ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ

The UK's decision to leave the European Union has not changed the government's commitment to new nuclear power, or to its climate change goals, says Amber Rudd.

Two recent publications have highlighted the issue of air pollution, including that from energy generation. The International Energy Agency today published a strategy for cutting premature deaths from air pollution, while the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has studiedÌýits economic costs.

India says it remains confident of a positive outcome concerning its application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers GroupÌýafter the groupÌýdid notÌýdecide on the matter at its latest plenary.

EDF Energy, NuGeneration and Horizon Nuclear Power have all stressed their commitment to the UK's nuclear new build program, despite the country's decision to leave the European Union. Nevertheless, the majority vote in favour of 'Brexit' - decided in a national referendum held yesterday - may have implications for investment in new reactors and nuclear research, as well as for the UK's future role in meeting climate change targets, industry participants said.

Despite challenging market conditions, the global nuclear industry delivered a strong operating performance and improvements in construction times of new reactors in 2015, according to a new report from the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ. The report says that if the world is to meet its climate change targets then the rate of new build will need to accelerate.

Omaha Public Power District'sÌýboard of directors has confirmedÌýthe Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in NebraskaÌýwill close by the end of this year. The board saidÌýretirement of the single-unit pressurized water reactor is in the best financial interest of the district.

Over $82 million in nuclear energy research, facility access, crosscutting technology development and infrastructure awards were announced yesterday by the US Department of Energy.

The Swedish parliament has today agreed to abolish a tax on nuclear power as it recognizes nuclear's role in helping it to eventually achieve a goal of 100% renewable generation.

Westinghouse can start building six AP1000s in India following an agreement signed yesterday during talks at the White House between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama. It is the first such opportunity for a US company since the countries signed a civil nuclear deal in 2008.

Politically feasible carbon pricing is not likely to provide the long-term revenue needed to support existing or new nuclear power projects. Instead, project-specific activities should be undertaken to keep existing nuclear in operation and to drive investment in new nuclear power plants - with the cost of these activities recovered as a cost of controlling carbon, writes Edward Kee.

Exelon announced today it will move forward with the early retirements of two nuclear power plants in Illinois - Clinton and Quad Cities - due to a lack of progress on the US state's energy policy.

Global climate goals are "more achievable than previously thought" because of progress in nuclear power plant construction, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which also called for electricity markets to favour all low-carbon technologies.