Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-12
Strauss Urges
.Expansionfor
Atomic Power

the Atomic Energy Commission,
who has been a target of con-
Igressional criticism in the de-
Ivelopment of atomic power. last
might Endorsed q. vast program
lof expansion in that direction.
In an address to the American
Nuclear Society, he advocated a
huge private and public program
of building nuclear plants to gen.
crate electricity for peaceful pur-
poses.
Admiral Strauss told the scien-
fists substantial progress has
been made toward the goal of
cheaper electric power from the
atom but conceded the results to
date represent only "A fraction
Iof the prospects for nuclear
power development in the United
States during the next five or six
years.
Eight-POint Program
The Acc chairman proposed
the building Of reactors Of vari-
GUS sizes and types that will
be economic in competition
with kolowatts produced from
conventional fuels. He recon-
mended an eight-point program
Jas follows:
| l. The Atomic Energy Com
mission would invite proposals
from private and publicly
owned industry for construction
of nuclear power plants. Each OF
the proposals would be con-
Isidered individually and there
would be no cutoff date for
them, as in the past. The pro-
Iposals, however, must promise
completion of the plant before
June 80. 1862.
2. Size and types of plants
would not be limited. The pro-
posals may come from individual
companies. groups of companies
or publicly owned utilities and
co-operatives.
3. Acc would give priority to
a large-scale reactor fueled with
natural uranium and using
heavy water as its moderator.
4. Industry would have first
opportunity to build the plants.
If acceptable proposals are not
received. Acc will act on its own
Initiative.
/ 5. Acc will be urged to in
crease opportunities for Govern
ment assistance in research and
development by assuming a
larger share of the cost involved
in these fields.
s. Further assistance should
be provided in the form of lower
use charges made by Acc in
leasing nuclear fuels for COM
mercial reactorS.
1 7. Acc should act promptly
to fix charges at which it will be
willing to "enter into firm COM
mitments for the chemical proc
IeSsing of nuclear fuel chemicals
in Government facilities"
I 8. Aces partnership" with
industry should be broadened to
include reactor projects designed
| for other commercial uses. such
as space heating. chemical proc
essing or treatment of plastics.
Chairman Strauss said the
plant now being built at Ship
ipingport. Pa, the worlds first
large-scale atomic power project
devoted exclusively to- civilian
needs, will be in operation IN
1857. He also said:
There are plans in various
stages of discussion or negotia-
ton for at least 10 civilian nu-
clear power plants in this coun-
try to come into operation by
1852. These plants will repre-
sent an investment of well over
$3.50 million, with a large proper
ton of that sum to be supplied
by industry itself"
LOO Scientists at Farley
/ Admiral Strauss address at a
banquet held in the Sheraton
Park Hotel, was the highlight
of the first winter meeting OF the
American Nuclear Scientists.
Much to the surprise Of all ON
cials, the three-day convention
has attracted more than LOO
scientists.
The Importance of the group
to the country was pointed up in
a message from President Eisen-
hover, read by Admiral Strauss.
1T said, In part:
/ Upon no other group OF men
in our country is there a greater
responsibility for our progress
and technical leadership in the
peaceful development of this
great scientific discovery that
has been made during our life
time"