The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-01-01
Pages KEY WEST CITIZEN thursday January l. 1883
When Will Atomic Energy Be
Harnessed For Industry?

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yentional power plants.
The coal, oil and gas industries
therefore are not quaking in their
boots-even though uranium re-
serves contain 10 times the energy
of U. S. oil reserves and a pound
of uranium holds energy equal to
| 600, 900 tons of coal. The utility
companies are anxious to see
start on an industrial atomic pro-
gram.
Management of the program re-
quireS unraveling web of legal
obstacles under the Atomic Energy
Act. Industry would like the gov
eminent to foot most of the de-
velopmental bills. 1t wants an as
sured supply of uranium "fueP'
from the sole owner, Uncle Sam.
The Acc on its side must decide
among a host of vital questions,
whether it now can relax its en-
phasis on military problems suf-
ficiently to delve into civilian mat
tiers; whether it can write terms
under which private interests are
admitted into an industry devel-
oped with public funds and how to
substitute an industry which almost
certainly will need subsidies for a
time, possibly for long time.
On the technical side, much of
industry Is no stranger to the
atom. Most of the atomic weapons
program which as an industry
compares in scale with General
Motors or United States Steel--is
managed by private contractors on
a cost-plus basis.
Industry's interest in an atomic
electric power plant has grown and
numerous proposals have been
advanced. Most Of them rely on
the fact that a reactor can be
built to produce both energy and
new supply of fashionable ma
terials for sale to the government.
By paying enough for the latter,
the government could, in effect,
absorb part of the cost of power.
Other proposals include:
/. An industry proposal that Acc
build and own a pilot-plant reactor.
Once it is completed and technical
questions answered, industry might
invest in a full-scale plant.
2. Another industry plan. from
DOW Chemical Company and De-
troit Edison Company: That Gov
eminent research be continued I'M
til. technical problems are solved,
wherein 'the two companies would
like TO build and operate a com.
mercial-siZed reactor plant using
private capital and without re.
course to governmental funds"
3. A proposal having consider.
able support in government and
industry: The government would
build and own a reactor TO make
power and plutonium; Tn the same
site, private utilities would build
the necessary facilities to take off
the energy and distribute il. No
change in the Atomic Energy Act
would be needed.
4. The power package" pro.
poSal: This plan. under serious
Acc consideration. calls for fed,
eral construction of a small plant
in an isolated area where conven.
tional power is excessively high
priced, Acc Is now making a sur,
vey Of such marginal power areas
where atomic energy might be
competitive.
S. The all-government approach
Acc might build the first plan;
and generate power for It's own
use. The atomic program, far from
adding TO the country's power
capacity. next year viii be con,
Stunning 2ls per cent Of all power
produced.
6, The foundation proposal: Ad,
vaneed by a former Acc member.
this plan suggests that private
foundations pool their funds so
finance an atomic power plant for
developmental purposes.
7. The offShore proposal: Ar
atomic power plant might pay its
way in countries where electricity
costs more than in the United
States; several have suggested tina,
Point Four appropriations might be
used TO build q pioneer reactor in
some underdevelcped country.
II is quite possible that England
viii show America the way. Rri.
tain repeatedly plans 70 start next
year the worlds first nuclear hS.
S'oa plant TO provide power for in
daStry. The electricity Is expected