World Class Quality Engineering Services 8 FEATURES NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY 76 The U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel Policy, Part 2: Playing Hardball Eighteen months ago, we looked at the history of the U.S. spent nuclear fuel policy. Recent history suggests that post-Yucca Mountain, developing a centralized, permanent repository will be even harder than it seemed in the past. NUCLEAR I&C 81 Crossing the Digital Divide Digital controls upgrades have helped U.S. nuclear plants improve reliability and performance. But the way those upgrades have been handled has hamstrung plants' ability to get the most out of the technology. A research program is under way to break through the barriers to achieving a true digital transformation of operating nuclear plants. NUCLEAR SAFETY 85 Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart: World-Class ALARA Performance Learn about the program approach and specific improvements made to components and systems at this Tennessee Valley Authority plant to achieve an industryleading low radiation exposure rate. The lessons learned are invaluable to any plant considering an ALARA program. THE FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS 89 Global Gas Glut: An Update Even the mass media have been following the twists and turns of the recent estimates of recoverable shale gas in the U.S. Here's an update of our September gas supply story and the bottom line on the latest reports. As experts in the Nuclear power industry, Structural Integrity works hard to provide you with innovative, best quality engineering and NDE support including: * Seismic Analysis * License Renewal * Cable Aging Management * Buried Piping * BWR & PWR support * Advanced NDE Also, ask us about our integrated services for Fossil Plants and Oil and Gas clients. Get world-class quality from Structural Integrity today at: 877-4SI-POWER or go to www.structint.com/power CIRCLE 2 ON READER SERVICE CARD 2 www.powermag.com POWER | November 2011 DEPARTMENTS SPEAKING OF POWER 6 It's More Than a Process GLOBAL MONITOR 8 Blackout Leaves Southwest in the Dark 8 AMSC Former Employee Convicted in Sinovel Intellectual Property Case 10 Siemens Joins Trend to Quit Nuclear 12 THE BIG PICTURE: Reactors Under Construction 15 German Court Questions Legality of Nuclear Tax 16 ITER Gets New Life 16 POWER Digest FOCUS ON O&M 20 Steam Turbine Cleaning Using Chemical Foams 22 Predictive Maintenance That Works LEGAL & REGULATORY 24 The Water-Energy Balancing Act By Angela Neville, JD 90 NEW PRODUCTS COMMENTARY 96 Hazard Recognition and Control: Improving Safety's Bottom Line By Deb Potter, PhD and Carl Potter of Potter and Associateshttp://www.structint.com/power http://www.powermag.com