Thursday, January 17, 2013
HISTORY: Learn more about the not so simple past at Grand Pre.
Battle of Grand-Pré
Nova Scotia Archaeology Society
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nova-Scotia-Archaeology-Society/12614545\
7490785?ref=stream>
Join the NSAS on January 22, 2012 at 7:30, Saint Mary's University,
Sobey Building, Rm 260 for lecturer, Dr. Jonathan Fowler, presenting:
'The Battle of Grand-Pré Reconsidered: Historiography, History, and
Archaeological Potential'
In February of 1747, a force of French and Amerindian fighters surprised
a New England expeditionary force billetted at Grand-Pré. Over 70 New
Englanders were killed in the engagement, including their commander,
Col. Arthur Noble. Since the event, people have struggled to understand
the battle and its consequences. Using new information gleaned from
archival research in the United States and Europe, combined with the
results of recent archaeological fieldwork, this talk will outline how
others have interpreted the engagement and will offer a new
interpretation of the Battle of Grand-Pré and its archaeological
remains.
Dr. Jonathan Fowler is an anthropology prof at Saint Mary's University,
Halifax.
http://www.novascotiaarchaeologysociety.com
http://www.novascotiaarchaeologysociety.com>
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nova-Scotia-Archaeology-Society/12614545\
7490785?ref=stream>
The Deportation cross in Hortonville, Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Sobey Building, Rm 260 for lecturer, Dr. Jonathan Fowler, presenting:
'The Battle of Grand-Pré Reconsidered: Historiography, History, and
Archaeological Potential'
In February of 1747, a force of French and Amerindian fighters surprised
a New England expeditionary force billetted at Grand-Pré. Over 70 New
Englanders were killed in the engagement, including their commander,
Col. Arthur Noble. Since the event, people have struggled to understand
the battle and its consequences. Using new information gleaned from
archival research in the United States and Europe, combined with the
results of recent archaeological fieldwork, this talk will outline how
others have interpreted the engagement and will offer a new
interpretation of the Battle of Grand-Pré and its archaeological
remains.
Dr. Jonathan Fowler is an anthropology prof at Saint Mary's University,
Halifax.
http://www.novascotiaarchaeologysociety.com
http://www.novascotiaarchaeologysociety.com>
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
NUCLEAR: NB Power overstated deferral costs by $100M, expert says - New Brunswick - CBC News
NB Power overstated deferral costs by $100M, expert says - New Brunswick - CBC News
A startling accusation by a U.S. energy expert that NB Power overcharged itself $100 million on the Point Lepreau nuclear refurbishment is being vigorously denied by the utility in advance of regulatory hearings later this week.
NB Power overstated deferral costs by $100M, expert says
Utility's consultant dismisses allegations it overcharged the Point Lepreau deferral account
By Robert Jones, CBC News
Posted: Jan 8, 2013 6:32 AM AT
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2013 7:59 AM AT
Read 6comments6
NB Power is being criticized for how it accounted for replacement fuel costs during the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station. (CBC)
A startling accusation by a U.S. energy expert that NB Power overcharged itself $100 million on the Point Lepreau nuclear refurbishment is being vigorously denied by the utility in advance of regulatory hearings later this week.
"Yes, there are differences that exist between expert points of view," said Brent Staeben, a NB Power spokesperson.
"We look forward to making our case in front of the board and deferring to their judgment."
René Basque, the public intervener, has filed evidence with the Energy and Utilities Board from New York-based energy expert Kurt Strunk claiming NB Power charged the Point Lepreau refurbishment about $100 million too much for replacement power during the 56-month shutdown.
Replacement power was needed to fill the gap of what Point Lepreau would normally produce and as a result it was given unique accounting treatment.
Costs for replacement power were charged directly to the Point Lepreau project and became part of its $2.4-billion price tag in a so-called "deferral account,” bypassing NB Power's normal profit and loss statements.
It was up to NB Power to estimate how much of its electricity production between 2008 and 2012 was for replacement power using computer models.That allowed NB Power to claim $326 million in profits during the four-and-a-half year refurbishment, even though the deferral account was forcing the utility deeply into debt the entire time.
But according to Strunk, the modelling regularly ignored normal utility operating practices and the requirements of New Brunswick's Electricity Act and wrongly charged the refurbishment project for enormous amounts of electricity.
"I conclude that there are two areas where the deferral account has not been made in compliance with the act and associated regulations," wrote Strunk.
"Correcting the calculations to make the deferral account compliant would materially reduce the amounts deferred and the future charges to customers. I estimate that the order of magnitude reduction to the deferral account may be in excess of $100 million if changes are made so that the deferral balances are calculated in accordance with the regulations."
If true, Strunks's accusation would have a significant domino effect on several provincial government bodies, undermining four straight years of audited financial statements for each.
It would mean NB Power overstated its profits during the refurbishment period by $100 million and the New Brunswick government had understated its deficits by roughly the same amount.
It would also mean New Brunswick's claim for compensation from Ottawa for $1 billion in cost overruns at Point Lepreau is $100 million too high.
But NB Power disputes that and has hired its own expert to debunk Strunk's analysis.
James Sustman of the worldwide consulting firm Ventyx filed rebuttal evidence dismissing Strunk's conclusions as deeply flawed that "reflect a lack of understanding" of how the utility operates in real world situations.
Energy and Utilities Board hearings into NB Power's deferral account begin on Thursday morning
.
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Wednesday, January 2, 2013
OPINION: CLF thinks Vermont Yankee is Worth More Dead than Alive
Didn't this apply to Point Lepreau? Doesn't it still?
**********************************************
Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:40 PM PST
Vermont Yankee really is. The tired, old and leaking nuclear plant in Vermont is not carrying its weight. Financial analysts report that Vermont Yankee is economically vulnerable and a retirement announcement would boost stock prices for its parent, Entergy.
You can read the UBS Investment Research report
The financial world is waking up to what a drag “Re-assessing Cash Flows from the Nukes” here. It states:“Notably, we believe both its NY Fitzpatrick and Vermont Yankee plants are at risk of retirement given their small size; while potentially negative to sentiment, an announcement to retire the units would likely drive positive FCF revisions.”Clearly it is past time to close this plant.
Analysts today dropped the projected price target for Entergy’s stock. They see high debt and little cash coming in. Not good news for any investment.
It is good the financial world is waking up to what Vermonters have known for years. Vermont Yankee is not a good deal. It hasn’t been for years. It is expensive and financially risky. Conservation Law Foundation submitted testimony to the Public Service Board on the lousy economics of allowing Vermont Yankee to continue to operate. It does not have enough money for decommissioning, low energy prices mean it is not making money and any problems would saddle Vermont with big problems. You can read CLF’s testimony here.
These are not problems we need. Nuclear power was once touted as too cheap to meter. That has never been true. Now it is too expensive to even keep operating. Thank goodness financial markets are waking up to this fact.
http://www.clf.org/
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NUCLEAR: ONE FOOT MORE TO MELTDOWN
Considering "Sandy" would have inundated part of the Point Lepreau plant area, this is a chilling thought! ONE FOOT MORE TO MELTDOWN – A nuclear “near miss” USA « nuclear-news
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