International
Crashed nuclear plant in the US will reopen to supply energy to Microsoft
The Three Mile Island nuclear plant, in the state of Pennsylvania, which in 1979 was the scene of the worst nuclear accident in the history of the United States, will reopen in 2028 in order to provide energy to Microsoft in the face of the growing needs posed by its Artificial Intelligence (AI) division.
The company Constellation Energy, specialized in the production of energy from non-combustible sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric and especially nuclear) announced today the signing of an agreement with Microsoft to reopen the nuclear plant and supply the technology for 20 years, with the prior authorization of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on environmental safety.
The president of Constellation Energy, Joe Domínguez, explained it in a corporate statement: “Giving energy to critical industries so that our country is globally and technologically competitive, including data centers, requires a reliable amount of carbon-free and energy at every moment of the day, and nuclear energy is the only source that could respond to this need.”
Microsoft’s vice president of the Energy section, Bobby Hollis, presented the agreement as a milestone within his strategy of developing carbon-free energy sources.
TM1, which is only one of the two reactors of the Three Mile plant – and which was not affected by the 1979 accident – will provide 835 megawatts and, to mitigate possible local opposition, Constellation Energy has promised that the new plant will create 3,400 jobs and generate 16 billion dollars for the local GDP, plus another 3,000 in taxes. In addition, one million will be allocated to “philanthropic activities”.
Pennsylvania, one of the states hardest hit by the decline of US heavy industry and its relocation to America or Asia, may have consequences that are reflected in the next elections, since it is the impoverished white classes that in recent years have turned into the republican orbit.
The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 left no fatalities but released a huge amount of radioactive gases into the atmosphere, and created a great distrust of nuclear energy that was then aggravated seven years later by the Chernobyl disaster.
But the need to decarbonize energy to fight climate change has contributed to stop demonizing nuclear power in recent times and, in fact, it was striking that in 2022 the European Union would consider it a green energy.
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
International
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities are investigating two explosions that occurred early Wednesday, one on a road in the southern part of the country and another under a bridge in Guayas province. These incidents follow the car bomb explosion in the coastal city of Guayaquil, also in Guayas, which occurred the day before and left one person dead and 30 injured.
Press reports indicate that one person was injured and several vehicles were damaged in the explosion on the Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road in the south.
“Besides yesterday’s explosion in Guayaquil, we have received reports of explosives placed on bridges along the Guayaquil-Machala and Machala-Cuenca routes to disrupt traffic,” said Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT).
On his X social media account, Luque reported that authorities have been deployed to the sites to assess the damage and determine the current condition of the structures.
“What they haven’t achieved with their call for a strike, some are trying to achieve through terrorism,” he stated, referring to the 24 days of protests organized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) against rising diesel prices and other demands.
The protests, called at a national level, have Imbabura province as their epicenter. Roadblocks have also been reported in the northern part of Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, while activities in the rest of the country continue normally.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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