Energy

IIASA: Turning Abandoned Mines Into Batteries

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Underground Gravity Energy Storage system: a schematic of different system sections. Courtesy/IIASA

IIASA News:

Renewable energy sources are central to the energy transition toward a more sustainable future.

However, as sources like sunshine and wind are inherently variable and inconsistent, finding ways to store energy in an accessible and efficient way is crucial. While there are many effective solutions for daily energy storage, the most common being batteries, a cost-effective long-term solution is still lacking.

In a new IIASA-led study, an international team of researchers Read More

BPU To Consider Nuclear-Powered Los Alamos

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Courtesy/DPU

COUNTY News:

Energy generation comes in many shapes and sizes, some of which leave lasting carbon footprints and others that don’t. One type of future generation that aims to power cities fully without polluting the environment with carbon involves Small Modular Reactors (SMR)—or nuclear energy.

The public is invited to attend an informational workshop on the subject 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, during the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) monthly work session.

Los Alamos County is a partner in the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP), spearheaded by the Utah Associated Municipal Read More

Sierra Club: Four Corners Community And Climate Groups Respond To Farmington Dropping Plans To Revive San Juan Generating Station

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SIERRA CLUB News:

In reaction to the City of Farmington’s announcement that it would no longer pursue takeover and conversion of San Juan Generating Station to a carbon-capture coal plant, Four Corners community and climate groups issued the following statements: 

“The carbon capture conversion was unrealistic in reviving a polluting plant that, for decades, put our community’s health and environment at risk. Let’s move forward to proven renewable energy so that future generations can see energy transformation with cleaner air and water for our tribal communities and climate,” Read More

NNSA Issues Draft Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program Environmental Impact Statement For Public Comment

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NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the draft Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program Environmental Impact Statement for comment. 

The SPDP would employ the dilute and dispose strategy to safely and securely dispose of 34 metric tons of plutonium surplus to the Nation’s defense needs, using new, modified, or existing facilities at sites across the Nation. 

The EIS will satisfy NNSA’s obligations under the National Environmental Read More

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Makes History By Achieving Fusion Ignition

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Tuesday announced the achievement of fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) — a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. 

Dec. 5, a team at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach this milestone, also known as scientific energy Read More