into existence in 1949. They have gone to war three times. When India developed nuclear weapons, Pakistan quickly developed them as well. They have been engaged in simmering conflict in Kashmir for decades. A few years ago, a team from Pakistan staged a terrorist attack in Mumbai.
South Carolina has a history of being willing to take in radioactive waste from other states. The Savannah River Site stores high-level radioactive waste from other states and other countries. There have recently been protests over a plan to move waste from the Chalk River Labs in Canada down to the Savannah River Site. There is a dump in Barnwell Country, S.C.
Spent nuclear fuel waste is a big problem with nuclear power. In the U.S., a permanent geological repository was supposed to be ready by 1999 but the Yucca Mountain Repository project was cancelled by 2009 and the best estimate for a repository at a new location is now 2050.
I recently blogged about calls for standardization for nuclear reactor design presented at the 41st Annual Symposium of World Nuclear Association’s in London in mid-September. This particular presentation was focused on big reactors like the ones currently in use.
