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Five Things the “Nuclear Bros” Don’t Want You to Know About Small Modular Reactors

Union of Concerned Scientists

Even casual followers of energy and climate issues have probably heard about the alleged wonders of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The failure of these projects to come in on time and under budget undermines arguments that modern nuclear power plants can overcome the problems that have plagued the nuclear industry in the past.

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Germany’s Role in Climate Policy

Legal Planet

The Federal Cabinet adopts its first climate target, a 25-30% cut in carbon emissions by 2005 under 1987 levels. Note: the estimates of 1990 emissions that I found are not entirely consistent, with one estimate closer to 1.2 Germany decides to phase out nuclear power, complicating efforts to decarbonize the power sector.

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South Korea and Climate Change

Legal Planet

With economic growth have come carbon emissions. As of 2016, half of its total emissions are from the power sector, with 20% from industry and 15% from transportation, and. According to the Energy Information Agency , South Korea’s power sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

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U.S. Climate Law: A Broad & Rapidly Growing Field

Legal Planet

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Standards for carbon and methane emissions from new sources Permitting requirements for carbon emissions from new stationary sources of major sources of existing pollutants. Standards for emissions from new vehicles.

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Michigan Policymakers Must Keep Working Toward an Equitable Clean Energy Future

Union of Concerned Scientists

However, the bill’s definition of what constitutes clean energy includes nuclear power (which doesn’t emit carbon but isn’t “clean”) and fossil gas power plants that capture and store at least 90 percent of their carbon emissions.

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Ask a Scientist: Two Dozen States Can Meet 100 Percent of Electricity Demand with Renewables by 2035

Union of Concerned Scientists

All told, they represent 56 percent of the US population, generate 62 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, and are responsible for 43 percent of the country’s annual carbon emissions. Our 100-percent RES scenario triggers a significant decline in fossil fuel use.

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Powering the Data Boom: How Will the Grid Keep Up?

Union of Concerned Scientists

The grid might not meet that demand Electricity for data centers comes from the grid, and by extension, the mix of power plants that supply the grid. New data center proposals can be of the scale of nuclear power plants and some even seek to connect directly to existing nuclear plants.