Evening star., 1941-07-29

l40 DlulOIlS anu III IOfA VIII ott''AAA
somewhere between l67 and ITO
billion kiloWatt hours.
But the NaZis are using about so
per cent of their electric power pro-
duction for defense, while the United
States is using only about 10 per
cent, While governmental eXpendi-
lures in America for defense average
about sl.O00,OOO,O0O a month, Ger
many is believed to be averaging
three times that amount and she
needs power to make synthetic rub
Der. gasoline, magnesium, aluminium
and steel and other critical mate
rials.
The Federal Power Commission
has been given the task of moblliz-
ing Americas electric power re-
sources and it is expected that in
1912 the United States will reach
i97 billions of kiloWatt hours OF
production, and in 1943 probably
2l4 billions. If America begins to
spend at the rate of 3,000000,000
month. the electric power needed for
the defense program may run some
where between so and so per cent of
the electrical energy generated
throughout the country.
Comprehensive Plan Ready.
Such a tremendous transition will
call for the highest engineering
talents of the electrical power in
dustry and for a speed in building
new generating and transmission
equipment which will enable Amer
ica's growing defense plans to be
supplied with the necessary cleo
trical power for the new plants that
will be needed.
A program of construction involv-
ing at least s40O,000,000 a year has
been authorized. Some of it will
be in hydroelectric and public
power projects and some in private
utility steam plants and extensions.
The whole job is a colossal under
taking and it is fortunate that the
Federal Power Commission, with
its able engineering staff headed
by Thomas R. Tate. has been
studying the emergency needs on
electric power and is ready with a
comprehensive plan.
The other day Secretary Ickes
criticized the Federal Power Com
missions plan and said it was not
properly set up. His criticism re-
lated particularly to projects in
Portland and Seattle, where he said
negotiations had been under way
TO buy out private companies. The
commissions plan, however, does
not in any way interfere with such
sale. because the construction is
not scheduled to begin in those two
points until some time in 1943, by
which time the question of whether
the private companies in Portland
and Seattle will or will not have
been sold TO the Government prob
ably will have been determined
Authority Granted by Congress.
The Federal Power Commission is
q technical body and its work is not
known to the public generally, but
1t is one of the most important of
the governmental agencies and has
at its head Leland Olds, who is rec
ognized as a hard-working and eff
cient public servant The commits
sion numbers among its personnel
some who have been prominently
known as advocates of public owner
ship but it is to be doubted whether
In carrying on the national emer-
eency plans the commission will
sllov the controversy over public
or private ownership to impede the
rapid development of more electric
power production.
The authority of the commission
30 handle the whole defense prob
lem as it relates to electric power
Is specifically derived from an act
of Congress. so there can be no
question as to the right of the COM
mission to go ahead with its plans
for construction and for the mo-
Utilization of electrical energy by in
terconnection or any other eff
eiencies that can be developed to
conserve power. The statute of 1885
was far-seeing in delegating to the
commission instructions for ham
ding the electrical power problem
In a national emergency related to
war. 1t says. in part:
During the continuance of any
war in which the United States is
engaged, or whenever the commits
sion determines that an emergency
exists by reason of sudden in
crease In the demand for electric
energy, or a shortage of electric
energy or of facilities for the gen.
Grafton or transmission of electric
energy, or of fuel or water for gen.
Grating facilities, or other causes,
the commission shall have authority,
either upon its own action or upon
complaint, with or without notice,
hearing or report, to require by
order such temporary connections of
facilities and such generation, de-
livery, or transmission of electric
energy as in its judgment will best
meet the emergency and serve the
public interest"
The foregoing means that the
Federal Power Commission is des-
tined to become a key institution in
the evolution of our defense plans
and that Congress has given not
to one man but to board the
handling of this all-important pro-
gram.
DaserreS