Regulators clear Japan's largest nuclear plant for operation, navigating past safety concerns and local hesitations

Japan's nuclear watchdog has lifted the operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, marking a cautious move towards nuclear energy amidst historical safety issues and local apprehensions.

Mari Yamaguchi reports for the Associated Press.

In short:

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has ended the decade-long suspension of TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world's largest, due to previous safety violations.
TEPCO's next step is to gain approval from local governments, reflecting the lingering community distrust post-Fukushima disaster.
The Japanese government's strategy to rely on nuclear power for reducing fossil fuel imports faces hurdles of safety concerns and public confidence.

Key quote:

"TEPCO is a unique company; in a way it had caused the accident. It is the operator's responsibility to keep improving, and our task is to watch if improvement is adequately carried out."

— Shinsuke Yamanaka, Chair of the Nuclear Regulation Authority

Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate, and health.

apnews.com

Regulators clear Japan's largest nuclear plant for operation, navigating past safety concerns and local hesitations

State of the Union: Trump’s plan for rising energy costs — pump oil, make data centers pay

Data center developers asked Trump for relief from pollution rules

Supreme Court will hear Exxon’s effort to crush climate lawsuits

Chronic ocean heating fuels ‘staggering’ loss of marine life, study finds

Dangerous heat for Tour de France riders only a ‘question of time’

As Nepal votes, climate change is an elephant in the room for Sherpa community

From fossil fuelled tanks to wildfires: How Russia’s war on Ukraine is destroying the planet

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.