Evening star., 1946-09-08
By the Associated Pres,

NEW YORK, Sept. 7.-Americar
scientists told the United Nation.
Atomic Energy Commission in a re.
port made public tonight that q
nuclear power plant with a capacity
output of $4,000 kilowatts probably
could be built and fully equipped
for s25.000,000 In normal locality
in the Eastern United States.
The normal operating cost st ca
pacity, however, would be approx
mately 0.8 cents per kilowatt hour
as compared with a coal power plant
which could be set up for $4,000, ,00l
under the same conditions and oper-
ate at cost of 065 cents per kilo-
watt hour.
Advantages of the nuclear plan,
as weighed against the cheaper pro-
duction of power from coal under
present conditions would include the
output of by-product radioactive
isotopes for use in analysis and med.
ical treatment. the report said, al.
though this probably would have
little effect on the economies OF
power production.
Heating, Steam Advantages.
The nuclear plant would yield GER
tain advantages also over HYDRO
electric power plants in being able
to supply heating and process steam
directly in addition to power. the
report said.
The nuclear plant might aid in
the industrial development of iso-
lated parts of the world where the
cost of oil, gas or coal is prohibitive
and where a suitable supply of water
is unavailable, because the nuclear
power plant, if combined with the
modern gas turbine. would make
unnecessary supply of any such
fuels or cooling water" the report
said.
The visionary atomic energy plant
for peaceful use in industry and
public utility was Sketched on a
hypothetical scale in one of a series
of reports prepared under direction
of Bernard NJ. Baruch, head of the
United States delegation to the UN
Atomic Energy Commission.
Nontechnical Report.
It was presented to the atomic
commissioners representing II ma
tions--the Security Council members
and Canada-as non-technical
report on possible future uses of
nuclear reactors. The basis of ii
was study supervised by Dr.
Charles A. Thomas, vice president
and technical director of the Mon
santo Chemical Co.. which directs
the Clinton Laboratories at Oak
Ridge, Tenn.
The report was made public just
in advance of meeting at Lake
Success Monday at which the l2-
nation scientific and technical COM
mittee is expected to give formal
unanimous approval to its report
to the atomic Committee No g.
The latter committee also is con-
cerned with the political aspects OF
atomic energy in the American and
Russian plans for peaceful world
control of nuclear power.
Differences Noted.
The Thomas report said the in
dustrial atomic energy plant would
differ from that which produced
the bomb in that:
"A. The operating temperature
would be high enough to supply
power, and;
B. All the plutonium formed
would be recovered for later con.
sumption in the pile. No attempt
would be made to produce plutoniun
for use elsewhere
The report said that q number
of changes in design and operating
technique different from those o,
the bomb-producing plant) woule
be necessary.
AN extensive research and de
velcpment program would be re
quired 10 solve the problems which
will arise" it went on. "Thes
J problems appear difficult but no