Italian senate approves return of nuclear power
According to the law, the Italian government has six months to select the sites for the four European Pressurized Water Reactors to be built according to the agreement signed February 24, between ENEL SpA and Electricite de France SA. The government also will be in charge of deciding the storage systems to be used for nuclear fuel and nuclear wastes.
This law introduces the creation of the Nuclear Safety Agency (Agenzia per la Sicurezza Nucleare), which will be in charge of the surveillance of the health and safety of employees and the general population, as well as environmental protection. This entity will work with the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment as well as the institute for Environmental Protection and Research. Additionally, the Nuclear Safety Agency will report annually to the Italian Parliament.
Other measures enacted in this law are the reduction of bureaucratic steps for the permitting of energy infrastructure projects (specifically regasification plants, power grid works and hydrocarbons extraction); the improvement of the energy market by stimulating the competence; the stimulus of renewable energy production by a Energy Efficiency and Saving Extraordinary Plan; and incentives for the construction of windfarms and biomass power stations.
Related News

New EPA power plant rules will put carbon capture to the test
WASHINGTON - New public and private funding and expected strong federal power plant emissions reduction standards have accelerated electricity sector investments in carbon capture, utilization and storage,’ or CCUS, projects but some worry it is good money thrown after bad.
CCUS separates carbon from a fossil fuel-burning power plant’s exhaust for geologic storage or use in industrial and other applications, according to the Department of Energy. Fossil fuel industry giants like Calpine and Chevron are looking to take advantage of new federal tax credits and grant funding for CCUS to manage potentially high costs in meeting power plant performance requirements, including…