GE’s thoughts and condolences continue to be with the people of Japan affected by the devastating impact of this unprecedented natural disaster. And GE officials continue to closely monitor the events at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, which suffered a loss of power after the tsunami struck the site. We have been providing updates on GE Reports. Below is a list of the stories we have published to date.
* May 25, 2011: Venting Systems in Mark I Reactors
* April 6, 2011: We’ve updated our recent story on disaster relief efforts
* March 20, 2011: How it Works: White Paper on Mark I Containment
* March 19, 2011: Mark I Containment Facts and The New York Times
* March 18, 2011: Setting the Record Straight on Mark I Containment History
* March 17, 2011: An Update on GE Disaster Relief Efforts in Japan
* March 16, 2011: The Mark I Containment System in BWR Reactors
* March 15, 2011: Facts on the Nuclear Energy Situation in Japan (Updated from March 14, 2011)
ALL STORIES
YOUTUBE
EMBED
FLICKR
RSS
TWITTER
SUBSCRIBE
LEARN MORE
have been following in print media and it is great that GE keep public well informed all aspects. nuclear energy is of great importance to our nation in the future as it has been in the past! sr. elfun bill ward
I hope that my email message is one of only millions that condemns General Electric in the matter of what is considered a very poor design of a nuclear power plant and in its almost complete silence on its contribution to what is one of the worst disasters (natural combined with GE’s failure to initially design and follow-up over the years of service these reactors have been online with components that would mitigate the probable destruction of every reactor on-site to their ultimate core meltdown. I am no expert, but I’ve been consumed by the history of the subject reactors and I am appalled at the terms used by nuclear experts in describing General Electric’s negligence and its tremendous contribution to the failure of the reactors, the deaths of perhaps thousands of people, the contamination of fields, streams, and now perhaps oceans, and the horrific futures the people of Japan may be facing. And, of course, what does GE say? Natural disaster. Tsunami’s destruction of the reactors. Who is truly to blame? I don’t have to guess.
I find it remarkable that an unprecedented earthquake and tsunami that has killed approximately twenty thousand people and battered and severely damaged four nuclear reactors but as far as I know caused only one worker fatality and led to no serious health consequences to people outside the plant boundaries should elicit such fear and sensational reporting regarding nuclear power. Is not the real risk the effect of earthquakes and tsunamis on people. The lesson I take from this event is that nuclear power is remarkably safe under incredible events. Let’s build more nuclear plants and more seriously consider where we live near the coast or what we build to minimize consequences of earthquakes.
Let’s see, these plants were designed for an 8.0 earthquake and survived a 9.0 (32 times more powerful) with no loss of reactor or primary containment integrity. Then, the plants were designed (By TEPCO, NOT GE) for a 20 foot tsunami and received a 45-foot tsunami. Despite having all offsite and onsite power sources eliminated, the plants design has allowed nearly three weeks of time for engineers and mechanics to deal with the horrendous damage to the plants and their environs. This is supposed to be bad design (Ms. Edwards)? Meanwhile, oil refineries and chemical plants have been flattened and their potentially lethal contents spread out all over the area, with practically no mention? Seems to me there is some bias here…..
Only four comments? I wonder why. Could it be that 99% of the comments are not flattering to GE and thus not allowed to appear here? I’ll bet this comment never sees the light of day, too.
I strongly believe that any negative comments should be held till the recovery is at least well underway or completed and can be backed by knowledge not emotion. What happened in Japan, especially at the facilities along the shoreline is still not completely understood. There is strong evidence that subsidance of the shoreline rendered what would have been sufficient protection from the tsunami ineffective.
The general news media is not helping at all with partial data be presented to be exploitive of people’s irrational fears. The most dangerous thing any of us do (driving or riding in an automobile) is still the same. If you wish to make the world significantly safer, drive your car like your life depended on it.
Sincerely,
Richard
my view is that General Electric should be required to pay the costs of the destruction caused by its irresponsible promotion of, and profiting from, nuclear energy. nuclear science was and will always be a mistake. it is regrettable that ethics and rigorous analysis of the implications of science have become such side-line activities to that of the pursuit of profit, that it sometimes seems it would be better if ‘people’ did not have much of the ‘knowledge’ we think we have achieved. based on what we currently ‘know’, future use of nuclear technologies of all kinds should be ended now. the arrogance of thinking that we can effectively control (or risk-manage) elements that are many millions of times more powerful than people needs to come to an end – before the arrogance is forcefully ended by the demise of earth. ps. have you worked out what to do with nuclear waste yet?
I AM A CRYOGENIC BULK DRIVER
WHY CANT THEY SET UP A TEMP PIPE LINE AND INJECT LIQUID CO2 OR LIQUID N2 TO SLOW DOWN THE EVAPORATION ? PLUS ADDING THE POLYMER
I am looking at the picture of the radio active water running out of a crack in the wall of the nuclear power plant. Can anyone tell me why they can’t put something floating under that crack, and collect the radio active water, and pump it to a barge or supertanker. Surely it is better than just letting it pollute the shoreline. Perhaps they can tow it out to the middle of the ocean and release it there.. or at least store the tanker somewhere. Perhaps a remote region.
In NPPs in Sweden we have a system with filter or scrubber (after three mile island) that one can vent the reactor directly to. In this case there will be no hydrogen explosion and almost none radioctivity will transfer outside the NPP. Is this system unique to sweden or has GE implemented anything like this? Surely, it was not implemented in Japan.
I can’t help but think all these positive glowing comments are built-in. Why? Well, it seems even the stupidest republican uneducated redneck now realizes what’s going on. Shame on you, GE. It’s appalling. You’re appalling. But do you know what? All of your kids and grandkids have to drink the same air and swim in the same ocean. There is no place for anyone to hide. Not you, not your kids, not your grandkids. And Richard Driscoll, the figures ARE starting to come in. That’s what is so disturbing. There is an uncontrollable monster that is irrefutably seeping cancer into the planet’s eco-system, and you want to WAIT? For what??? Why don’t you go to Japan and live 25 miles away from the Fukushima reactors?
I will be very surprised to see this comment posted.
…Oh, and one more thing, as Tanya Richmond says, what are you going to do with the 250,000+ tons of nuclear waste? Thought of any good ideas lately?
Oh, I know! Leave it for your grandkids!
One more thing: what will happen when the Seattle reactor gets hit by a big one? Remember, you build those reactors to withstand a 6.9. Good enough? And what was Japan? 8 plus, nearly 9?
What’s your plan, GM? Tell us please! The world wants to hear your answer.
You all have blood money in your hands right now.
The more I am researching GE and their practises, namely NOT paying taxes in the United States, your involvement in Healthcare, Nuclear Reactors, making more money overseas in LENDING but yet forcing your mercury filled light bulbs down the citizens of the United States. This once good company (maybe not) has really showed what greed its shareholders are about, how you do not care about the environment, you have 900 lawyers working on how NOT to pay taxes in the United States, you’re in bed with our corrupt administration. That the only business you have in the United States is your appliances all others including your lending are overseas beating the citizens out of taxes and services. You might have a feel good page of all your donations (bribes) to communities and their politician but it’s NOT enough. I’m starting a campaign to boycott all of the companies that receive loans from you, boycott your appliances (small dent in the bucket), and see what kind of class action suit we can start to put a little dent in your shareholders paycheck. Shame on you GE, Shame on you. And shame on us for letting you get away with it. (Let’s see if this post gets posted)
The Mark I reactor is built on the cheap, problems have been known about the reactor since the early 70′s Nuclear fission in itself is a inefficient way to provide electricity. I would hope GE would take the lad in developing more innovative ways to produce energy.
Mr. Immelt,
I am appalled with your comments during your recent trip to Japan where you mentioned “GE will rebuild the Fukushima plants”. That’s like saying “we gave you Hiroshima, let’s give you Nagasaki next…” C’mon sir get with it! While you’re playing business, GE or whomever can build all the nuclear plants they wish, so long as disasters like Fukushima Dai-Ichi (and others to come) can be FIXED without all the destruction, contamination, and delayed lives. Until then, GE’s public and internal confidence will be determined not by it’s brand but heavily by it’s leader, meaning you. The WORLD will be watching.
GE: “We Bring Good Things To Half-Life”
hooray and best regards to chuck a knowledgeable comrade from old advanced mgt courses arizona when people got together to try to do a better job in all GE fields and never afraid to consider new approaches to old problems but never afraid to give it a try!
I for one would like a GE nuclear plant in my back yard.
All my green neighbors who spend their (and our goverment’s) fortunes on windmills and solar panels can buy backup power from me. Whats the cost per KWH for solar solution ? just 10x with a 30 year payback in sun shines all the time?
Even with billions of added costs due to regulation and payoff to environmental groups nuclear power is the cheapest install-anywhere solution we have. (Heck..If the French can do it so can we)
No way around it guys/gals/transgenders.
When the wind doesn’t blow (or blows too fast) your are in the dark unless you have a nuclear or coal plant as backup. When the wind blows… you de-capitating birds or listending to big “whosh whosh” sounds.
When the sun doesn’t shine you are in the dark unless you have nuclear or coal plant.
(Yes I know can have $20,000 worth worth of poisonous batteries which need replacing every 5 years providing some backup… but I still prefer my $80-$150/month electric bill to run my lights +geothermal heat/cooling )
When you need to charge your 10KW Electric car battery over night you can’t do it with solar panels (you’ll loose your House’s battery reserve power when a cloud goes by during the day!)
Unless a German/Jewish/Hungarian scientist comes up with workable cold fusion I’ll back Nuclear and “Home Grown” Coal/Natural Gas. (Winters have been cold lately…need that CO2 warming :> )
To All Who Are Interested In Our Future Energy Directions:
Let us all pull in the same direction that leads to safe & effective energy for everyone world wise. Expressing yourself in a cynical manner towards GE is certainly a negative approach to our energy problems!
Hi
If you like to explain what type of nuclear reactor GE has in Japan ( you got the idea)?
Now as we know the impossible just happen and the human baby milk is radiated and is clear that will create more complications later on in mutation or “who know”, the question is What can we do to total ( 100%) take all nuclear power out and replace with other energy in the next few years 2-5 years ?
Is interesting to see how connected all countries in the world are with this incident in Japan.
Is interesting to see how dementia between people ( like people in Pueblo County Colorado ) just few days after japan 311 will come and support nuclear power in there back yard just for a buck.
For me is really interesting and educational facts from this as so much impact in our future and thinking brbring .
We see now the radiation is going all over the world and the world government start to “manipulate” the data and media will do the same.
So is any way for GE to stop producing Nuclear generation ?
Take your time, is just Friday April 22 , late and we all celebrate something of life.
GE has probably earned billions with the Fukushima power plant.
Why not giving it back to the people that now have lost their homes because of exactly that power plant?
Is it ethically acceptable to earn such amounts of money with something that now completely destroyed the homes and life of 30,000 families?
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=cincinnati&sParam=37762497.story
Crack at OH nuclear plant spurs nuclear opponents
Posted 10/23/2011 2:32 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A 30-foot hairline crack discovered in concrete at an Ohio nuclear plant has prompted anti-nuclear activists to step up their opposition to renewing the plant’s license.
Contractors replacing a cracked reactor head at FirstEnergy’s Davis-Besse plant outside Toledo recently discovered a small crack in thick concrete on the outside of the reactor’s containment building.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a report Friday saying the crack is in “non-structural, architectural” concrete and poses no “immediate safety concern,” The Blade newspaper of Toledo reported. But if further investigation reveals any challenges to the design function of the building, they would have to be resolved before the plant restarts, the report said.
Jennifer Young, a FirstEnergy spokeswoman, said further investigation is under way.
But the crack has already prompted activists to ask the Toledo City Council to approve a resolution opposing the FirstEnergy plant’s license renewal, The Blade has also reported.
Anita Ross, a co-chair of the Ohio Green Party and a city council candidate, said the group plans to present similar resolutions to leaders of other cities around Lake Erie.
“There’s a lot of unanswered questions that should be addressed before there is even any consideration to allow that plant to restart,” said lawyer Terry Lodge, who is leading a challenge to FirstEnergy’s license renewal application.
Davis-Besse’s license is set to expire in 2017, and FirstEnergy has an application pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend the operating license until 2037.
Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. shut down the plant almost two weeks ago so the new 82-ton reactor head could be installed. The building’s concrete shell 2 1/2 feet thick is meant to protect the reactor from tornado debris, an aircraft of anything else that might hit it from outside.
City Councilman Steven Steel said last week that although he had not yet read the proposed resolution, “in principle I’m in agreement” with shutting down Davis-Besse.
Steel, who said there are frightening safety concerns about the plant, cited previous problems including the near-failure of the plant’s reactor head in 2002 and the more recent breakdown of reactor nozzles that prompted the installation of a second replacement head.
“We keep coming closer and closer and closer to catastrophe,” Steel said.
Davis-Besse has been shut down since Oct. 1 for the reactor head replacement.
Steel said he has contacted some city council members for informal discussion about the draft resolution.
___
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted 10/23/2011 2:32 PM ET
Anti-nuclear activists make hysterical noises over hairline cracks in concrete that’s “non-structural”, meaning not a part of any containment-related system. Nobody died, nobody hurt, nobody even prospectively hurt.
Meanwhile (to give just one example), PG&E gas pipelines blow up in California, killing people and obliterating neighborhoods… and the anti-nuclear activists are conspicuously silent.
You’d almost think their financing came from the fossil-fuel industry, wouldn’t you?
lets face the fact that all off the countrys need a cheap electricty why we blame GE it is act of god because we forgot that we abuse mother earth lets all help to create a more safe energy together.togerther we stand devided we fall
dont point our finger who to blame it is act of god but i am so sad for what happen to fukushima.its a calamity that strike anywhre in the world now in my home country the typhoon sendong strike that kills thousand people lets help one another to create a safe efficient cheap energy for the next generation to come
I would like to see an update on the Japanese Crisis…. is that possible? I know some areas remain without power, but even those that have power are voluntarily rationing themselves.