NUCLEAR POWER- OVER THE HILL · ·---=--=~- --sJl­ SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 L--- !L_. - -- - ~ •Contents Comment Sizewen•s Finished 3 A summary of the FoE Report of the Nuclear power is over the hill. Chernobyl has Sizewell B Inquiry, by STEVE MARTIN simply accelerated the process that politicians News 4-6 Torness: The Case Against 1 have to go through to fit in with the views Changed circumstances mean that held by the majority of the people. Torness must stop, by JOHN HOME ROBERSTON MP. Leukaemia Block Spots 8-9 This rethinking process took a great leap Further official studies ore designed to forward at the T rode Union Congress in hide the truth, by JAMES CUTLER; Brighton. The motion for the "phase out", and on interview with Or Barrie rather than the "freeze", was defeated by Walker of Seascole conducted by CHARLES SEARLE. only 60,000 votes; a mere finger nail on the The Radon Gas Problem 10 hand of a trade union leader as the voting The truth about radon in the home card was held aloft. And we all know that and how it con be remedied, by PETE deals were struck in the smoke filled ROCHE. Renewable Energy Scandal 11-14 corridors, deals which robbed us of total The shobby history of renewable energy victory. research in the UK, by DAVID ROSS. North American Experience 15-16 How the North Americans have taken The General Council's report to Congress, the lead in energy conservation, by which was passed, called for a halt to the DA VID OLIVIER. nuclear power programme pending a full and Socialism & Energy 17 critical review of the industry. This stance is The background to the SERA Energy Group and what the future holds, by a change of TUC policy: the next power MIKE MALINA. stations should be coal-fired; Sizewell B West Dorset Safe Energy Group 18 should be opposed; the magnox stations should From opposing nuclear power to promoting safe energy, by YVONNE be closed if their safety reviews show they PETER. fail to meet up to date standards; a job Appropriate Technology 19-20 conversion study, to redeploy nuclear workers, Reviews 21-22 should be initiated; reprocessing should be Little Black Rabbit 24 reviewed; and nuclear health and safety should be critically examined. Very few anti-nuclear campaigners would disagree with that. JOHN HOME ROBERSTON is the Labour MP for East Lothian. What needs to be addressed now, and what JAMES CUTLER produced Yorkshire TV's we have devoted much of this issue of "Windscale, the Nuclear Laundry". CHARLES SEARLE is the Campaign for Nuclear SCRAM to, is implementation of appropriate Disarmament Nuclear Free Zone worker. alternatives to nuclear power: energy PETE ROCHE is a member of the Edinburgh conservation and the renewables. We need to Draughtproofing Ltd co-operative. DAVID ROSS is a freelance writer in the lobby our trade unions and political parties, renewable energy field. particularly the Labour Party, to make sure DA VID OLIVIER runs Energy Advisory Associates. that the promise of energy conservation is MIKE MALINA is SERA's campaign co-ordinator. not lost in the replacement of nuclear YVONNE PETER is the Honorary Secretary of the West Dorset Safe Energy Campaign. electricity generation with coal or oil. Any new fossil fuelled plants must include both desulphurisation technologies and district heating schemes. But before we build any new generating capacity, we must put a stop to This Journal Is produced for the British Anti­ Nuclear and Safe Energy movement by the the enormous amount of energy which we Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace waste, in the home and at work. (SCRAM). The "North American Experience" (page 15) Editors Steve Martin News: Thorn Dibdin shows that, in a country dependent on market Graphics: Wilf Plum forces, energy conservation wins through. Surely we can introduce the same ideas into SCRAM, l1 Forth Streetp Edinburgh EHl 3LE. Tel: 031 557 4283/4 Britain, making us more, rather than less competitive. It is the only way. ISSN 0140 7340 Bi-monthly

We welcome contributions of articles, news stories and graphics. Deadline for the next issue: Articles (800 words/page), 17 October News & grophlc:s, 24 October.

2 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 Sizewell's Finished Friends of the Earth's (FoE) Report on the Sizewell Inquiry, "Critical Decision: Should Britain buy the Pressurised Water Reactor?", is finished. While waiting for Sir Frank Layfield to present his Report to the Government, FoE have compiled their own concise record of the Inquiry which provides an outline survey of the major themes and arguments. STEVE MARTIN here summarises the Report.

The Government put forward a plan have been tested. The South of to order ten American designed Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) nuclear power stations in 1979, and provided evidence which conflicted the Central Electricity Generating with the CEGB's on the relative Board (CEGB) declared its intention safety and economic performance of in the area of Sizewell A difficult to to build the first of them at Sizewell the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor draw. The suggested operator exposure in October 1980. A Public Inquiry into (AGR) and the PWR. The CEGB rate of 2 man-seiverts per year is the proposal, with Sir Frank Layfield suggested a 20% cost advantage for. half the comporoble figure for French os the Inspector, began at Snape the PWR; the SSEB a 9% advantage PWRs and, os such, seems unlikely to Maltings in Suffolk in January 1983 for the AGR. be achievable. and finished in March 1985. The FoE Report covers several Economics: The CEGB conceded that Nuclear Weapons Proliferation: Post headings: the Inquiry process, the Sizewell B is not needed to satisfy experience has shown a de.sire by CEGB's case, reactor choice, electricity demand, instead they based certain developing notions to acquire economics, PWR safety, local issues, the economic case on justifying nuclear weapons by the nuclear power nuclear waste, low level radiation, building ahead of need. The route; permission for Sizewell B would nuclear weapons proliferation, ond methodology used, Net Effective be a clear endorsement of nuclear energy conservation and CHP. Cost, balances the lifetime costs of power and could lead to demands from the station against the assumed fuel such nations to acquire the savings over alternative supplies. FoE technology. The witholding of official estimate that, over the operating life information of plutonium stocks and of the plant, it would cost the uses from the Inquiry inhibited firm consumer over £ 1,000m, whereas the conclusions from being mode, but up CEGB reckon that it will save over to 3 tonnes of civil plutonium appears £1, lOOm. to be unaccounted for in official figures. · PWR Safety: Over a third of the Inquiry was token up. with safety. Energy Conservation and CHP: Largely However, much of the design work neglected os on option in the UK, US took place concurrently with, and utilities hove shown that energy after the ending of, the Inquiry; the conservation con reduce demand and is CEGB was ill-prepared and broke more cost-effective than new power promises to Parliament that the stations. A large CEGB initiative The Inquiry Process: FoE believe that Nuclear Installations Inspectorate could reduce consumption by 7% and the case for funding of objectors is would wish to enter the Inquiry with peak demand by 4,000M W by the now .overwhelming, and would lead to a clear view on their ability to year 2000. It could save £2.5-4 billion more efficient and speedier inquiries. licence the PWR. The safety of (1983 prices) worth of fuel. A Witnesses should not be legally Sizewell B has not been demonstrated Combined Heat and Power District represented because this tends to at the Inquiry. Heating scheme for London would hove highlight the disparity of resources a for superior economic and between proponents and objectors. Local Issues: The CEGB foiled to employment effect than Sizewell B. Future inquiries should not be adequately assess alternative sites, restricted to site-specific issues only; according to internal development Conclusion: The optimism of the the merits of government policy reviews leaked to objectors; Sizewell CEGB's case for the Sizewell B PWR should not be exempt from the· was chosen because of the need to does not seem to be justified on the debate. Serious consideration should be reduce objections and took advantage basis of their evidence to the most given towards setting up a Standing of Suffolk County Council's general comprehensive public inquiry ever seen Commission which would regularly acceptance. The Emergency Plan in Britain. The Opposition Parties hove review the relevant issues. limited the evacuation zone to 1! stated that, should they be returned miles compared with a 10 to 15 mile to power at the next election, The CEGB's Case: Although their case, zone prevailing in the USA. Sizewell B will be shelved. But, there was voluminous, it was inadequate. Independent research indicated that is no room for complacency; it is only Safety and nuclear weapons only 80 local construction jobs would through sustained, unrelenting pressure proliferation data were missing; the be created. from ordinary people that the power reactor design was unsatisfactory and of the nuclear industry con be changed during the inquiry; a nuclear Nuclear Waste: The availability of changed. waste policy barely existed; a national safe nuclear waste disposal routes Keep it up! energy policy within which Sizewell B within the required time raised could be assessed was not available; considerable doubts. The estimated and rival energy options were neither volume of waste arisings was found to fully nor impartially assessed. Unstated be widely off the mark. A national arguments, with strong political nuclear waste disposal strategy was overtones, were also present. hastily produced during the Inquiry.

Reactor Choice: A strong argument Low Level Radiation: Major which grew out of the inquiry was differences of opinion on the risks of to delay a fundamental decision on low level radiation still remain which reactor choice until rival assumptions make conclusions on excess leukaemios

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 3 I News

ISellafield solved.) to the most radioactively polluted sea The following week all reprocessing in the world: the Black Sea could soon Isn't it about time that Sellafield work at Sellafield was halted when it claim that dubious distinction after changed its name again? There have was discovered that a consignment of Chernobyl. been so many accidents, leaks and waste to be discharged into the Irish mishaps since BNFL's exercise in Sea was more radioactive than is nomenclature that their plan to allowed under new limits set by the subtlety deceive the unsuspecting Government last month. public has backfired. August has been Under the new regulations, • • • • na exception. radioactive discharges must be kept KEEP MANN ALIVE BNFL paid compensation of £40,000 within limits defined on a two-day, to the widow of a painter who died rather than yearly, basis. This is from lung cancer after working at the intended to prevent the kind of Close Sellafield plant. The company have consistently concentrated discharge which was claimed that no one has died as a result discovered in October 1983 by Since the article in SCRAM 54 about of the nuclear industry in this country. Greenpeace divers. If the effluent had the Isle of Man's fight to close They have been equally consistent in been discharged the Government would Sellafield, the campaign has gone paying compensation to the families of have been forced to prosecute again. from strength to strength, with the workers who have died from cancer Of course BNFL Is whining that the Manx Government coming out strongly in support of the campaign. related diseases. Despite the current new limits are too strict and that On 7 July, Tynwald Day, two advertising drive, BNFL do not seem they cannot operate under such women used the ancient Manx right to very keen to announce the reasons for restrictions: is that not an admission present a "petition for redress of their benificence. that they can't run a safe industry? On 14 August the New Scientist Embarrassing perhaps, but not quite grievance" to the open-air parliament, presided over by Prince Edward. revealed that post mortems on the as embarrassing as the predicament of Wearing specially designed dresses in bodies of three former Sellafield the Dutch ambassador. Whilst touring the Manx colours of red and yellow, workers showed concentrations of the plant he managed to stray into a decorated with the campaign's symbol, plutonium in their lungs hundreds, and contaminated area, and one of his they walked up the long path to the in one case thousands, of times higher aides was found to have a smidgen of than in the general population. radioactivity on his trousers. The assembled politicians, supported all the (Perhaps it's because they worked health physicist promptly ordered the way by applause from the watching there when it was called Windscale.) removal of the offending item of crowd. The politicians could hardly The study also found that clothing. Sellafield had some 30,000 ignore this public show of solidarity concentrations of plutonium in the visitors last year: it's a good job they for the campaign against Sellafield. bodies of Cumbrians who did not work don't all get contaminated trousers, After four hours of well informed at the plant average between 50% and otherwise the drycleaning bill could debate from Tynwald members, who 250% higher than elsewhere in Britain. adversely affect the price of nuclear largely recognised the necessity of (Maybe if we changed the name of electricity. closure for the Jsland's future, a plutonium to something inocuous like Meanwhile, Sellafield could be about motion was passed by 22 votes to 9. marigoldium all our problems would be to lose the distinction of being next Points included in the motion were: • A call for the complete closure of Sellafield; IRadheatth * Tynwald accepts the lack of success of the Isle of Man government's current policy to In SCRAM 52 we carried a story among workers" according to the study. obtain zero emissions by December about a successful law suit brought.in The factory processes monazite 1986; Malaysia against the construction of a rock to produce thorium for the fuel * Compensation should be sought toxic and radioactive waste dump. The for lndi(l's fast reactor programme, from the UK Government against dump was to take waste from an and zirconium for fuel cladding. ~oth damage by implication to the •basic Asian Rare Earth factory which materials are radioactive. industries of the Isle of Man; processes monazite rock to produce No data have yet been officially • Consultation should be instituted Yttrium. published on the health of India's with regional authorities around The litigants claimed that the 20,000 nuclear industry workers and the Irish Sea to co-ordinate future wastes could cause cancer and genetic the study published by the group "was policy; and disorders. Recent evidence published undertaken in contravention of the * Advice should be sought from by a team of Indian researchers Indian Atomic Energy Act of 1962, the European Atomic Energy confirm the Malayan fears. which prohibits any independent inquiry Commission concerning the A factory in the Ernakulam into the affairs, including health and standards of operation at Sellafield. district of India, run by a company safety of employees," according to called Indian Rare Earths, part of the Gyanesh Kudaisya, one of the BNFL has dismissed the call as government's Department of Atomic scientists who worked on the study. "totally irrational" and ask "if Energy, appears to be associated with The study also uncovered Sellafield is not affecting the Isle of high rates of cancer and heart disease. disturbing examples of waste disposal: Man, why do they want us to close The researchers, who work yrith 600 tonnes of radioactive uranium it?" The Manx argue that the plant IS Kerala Sashtra Sahitya. Parishat, a and mesothorium is buried close to affecting their island; people don't voluntary organisation in the Indian the banks of thr Periyas river; and want to take holidays in the middle of "people's science" movement, 5,000 tonnes of thorium powder is the world's most radioactive sea, or discovered that the death rate from stored in a silo a few metres from eat the fish caught in it. cancer at the Rare Earths plant is the river bank. "In the event of a FOUR times higher than at a high tide, water can enter the silo neighbouring caustic soda factory and and contaminate the source of almost SEVEN times as high as the drinking water five kilometres national average for workers. The downstream," says Kudaisya. heart disease rate is about twice normal, and there is a "high incidence of genetic disorders among Indian Rare Earths' workers" and there is evidence of "widespread infertility -~11'~ /~ - ~ - 4 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 News-

I the situation will get much worse. Lord Morsholl, nuclear power is the Coal There are fears now that this new lost form of energy that developing deal betwee.n the SSEB and British countries need. He pointed out that At about the same time as the Cool could seal the fate of the 950 nuclear generation was introduced to Sizewell report will be landing on the jobs remaining at Monktonholl, and India to entice the multi-notiono.l desks of Whitehall, the Central perhaps 350 of the 1,400 jobs at corporations who need it in their own Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) Bilston Glen - even without T orness. Industries. The benefits to the people wiJl be examining o detailed study lt seems clear that the Government of India are minimal. Into o new generation of cool-fired ore quite happy to sit back and see power stations. The CEGB's evidence the Scottish coalfield close down. to the Sizewell Inquiry on the cost of coal was based on Drox, the design of which is nearly 25 years old. The main debate about any future IDruridg cool programme centres on whether new plant should hove sub or The Druridge Boy Campaign (DBC) is supercrlticol steam cycles. Without forging links with campaigners in going into too much technical detail, India. Mr Kulothungon, an Indian supercrltlcol plant use higher steam nuclear physicist, is in this country to pressures and, os o consequence, ore glean information about safety in India's more efficient. Supercriticol stations nuclear plants, which is not available ore operating in the US and Jopon, In that country due to official secrecy. and both countries plan to stay with He told o meeting organised by this technology. the DBC on 2 August that despite Whichever option the CEGB claims by the Indian Government that chooses, new cool-fired stations will a Chernobyl-type accident couldn't hove to emit fewer pollutants, and happen in India, "the first thing that designs ore being prepored on the is cut back on when costs rise is basis of having to meet draft EEC safety." regulations for new fossil-fuelled Mr Kulothungon expressed the After o hard day at the Stop Torness stations completed In or after 1996. opinion that despite the claims of rally, the Druridge Bay Campaigners By the turn of the century cool­ pack up their stall. burning should be in pres.surised fluidised beds, in which tiny cool particles ore mixed with sand and ash 1 Accidents Will Happen at high pressure. Forced olr makes the porticles act like a fluid. The technology Is being developed at e A massmg screw was responsible was shut in July lost year otter on Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire, and for the delayed restart of of the "inadvertent critlcollty", has not been £25 million has been spent In the post Gundremmigen reactor In Bavaria. In commercial opperatlon since then. two years. The Electrical Power After being shutdown for maintenance Research Institute and the US work, tlie loss of loss of five screws e The failure of a valve in the Deportm~nt of Energy o.re to give £8 from o shut-off valve was discovered; steam generator system of the Asco 2 million towards the research, which four were found but the lost one Westinghouse PWR in Spain has forced should bring the day closer when o continues to elude the operators. The its closure. The plant started up lost prototype plant with on output of owners, RWE and Beyernwerk, who ore October. IOOMW is built. sold to have lost millions of Marks Yet, the outlook for Scottish coal because of the delay, hove cut their e CEGB officials have denied that looks bleokh At the beginning of 1982, losses and reopened the reactor pressure was put on the Italian when the lnvergordon aluminium although the offending screw is still government to keep the twenty year smelter closed, the South of Scotland at large. { ~~ QJe:tHinkley Point B has been restarted twenty years, was supplied by Britain. tonnes to 7.5 million tonnes. Since despite crocks being found in the base The Italians feel that it Is the reactor then the price of oil has fallen, which of the fuel rod liners. Similar faults, most similar in design to Chernobyl, has allowed the electricity boards in which ore due to thermal stress during and hence would like to close it Scotland to burn that as o cheap refuelling, hove been found at down. But, its closure could adversely alternative. Between them, the Hunterston B, Hlnkley's sister station. affect the UK Mognox stations. Inverkip and Peterhead power stations burn the coal equivalent of 2.5 million e The Cottenom nuclear plant on e Since the commissioning of the tonnes o year. the Moselle river, the natural border French Superphenlx fast reactor in The SSEB has now announced that between France and Luxembourg, January this year there have been lt wiU buy only 3.6 million tonnes of which has been torgetted by protesters more than twenty emergency Scottish coal during 1986/7. Such o (see SCRAM 52), has been leaking shutdowns. One of the most notable substantial cut in income - selling less cooling water into its basement. The occurred when it was discovered coal at o lower price - must hove o flooding happened while the reactor that one of the fuel assemblies was direct effect on the viability of the was on precommissioning trials and overheating because of a "lost" Scottish pits. running at zero power. The loss of rubber bung. But as for os deep mines are coolant would hove been very serious concerned, the situation is even worse. if the accident had occurred after British Cool ore being secretive about commissioning. The most disturbing e The Finns, who were the first to plans for opencast cool, but more than feature of the leak was that the fault detect the radioactive cloud from half could be produced in this way. was not signalled in the control room. Chernobyl, but not the first to They ore also planning to extend announce its coming, suffered o loss opencast operations at Coolburn in of coolant accident (LOCA} In early Lanarkshire to serve the Kilroot power e The American Fermi-2 reactor September. The country has four station in Northern Ireland. suffered on electrical fire In the Soviet built reactors but has recently If Torness comes on stream In distribution system to the flow valve shelved plans to order a fifth. The 1987, and the price of oil is still low, In early august. The reactor which LOCA occurred during refuelling.

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 5 1News Torn

SCRAM, In conjunction with East the Edinburgh Festival, ond took the at the site. The people heard stirring Lothian District Council, has just line that this year could be the lost speeches from MPs, counclUors, trode completed a highly successful "Nuclear Free Festival" If Torness union leaders and envuironmemtal Information tour around nine villages goes ahead on schedule. Many visitors groups. In East Lothian. to the information bus were Festival SCRAM and Geenpeoce, who jointly The object of the tour was to patrons and expressed concern at the organised the rally, ore particularly provide information on nuclear power proximity of a nuclear power station grateful to BEN ELTON who agreed ond the alternatives to areas of small to the Festival City. The tour showed to attend the rally at very short population that ore usually missed out vividly that there is still a lot of notice and filled in for Billy Connolly during public meetings, rallies and confusion on the Issue of Torness, who was unable to come because exhibitions. This objective was even after 12 years of campaigning. Pometo Stephenson had just given achieved with a good deal of success The tour was staffed by one full birth to o boby daughter. We wish ond much Interest was evident In both time project co-ordinator and several Billy, Pomela and their daughter every the Information stall and the specially volunteers, Including one woman from happiness In the future. prepared five boord exhibition. Boston USA. Everybody Involved We would also like to thank the The Initiative for the tour come as learned a lot from the experience and Councils of East Lothian, West o result of a major public meeting the ~bock from East Lothian has Lothian, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Lothian organised jointly by East Lothian been excellent. Region and Dumbarton for the kind District and Lothian Regional Councils The SCRAM "Stop Torness Rally" support given to the rally; and also to In June following the local concern was also very successful and attracted our supporters and the people of felt after Chernobyl and the nearly 3,000 people who were Edinburgh and East Lothian who apparently Imminent fuel loading at predomfnantly local, which la very donated on enormous am.ount ot. cosh Torness. different to the make-up of the to allow the event to take place. The overwhelming feeling of the crowds which came to previous rallies Without this financial help we could meeting was that there was still not never have done lt. enough information being made ovallob'le by the South of Scotland Electricity Board. Or Preston, the Boord's deputy chairman, admitted Following• the• Information • tour we• feel that there hod been a "serious thot we con provide a valuable deterioration of public confidence," contribution to the ongoing energy but that they could not hold up the debate by compiling exhibitions for commissioning of T orness: that was g.roups throughout the country. We are for the Government to decide, contacting locol authorities over the although Malcolm Rlfklnd, the Scottish next few weeks to offer then Secretary has gone on record os exhibition material, and we con saying that the decision Is the Booed's. provide the bo5lc Tour Exhibition or Or Preston promised a bigger effort specially prepared boards to any group to "alloy public fears," but this was which may wish them. met by jeers from the 500 people Each board is 40" x 30" and Is present: they sow it os a euphemism laminated, although we are looking at for more propaganda. the costs of producing printed paper The SCRAM tour was Inaugurated exhibitions which con be pinned onto by Lord Provost John McKoy of boards. For further details contact Edinburgh District Council In the the SCRAM office for o descriptive City's Princes Street Gardens during leaflet. Doun

The controversial public inquiry Into May and o further session In "unwllllng to breach the long­ plans to build o plant at Dounreay to Invergordon on 23 and 2• June. The established practice of not providing reprocess spent fuel from o doubtful Orkney session took place because funding for parties to attend public future European fast reactor parts of Orkney ore closer to Inquiries." programme adjourned for the summer Dounreay than ports of Caithness. The Shetland Islands Council ore now on 16 July. lt will reconvene on 22 Inquiry went to Invergordon after dlscus.slng alternative methods of September, ond evidence on the health persistent complaints thot the having their voice heard. Mr Tharnason Implications will be heard from 6 Reporter, Alexander Bell, was gagging has suggested calling a North Sea October. the local people: they object to their Notions' conference on the issue Throughout the Inquiry one view town being used os a "part of entry" because "we ore oil living around the prevailed: the application is premature for the spent fuel from abroad. some pond, eomlng our livings from In that much of the essential detailed Rumour has it that this favour was the fish." information is not yet available, but offered only if o request to convene Other ideas Include on alternative this has been repeatedly excused in Shetland was dropped. Peoples' Inquiry, a referendum and because the application Is oniy for A special plea from Shetland using oll money to help people get to outline planning permission. lt Is on Islands Council was heard at the Thurso to put their case. Every record ot the Inquiry that the Inquiry on 10 July when Convenor household on Shetland Is to receive a Intention Is to achieve the necessary Thomoson urged the Reporter, to hold leaflet with o tear-off strip which planning permission at an early stage o session in Shetland. Mr Bell refused people con use to register their so that the UK con bid for the the request but offered to "Investigate feelings on the Issue. reprocessing plant against the other If any assistance con be given In One other point of Interest Is that European members of the fast reactor transporting at least a group of the Government has restated Its collaboration, particularly the French Islanders to Thurso" to be heard. Intention to "rote cop" the Orkney who have expressed an interest In However, on 16 July Mr Bell Informed and Shetland Councils If the Inquiry building the plant. the Inquiry that "the Scottish Office expenditure takes them over the For most of the time the Inquiry feels unable to give any assistance Government guidelines: there would be was held In Thurso Town Hall with o towards the transport of the witnesses no "disregard" of Dounreay expenditure brief sojourn to Orkney from 21-23 from Shetland" because they ore os for as guidelines were concerned. ' SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 Torness: The Case Against Nearly fifteen years ago, only a very small minority of people in this country were against nuclear power. Since then the tide And what about the coal industry? has turned, and the anti-nuclear view is in the majority. In What about Cockenzie power station? 1978 JOHN HOME ROBERTSON won a by-election for Labour Back in '78 there was growing demand for electricity in Scotland, and that in the Berwickshire and East Lothian constituency. He was then was the case for building a new power in favour of Torness; he is now against. In July this year he station. Since 1979 we've hod a mad spoke at the SCRAM Stop Torness Rally. The following is an Government in Westminster, one which edited version of his speech. has gone out of its way to strangle our industry and to impoverish our people. They closed down the lnvergordon Aluminium Smelter which consumed almost enough electricity to keep one whole power station going. COALBURN SLASHED

The net result of all that is that we now have in Scotland 11,219MW worth of generating capacity, but the peak demand last winter was only 5,688MW: we've got 100% more generating capacity than we need at I think to start with I probably owe Emergency Plans for Civil Nuclear the moment of peak demand. We don't you an explontion. The first time I Installations, a copy of which is need to be very clever to tell that if was at a rally at T orness was about 7 available in the Library of the House we commission another 1,400M W at years ago, and I was on the other side of Commons. Torness somehing else is likely to be of the fence at that time. In common, I found that the booklet only closed. I think with most local people, I provides for precautions up to a We got the answer to that question honestly could not understand why maximum of 40km away from a when the SSEB and British Coal people were coming from far away nuclear power station. We have a ban announced in July that the coal burn places to campaign against jobs for on the movement of contaminated in Scottish power stations was to be East Lothian; to campaign against the lamb from parts of Scotland which are slashed by maybe as much as two system of electricity generation which a great deal more than 40km from million tonnes a year. The fight is appeared to be safer, and to be Chernobyl; we are in fact 2,200km now on to save the Lothian coal field cleaner than anything that had gone away. That surely gives us a message. and Cockenzie power station. And before. Of course, we hod another hand­ make no mistake, this nation is going There were a lot of very impressive out from the South of Scotland to need these coal reserves sooner and very plausible people telling us Electricity Board saying that a serious rather than later: it would be madness that it was absolutely inconceivable nuclear accident at T orness is, guess to allow our local collieries to close. that there could be a serious nuclear what, "inconceivable". Government Ministers, and the accident at a modern power station. I hove hundreds of letters from people in the Electricity Board, keep And similarly we were persuaded that local people which demonstrates that telling us that it would be a waste of Torness was part of a balanced energy nobody in this neighbourhood believes money not to take advantage of the strategy which would go hand in hand those assurances any more. The investment that's gone into Torness. I with coal and conventional fuel 'Overwhelming majority of people would like to stand the argument on sources. in East Lothian and Berwickshire are its head: there would be a far bigger very worried indeed about the waste of resources, and money, and ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED possibility of an accident on this site; skills, and jobs if we were to allow and I am bound to say that I share Monktonhall and Bilston Glen and That was back in 1978. A lot of that concern because I live with my Cockenzie to close. things have happened since then to family, only 20 miles, as the make many of us change our minds., becquerel flies, from T orness. CLEAR COMMITMENT We began to hove some of those "inconceivable accidents". The first EMPLOYMENT LIES I've had a lot to say about T orness one that we heard about was at Three in recent months, both in Parliament Mile Island, and then the information That's one reason why I've been and within the Labour Party, and I leaked out, 20 years late, about the thinking again about nuclear power, can tell you with complete confidence major fire at Windscale in 1957: And but there other reasons too. They that if Labour was in power today finally we had that most inconceivable told us a lot of things about Torness. there would be no question of accident of all, on 26 April this year It would cure East Lothian's commissioning Torness now. at Chernobyl. It was so inconceivable unemployment problems. Back in 1982, Our commitment is now clear that nobody had even bothered to when we hod 4,000 local people on enough, our commitment is to begin make any contingency plans to deal the dole, including 700 construction the task of phasing out nuclear power. with the fall-out on this country, or workers, 78% ,of the Torness workforce The demand that I put to Mr. Rifkind anywhere else. was coming from outside the area; on behalf of the people of East What did I do? I asked the Prime people from East Lothian have never Lothian, and the demand which must Minister if she would tell me what made up more than 27% of the be pressed by this Rally and by all would happen if there were to be construction workforce on the site. possible means in the coming weeks, similar accident at Torness. And she Any short term benefit to the is that those reactors should not be told me, In a written Parliamentary economy of Dunbar has to be set loaded. Reply {which is a masterpiece of against the disruption of the local Circumstances hove changed in the complacency): "The Chernobyl design tourist industry; and we are still past seven years; we do not need this is different from that of any UK waiting for the SSEB to give practical extra generating capacity; we do not reactors." She went on to refer me to backing to East Lothian District wont another nuclear site; and we o nice little booklet, published by the Council's "Dunbar inititive" to try and demand a halt to the loading of Health and Safety Executive, on develop this area. Torness now.

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 7 Leukaemia Black Spots After Sir Douglas Black reported the results of his study into hove all been Implicated in the post. the apparent excess of childhood leukoemios around Sellofield, The researchers who gave evidence the low level radiation debate moved into a higher gear. More to the Block Inquiry knew very well areas of higher than overage childhood leukaemia have been that some of the areas other than discovered, and further studies have been undertaken. But, as Seoscole, with high cancer and leukaemia rotes, hod chemical plants JAMES CUTLER reports, the authorities ore thinking up new and military microwave installations excuses to explain away the statistics. In them, but this also escaped mention in the final Report. At Seoscole, however, the only possible cause of Driving out of Seoscale on a Spring most statistically significant. leukaemia found by Block was the day in 1983, I sensed that I had come Even more shockingly, it left out radioactive discharges from Sellofield. across some tragic evidence that, two more cases in Seoscole in 1983 Despite the obvious Illogicality of if substantiated, could turn out to which would hove put the village's this argument, it nos been used by the be an Important contribution to the leukaemia excess at twenty four nuclear lobby ond Government whole nuclear safety debate. I hardly times the regional average. Ministers everytlme another leukaemia realised that the repercussions of that excess Is reported near o nuclear evidence would be felt for years TWISTS OF LOGIC site: the v11lcge of Wool near the afterwards; would lead to o Winfrlth reactor; at Lydney near Government inquiry and the creation With this sleight of hand, Berkeley and Oldbury; at Lelston near of o new committee on radiation in reinforced by the prouncement that Sizewelll at Springflelds ur~lum the environment; and keep several Seosccle was "unusual but not unique", plant; at Aldermoston and Burghfleld medical and statistical research Block gave British Nuclear Fuels and nuclear weapons factories; at projech funded for years to come. the rest of the industry en argument Hunterston and Chopelcross nuclear Alerted by o local former, I hod with which to escape their power stations; and at Rosyth and seen the mother of o young leukaemia predkament. That argument goes like Holy Loch nuclear submarines bases in victim who told me of at least three this: Scotland. other cases that she knew of in the village over the years. After months 1) There Is a leukaemia excess near FURTHER STUDIES of further Investigation with colleague Sellafield , Michael t3urke and statistical 2) There ore other "similar" excesses The latest report, carried out by substantiation from John Urquhart of which ore nowhere near nuclear the Scottish Health Deportment, Newcastle University and other installations, pinpoints West Thurso near Dounreay experts, we were able to reveal In 3) Therefore the excess at os the area in Scotland with the most our Documentary "Wlndscole, the Sellafield has nothing to do with significant excess of leukaemia. But Nuclear Laundry", that Seoseole, 1l the nuclear plant here. more Important wos whot the report miles from the largest source of did not find: routine radioactive pollution In the Leaving aside the feet that world, hod a childhood leukaemia rate Seascole's childhood leukaemia rote is "The analysis has shown that there ten times the notional overage, with higher than any other village ln does not appear to be any evidence seven cases dioQnosed since 1955. Britain, this argument is potently daft of natural clustering on any scale because the other areas with high within postcode sectors. It seems THE BLACK INQUIRY leukaemia rotes could well contain unlikely that different methods of other causes of leukaemia. Like other analyses would produce o This prompted the Inquiry under forms of cancer, leukaemia con be substantially different result." Sir Douglas Block whose report, caused by several factors: microwave published in July 1984, was designed radiation, benzene and other chemicals In other words, leukaemia e xcesses ore to look comprehensive, fair and independent, but was in fact an exercise in statistical manipulation and deliberate ambiguity designed primarily to reassure. "Your job is to stir things up," Sir Douglas told me when I gave evidence, "Mine is to cool things down." Thus the Report's statement that the inquiry team hod found no evidence of o general risk to health near Sellofield was widely quoted despite the fact that a general health risk hod never been the Issue, but rather a specific risk of childhood leukaemia. On this Issue Block confirmed our findings, os we knew he would, and because he was using o shorter time period, and comparing Seoscole with the regional rather than notional average, came up with on even more pronounced excess of childhood leukaemia than we did (sixteen times the regional average between 1968 end 1982). However, the Report played this down by listing other areas with high leukaemia rotes end deliberately chose not to mention that Secscale's excess was by for the

8 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 not common all over the country os as well os at all the locations listed this new escape argument for the the nuclear lobby would have us above. nuclear lobby: check the parents' believe. Despite the fact that her crude occupations listed on the death Meanwhile, the Committee on data shows o definite correlation certificates of the actual victims. I Medical Aspects of radiation in the between under 25 leukaemia mortality have my own collection of these sad Environment (COMARE), set up after and living within ten miles of a documents from around Sellafield, the Black Report, together with the nuclear installation, and despite the Springfields, Aldermaston, Burghfield, Census Office, have been busy fact that the Scottish evidence would Rosyth and Holy Loch, and there is no studying leukaemia rates in people also confirm this, the final COMARE/ evidence that the bereaved parents under 25 around all nuclear OPCAS report will probably h:-y to tend to be professional types. installations in England and Wales. explain the phenomenom away by The COMARE!OPCAS researchers The researcher who is supervising this relating it to social class. could easily check this themselves but work at Oxford told me this month The areas in question hove I predict that they will not bother, that she is under pressure to report populations which tend to be better and that when their report is published before the end of this year. off than say inner city areas; we will hear a new cry from the Amazingly, she has found yet more leukaemia is more common in higher nuclear apologists: "Its not our leukaemia excesses near Amersham social classes hence the leukaemia radioactive discharges that are causing (where radioactive isotopes ore mode) excesses near nuclear plants. But of the leukaemias nearby, but the fact and near Hinkley Point power station course there is a simple way to test that too many posh people live here."

Barrle Walker Is a General Practitioner working in Seascale. A leading light in the Round Table, and a fund-raiser for many a worthy local cause, he bears all the hallmarks of respectability, yet, for daring to be less than reassured by the findings of the Black Inquiry he has been labelled a- meddling medic and 11an enemy of the nuclear Industry". CHARLES SEARLE spoke to him at the Low Level Radiation Conference in Barrow this June. round here rely on this source for diagnosed during this year. Barrie Walker is particularly well their water, and yet it is Seascale These figures, of course, cannot qualified to speak about the special which has the excess cancers. be mode to carry too much health problems of the area: around "Ionising radiation is the only significance given the small numbers 90% of the patients on the books of known cause of the cancer and there involved. But, as Barrie is quick to his group's Seascale practice, are are a number of possible pathways for point out, if there ore to be ill either BNFL employees, or relatives lt to have reached the children. There effects from working in the nuclear of employees. are the abov~ average emissions of low industry1 then they would only arise His concern predated the Yorkshire level radiation from the plant. The after twenty to thirty years. The TV film: NRPB published a study of house dust Calder Hall plutonium-producing samples in 1984, for example, which rE;octors were opened in 1956. •we knew the company was showed that the levels of plutonium With all of these anxieties about compensating people for leukaemia, and americium in Seascale were a being exposed to the invisible and but when we approached the senior thousand times higher than those insidious dangers of radiation, it is medical .officer at Sellafield about it, found in houses in the south. hardly surprising that some of Barrie's he said he was studying local cancers "Then there is what Is known as patients display symptoms of mental and could find no problem as far as the 'dirty worker effect'. Sellafield stress: he could see, and we had no reason to is at the muckier end of the industry, disbelieve him. and workers exposed in the factory •uke any other big organisation "There was, in fact, a reference s:;an take radionuclides back into their with a competitive promotions in the Flowers Report to a visit to homes. structure, there are the usual worries the area by an epidemiologist from "Finally, there is the !tonne of about getting on. However, the nuclear Oxford, but he was also told that plutonium which has been pumped into industry is special because of the there was nothing to worry about - the Irish Sea. This is now finding its blanket enforcement of the Official but on what basis I don't know as the way back onto land via the waves and Secrets Act and the general rule of a studies hadn't been done then.• as sea-spray. Clearly, when you have •need to know" basis for passing on such a known cancer causing agent in information, which means that the Barrie was one of the few local your environment you ought to err on workforce feels that it has very people to publicly question Black's the side of caution until someone little control over what goes on. Then findings. Listening to him explain why comes up with another agent. That's there are the obvious divided loyalties radiation has been singled out as the why discharges from Sellafield should over holding down a job and ensuring prime candidate behind the cancers at be stopped now." the safety of one's children.• Seascale, it becomes increasingly difficult to see how scientific The burden for the people of West In years to come Sellafield workers obfuscation has been allowed to Cumbria of playing enforced hosts to might appreciate the efforts of those override plain common sense in the BNFL may not just be limited to the like Barrie Walker who ore atempting seach for a solution to the supposed silent culling of their children to secure a safe environment for them "chance" occurrence of the leukaemia through cancer. Over the lost few and their children: clusters: years there has been on increasing number of adult cancers passing •1 think it is important for a GP •The nuclear industry and its through the surgery at Seascole. There to be resonsible for their patients' supporters have sought desperately for have been seven cases diagnosed in health on a wider scale than the minor alternative causal agents for the the first half of 1986 alone. This ailments they present. If I feel that cancers. Some have said that they compares with the expected rate of a foetor in the local community, be it could have been caused by viral 5-6 a year. bad housing, unemployment, or infections from the sewage on One ovarian cancer would be radiation, is affecting the health of Seascale's beach, but this sewage is predicted every five or six years; my patients then as a doctor I think I common to other villages on the there have been four in Seascale have the right to speak out on the coast. Others have looked to the since 1980. The usual rote of colon issue. It is essential that doctors water supply from the broken Infested cancer is one every two to three everywhere get involved in these hills, but again all of the communities years; three have already been issues.•

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 9 The Radon Gas Problem There has recently been a spate of articles appearing in the you would block possible entry points Press about the hazards of radon gas in the home. This is the and then vent the gas to the outside by directing the soil gas from beneath latest weapon in the nuclear industry's armoury of lies and the basement floor. These techniques misinformation, we need to be equipped with the facts. PETE hove been well developed in ROCHE has been digging out the facts. Scandanavia and North America. It is not surprising that builders of superinsuloted houses have been "It has been estimated that draught­ difficult to isolate the effects of concerned that they may hove been proofing leads to an extra lOO cancer smoking from radon exposure. The adding to the radon problem deaths per year per 100 megawatts smoke particles act os "magnets" for unwittingly. However, a study by the saved, due to the greater concentra­ radon daughters present in the air. Bonneville Power Administration tions of natural radioactivity (radon) This will increase the lung cancer risk (BP A), comparing airtight houses thus retained within buildings." of anyone inhaling the smoke. equipped with mechanical ventilation The Atomic Energy Control Board and air-to-air heat exchangers with This outrageous assertion appeared in of Canada has adopted on average conventionally built houses, found that the Scotsman in a letter from a J R annual action level of 0.02WL. building location is a more important Thompson at the end of June. (Depending on the source-strength of determinant of indoor radon The "radon scandal" debate began the radon and the supply of fresh air concentration than the method of over three years ago. Building to the house, this corresponds to construction. scientists in Scondonovio and North 3-5pCi/l). The American Society of Unfortunately, the oPA have not America carried out research to Heating, Refrigerating and Air yet finished their work on airtight determine the extent of the problem Conditioning Engineers says the safe houses without mechanical ventilation. and then tried to solve it. level is 0.01 WL. These findings will be published at the Radon is a radioactive gas found Britain has yet to set a limit, but end of 1986. in trace amounts almost everywhere. the National Radiological Protection It is a product of the radioactive Board (NRPB) is expected to propose SCALE OF THE PROBLEM decoy of radium - a decoy product of to the Department of the Environment uranium - and occurs naturally in later this year a level at which most The NRPB estimates that there extremely low concentrations in soil, observed measurements appear safe. may be up to 100,000 houses in rock and groundwoter. Radon Britain which may cause a dose of undergoes radioactive decay, emitting RADIOACTIVE DECAY SERIES over 5 millisieverts per year (mSv/yr). radiation, to produce "radon (lmSv/yr is the maximum permissible daughters". These daughters attach OF URANIUM 238 dose to the public from the nuclear themselves to dust or smoke particles industry). To put it into perspective, in the air which, if inhaled, con there ore 20 million homes in Britain increase the risk of lung cancer. and 2.5 million suffer from serious Radon is usually measured in condensation and mould growth. picocuries per litre of air (pCi/1), Therefore, on extremely small while radon daughters concentration is proportion suffer from radon. expressed in Working Levels (WL), a Combustion fumes from flueless unit desi9ned to indicate the relative heaters and cigarette smoke are much health hazard of each daughter more serious indoor pollutants. product. An old draughty house in a region with uranium rich soil can be full of SOURCES OF RADON radon if it has a basement or its flooring is laid directly on the ground. Radon can come from several Even then, the Building Research sources. Levels are higher in areas of Establishment suggests that drought­ radioactive rock, such as granite, and proofing measures, while dramatically where the rocks ore cracked and improving comfort levels, only reduce fissured, allowing the gas to escape the air infiltration by a small amount. easily. Ports of Cornwall fit these Neighbourhood Energy Action's conditions; levels ore lower in London, ventilation guidelines stress the which stands on clay, and Aberdeen, importance of adequate combustion air built on solid granite. for flueless heaters and the removal Radon may enter the indoor of water vapour. So long as these environment via several pathways. guidelines are adhered to, draught­ Building materials may emit the gas, proofing is unlikely to affect the os they do in Sweden and the USA concentration of radon in a house. where radioactive shales or mine If we recognise radon os a tailings hove been used in construction problem, and we use some of the materials. It con enter through leaks remedial techniques that ore being

in a basement floor, originating os $ ALSO GAMMA EMITTERS developed elsewhere, it can easily be soil gas from beneath the building. eliminated without affecting our energy Radon is much heavier than air so conservation efforts. the concentration is usually highest REMEDIES However, the Government is in basements. It con also enter os unwilling to name the areas which are groundwoter. The radon "outgoses" os Fortunately it is not too difficult most affected for fear that it could the water is exposed to air during to deal with radon inside a house. It cause a drop in house prices. They ore normal household use, such as is important to point out that also unlikely to provide any money to showering. protecting a house does not mean deal with the problem. So we must removing the draughtproofing, but keep the issue in perspective, LIMITS & SAFETY involves a series of more sophisticated otherwise there is a danger that measures. The main defence is to cut people living in areas not affected by Discussions of safe levels are off the radon entering the house, and radon will be afraid to droughtproof confused by the hazards of smoking. ventilating os near to the source as their home for fear of increased As long os people smoke it is possible. In a basement, for example, exposure to radiation.

10 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 Renewable Energy Scandal Stephen Salter, Britain's leading wave power pioneer, has always predicted that wave power would come into its own five years after a serious nuclear accident. After Chernobyl everyone agrees that the text books need to be rewritten; TIDAL POWER nuclear power is in its death throes. In this major article Professor W M Wilson, Head of the DAVID ROSS looks at the renewables, how they have been Hydraulic and Civil Engineering treated in the past, and what they hold for the future. Departments at Salford University, and one of Britain's most respected authorities on tidal power, denounced the Government's Severn barrage move When Peter Walker, the Energy nuclear power stations when they in unusually bitter terms. Secretary, was presented with the insist there is no alternative to He said: "It is the usual dribble of Report of the Severn Tidal Power nuclear? And what would be the support that the Government and its Group (STPG) earlier this year he reaction in the sensitive areas on both advisers, the Oxbridge classicists, give enthused: "There is excitement about sides of the Severn in the run-up to a to pay lip service to renewable the potential of harnessing the tides." General Election? energy. I think that they are simply Then he proceeded to kill off any Clearly we hod now reached a buying time. They are going to say, prospect of doing so in the stage where the Government was being given the electoral process, that they foreseeable future. asked to approve basic engineering are supporting renewable energy. The Report stated that the STPG work which would indicate that it hod These faceless mandarins in the members, Britain's biggest construction decided to go ahead. It was a delicate Department of Energy .•• " companies plus GEC and two banks, issue, but not beyond the political He did give a cautious word on believed that a barrage could and dexterity of Mr Walker. behalf of th~ Mersey barrage: "It should be built. After three years' He hod already fudged the issue by would be about 10% of the cost of study they want further detailed study asking the STPG to add another route the Severn and it could be a sensible of the riverbed and the Government to to their study, two years after they thing in my judgement to go for a underwrite the investment. had started. That helped to reduce his pilot plan before you went for the They need £1 0 billion for capital, commitment to the favoured route. main thing. I don't think it is £7.6 billion for interest on the capitol Then he played another card: necessary but the rest of the world and a further £13 billion for interest engineering studies were agreed, but a think it is. So there might be some during the 17 year opening operational requirement for a study of a Mersey mileage in the Mersey - it is a phase - a total of £30.6 billion. As barrage was added. In this way, the disaster area. It might just hove the this figure is well outside the norm Government has indicated that it is germ of a real interest. It is probably for potential lenders they want the not committed even by implication to a the best prospect." He clearly sees little hope of the Government to act as "a guarantor of Severn barrage. And when the Report much bigger Severn barrage ever being lost resort." comes in about the Mersey, there ore built. The barrage could generate plenty of other sites to be studied - The Professor has had 16 years' electricity at 3p a unit, a sliver above Solway, Humber, Thames ••• there ore industrial experience in the UK and the CEGB figure of 2.94p for Sizewell ten known sites around the coast. abroad, including Agent for the main B and much less than their estimates But the money, what about the contractors for the construction of for a cool-fired station. money? Mr Walker would not soil his Berkeley nuclear power station. He Mr Walker considered the proposal hands with talk of such a sordid was one of the objectors at the for three months. It was a sensitive subject when we are considering such Size well Inquiry. one: could the Government commit a great ideal os harnessing the tides huge sums for a barrage capable of of the moon. He just ignored the generating os much os two large point.

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 11 SEVERN BARRAGE HISTORY

Is this a severe description of the conduct of the Secretory of State? Consider the way a Severn barrage has been dealt with In the post. The first study was set up in the pregnant year of 1925: ~argaret Thatcher was about to be born. There have been numerous studies since. All agree that tidal energy con be captured: the Romans used it here; tide mills still stand around the coasts; in more modern times the French hove built o barrage across the Ranee in Brittany, and electricity flows. But in the UK it is regarded cautiously; for one thing it would detract from the argument for nuclear expansion. Also, the politicians believe it is divisive electorolly. There ore environmentalists worried about the mudflots, and the effects on the eels, salmon fishing and shelduck. Rural Somerset is concerned about the impact of construction traffic and perhaps quarrying in the ~endips for the stone needed for a barrage. Against this there ore plenty of people, particularly in South Wales, who think of a barrage in terms of jobs. lt is not clear cut, and when elections hove approached decisive avoiding action has been token - a committee has been set up. I was present in 1978 when T ony Benn, the then Energy Secretary, was questioned by the Science and Technology Select Committee. Mr Benn let it be known that a new study, under Sir Hermonn Bondl, the C~ief scientist, was to be carried

NUCLEAR POWER Do we need nuclear energy? The figures make it plain that if we shut Construction work on the. Ranee tidal power station down every nuclear power station tomorrow, and hod nothing available ~ othu sources, we could stlU get by, even at the time' of peak out. The Tory energy spokesman, Tom committed to nuclear power. Why demand. King, indicated his approval. The should they spend money on on The CEGB has a "Declared Net whole operation was conducted in o alternative if nuclear power is os Capacity" (total generating capacity) nudge-nudge, wink-wink atmosphere. safe, as cheap, and os reliable os they of 52,101~W. The maximum demand The Committee chairman, Arthur claim? was 45,185MW; an overcapacity of Palmer, and Tony Benn were both The energy estobllshment has gone 6,916MW. The nuclear output was only Bristol ~Ps; Tom King was and Is MP through the motions, with other 5,029~W. So, even without nuclear, for Bridgewoter. All three hod good alternatives as well os tidal, of study the.re was 1,887MW of extra capacity. reason to prefer that the barrage with o view to on informed rejection. In Scotland, the SSEB has a should not figure in o General This was spelt out in on Internal maximum capacity of 6,230MW. The Election, with candidates taking sides. CEGB memorandum in 1978: peak demand is 4,536MW, leaving And so, In 1979 it was not on issue. 1,694MW spore. The nuclear capacity The Bondl Committee reported in "Studies hove shown that apart from is 1,-450MW (Hunterston A & B). So, ~arch 1981, in favour of a barrage. limited special oppllcotlons, the use once again, there is spore capacity - Over two years later, two days before of renewable energy sources for 244~W In this case. Parliament rose for the 1983 Election, electricity generation Is likely to In both cases, the $poie capacity Nigel Lowson announced the setting be less economic than nuclear would be uncomfortably small. We up of the STPG. ~r Walker's power. Nevertheless, it is would need to Improve it by energy announcement of o further study has important to explore these conservation, Increasing the cool and been misrepresented: the Deportment alternatives In order to both oU burn, and investing In the of Energy (DoEn) calls it a £5.5 satisfy ourselves that nuclear renewables. But in the meantime we miUion research extension; in reality could get by, just as we did during power is fully justified, and to the coal strike, without so much os a the Deportment offered £1.4 million, demonstrate this to others, since flicker of the lights. the rest will come from the STPG and groups opposing nuclear expansion the CEGB. hove mode substantial progress in The truth Is that there will never the post few years." be a Severn barrage while government and the ·generating boards ore (Note the word "satisfy")

12 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY l WIND ENERGY Dovid Hunt, the junior Minister in Consider what hos happened to the charge of what is left of the other alternatives: first, one source renewobles, hos been to California to which has not hod much public Inspect and exult over the Altomont attention - geothermol. Pass wind pork which was supplied In 1979 tests began to Investigate with 75 330kW wind generators by the hot water which circulates beneath Howden of Glasgow. But Mr Hunt southern England, in the Hampshire forgets that the DoEn's job is to basin: could lt be used to provide provide the UK with energy, not to feed-water for power station boilers? build up on export trade. Howden was The CEGB offered a site and Invited left to t:ope alone, but the Minister the DoEn to drill In the grounds of graciously accepted the acclaim of the oil-fired Morchwood power station. the crowd. Hot water was found nearer the Mr Walker does not shore his surface than expected; conditions were junior's enthusiasm. In his speech to the some os In the Paris basin, the engineering employers on 26 June, reported the Enl!rgy Technology he said the typical "windmill" designed Support Unit (ETSU), where 600 hot to "harness electricity ... has a noise water aquifers hove been used for equivalent to o helicopter." In fact, it over 30 years. So were we on to o is designed to harness the wind and good thing? Well, no, because the produce electricity; it sounds like o CEGB announced it was closing down helicopter without on engine, which is Morchwood because the price of oil roughly what it is. He also said that was rising, so lt would hove no use "after 40 years of successful for the "free" hot water. exploitation, they might contribute 2% You might think If oil was getting of our electricity supply." more expensive the hot water would Lord Morsholl, chairman of the be more useful. But the CEGB CEGB, is also scepticol. When his wife economists argued that lt was not so. opened the Cormorthen Boy wind They were not to know, of course, turbine in 1982 he said "it was by no that they would be needing oil more The CEGB's CarmartheR Bay means certain" that wind power would than ever during the cool strike; nor wind turbine. be environmentally acceptable on could they hove anticipated the drop lowland sites: it would need 1000 in oil price from $30 o barrel to large machines over 300 square miles below $10 this year. to match Sizewell's output. This is The rejection was also convenient. attractive. But with nuclear power, not acceptable so wind power based The ideo of "free" hot water is the uranium is not the big item, so it on land connot become a major particularly attractive for those would be of little advantage. supplier of electricity; but off-shore stations burning cool or oil because Norman Lomont, when he was a it is o different story. the fuel Is o major item of l.)oEn junior Minister, visited expenditure and anything which Morchwood and was told that it was reduces lt makes them look more the site of geothermoJ exploration which hod come to nothing. He was Low grade told that it hod cost £2 million. "Dear NUCLEAR SAFETY energy user me," he said, "and so you lost oil thot money." The CEGB officials mode The CEGB Is claiming that the Soviet "Yes Minister" noises but did not style reactor could not hove been Q'lention that lt was actually the licensed here because of our safety Department's money they hod spent. standards. They quote o 1976 report Nor did they mention that the dig hod by the Notional Nuclear Corporation been embarrassingly successful, which expressed disquiet but was· kept producing 2.SMW. secret. But the hot water remains, and It What, at the time, was being said may be used for district heating In ln public? At on International Southampton, launched by o French Symposium in Zurich In 1976, Or company because the DoEn has refused Waiter Morsholl (os he then was) said: support. The crltlcol use, feed-water "Various thermal reactor systems for power stations capable of changing working on the once-through fuel cycle the CEGB's economics, has been will soon be mode to work reliably and crushed. with hidl reliability. These lncude the Crystalline The Deportment maintains support PWR, the BWR, the Condu, the basement for o revolutionary scheme at Mognox, the SGHWR and the Russian rock Comborne in Cornwall, coiled Hot Dry pressure tube reactors." Rock geothermal energy. Cold water Challenged about this ot the is forced down a well and emerges presentation of the CEGB's Annual Injection Production report on 31 July this year, Lord well well from another borehole after being heated by hot rocks thousands of feet Morsholl sold: "I don't recollect the quote. I don't dispute whot you hove below ground. But lt will soon require sold. I managed to mention everything. much more money than the I am glod that I put the tube reactor Government has been ready to Invest ot the bottom." so for in any of the renewable~ . It Is Fine, but it i.s still the fact that then that the Government con be public statements expressed expected to abandon the scheme. confidence; private statements It Is also noteworthy that lt expressed doubts. cannot produce electricity until the What Is being so.ld In private now? reservoir end of the ce.ntury, so it never rivalled the Government's nuclear plans.

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 13 The CEGB's own scientists maintain down. Even the CEGB was shocked, that the wind resource from the "best" and has continued with its own small­ off-shore areas is 230TWh {terrawatt­ scale research. hours, le 230 thousand million units) Norway took over from where we and the CEGB has said that it is left off and is now generating "similar to the total UK electricity electricity from two power stations at demand." That means that wind power 3-4p a unit. They chose the site could replace coal as well as nuclear. because it is close to on airport for And, If you add to that the "possible" the convenience of overseas buyers; areas, then there is on extra l30TWh. it is not especially fruitful for wove So how ore we harnessing this power, and they estimate that the cost goldmine? Not a single pound has been could go down to 2p from better committed by the DoEn or the CEGB locations. to so much os a pre-feosibility study The best estimate of the resource of the seobed. Instead, the CEGB has come from the former CEGB chairman, embarked on a joint, paper study with Glyn England: it could "supply the the International Energy Agency, o whole of Britain with electricity at body which has never generated a the present rote of consumption." single watt of electricity; it generates Other estimates from official sources only paper. range from 60TWh to 81 TWh; the lower figure is still 50% more than WAVE ENERGY present nuclear output. But, when we don't hove a single Finally, to wove power: in the wind or wave generator in the sea or opinion of this writer, the most even planned, to argue about the fruitful source of power for the UK. potential is academic. All we need to The story of our virtual "discovery" establish is that the energy is there, of this technology, and then Its waiting to be harvested, and more abandonment, is o disgrace. than sufficient to replace everything We led the world with the help of we now obtain from nuclear energy, such talented inventors os Stephen or indeed that the generating Salter (Edinburgh University), Sir authorities expect to obtain in the Christopher Cockerell (of the future. hovercraft), A N Wolton Bott (a hydro At this point, our nuclear power pioneer in Scotland) and the enthusiast talks about the cost of Notional Engineering Lo.borotory at alternative sources. We can now point East Kilbride. And, it must be said, to Norway and the privately-owned ETSU at Horwell. In 1982, when a utilities in California. And we con full-scale prototype wos ready, Nigel remind them that nobody has begun to Lowson os Energy Secretory stopped calculate the cost of cleaning up INSTITUTIONAL INERTIA the fundiny and the programme shut after Chetnobyl. Why Is there sa much reluctance to invest in alternatives? We ore up against Newton's First ....,_ Law of Motion which state s: Every -<' body continues in Its state of rest, or .: ...>~ -· ~ -- of uniform motion in a straight line, ,.. ..,.,. ... unless compelled by some external ~ -- force to act otherwise. It is the Law of Inertia. It Is a Low that has been Institutionalised by the energy establishment. We ore in the hands of a generation which has grown up believing In the nuclear miracle, and it does not like to be told by barefoot scientists and engineers with different skills that it has mode a mistake. And Its sullen Inertia Is supported by a nuclear lobby with financial, industrial, political, academic and scientific sway. We ore at a point similar to that of the late 18th century, when Jomes Watt's steam engines were producing only llkW (and the word "watt" was not used because his genious hod still to be recognised). At that time, textile factories were being built driven by os much os 190kW of water power. Who could hove anticipated such power would be overtaken by the force which mode the lid of o kettle bob up and down? But steam did win through, and now it is the turn of the natural, renewable, benign sources of power. The nuclear lobby know in their hearts that they hove lost. We have to make it real, In the power stations.

14 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 The North American Experience In the 1970s the USA and Canada funded non-nuclear energy related work on a large detached research and development hundreds of times more generously house of 150-200m 2 can cost only £3,000-4,000. Space heating costs fall then the UK. They have reaped rich rewards, making more by 80-95%, from £500-1,000 to £50- progress with energy efficiency and renewables over the last 150/year. Costs in smaller homes are 2-3 years than the UK has made in the last decade. nearly P-ro rata. Projects are spreading across the continent from very cold This article, by DA VID OLIVIER, gives an outline of the climates to those resembling southern far-reaching work under way, and is based on the recently England. published report (*) of his 1985 fact finding visit to North America.

SUPERINSULA TED HOUSES copy of over 5,000 such houses built since 1977 in central Canada. Near-zero space heating costs Experience shows that what works well in the prairies' severe cold also works Standard new North American dwellings superbly in temperate regions are 2-3 times better insulated than (Victoria's climate is almost identical British homes, and there are now some to southern England's). 30,000 "superinsulated" houses, The house has 320m 2 of floor pioneered in the 1970s. These houses space. The western half is 1-storey, ore revolutionary in performance (See above a cellar; the eastern half is table 1 for typical features.) H-storey, and has a crawl space, plus a lean-to greenhouse on the south side for food production. Several other features, eg a Clivus composting toilet, TABLE 1 reduce resource wastage. The house's timber-frame walls Thick insulation, typically 200-400mm have 300mm mineral fibre insulation, glass fibre or equivalent. the roof has 400mm and the floor above the crawl space has 250mm. High performance windows, usually at Windows are triple-glazed with 20mm least triple-glazed, and mostly facing airspaces on the north side, and south to capture winter solar gains. double on the south, all with insulating shutters. The exterior doors Tightly sealed construction, often are steel, filled with polyurethane 25-1 00 times more draughtproof than foam. UK homes. The entire house has a tightly sealed, continuous polyethylene vapour Mechanical ventilation system for barrier. Air infiltration, with doors winter use, usually with an air-to-air and windows shut, is 0.03 air changes heat exchanger to recover heat from per hour (compared with 2/hr in the the outgoing stale air. UK). An air-to-air heat exchanger ventilates the house, keeping the air extremely fresh. In 1982 the provincial government No central heating system is sponsored an energy-efficient Many firms who pioneered this needed; in 1984/5, which was typical, renovation of a 19th century Toronto approach now build only superinsulated 500kWh of electricity from a wall semi-detached brick house, 300m 2 in homes, at a rate of hundreds a year. mounted radiator - £ 12 worth - kept floor area. Despite some technical The result is that the cost of keeping the whole house at 18-19°C all winter. problems, the annual space heating warm all winter ceases to be of much Under Canada's much stricter local bill fell by 95%, from £1,000 to £50. concern. Even in severe northern building regulations a quotation of (This in a house 3-4 times larger than climates, leading superinsulated homes £3,000-4,500 was originally given for most UK homes, in a climate as cold have space heating bills of a trivial a conventional central heating system on average as the Orkneys, and with £0-1 0/year, plus £20-30/year for the for the house, which is four times a more severe winter.) mechanical ventilation system. larger than many new UK homes. The work demonstrated a vast Some superinsulated homes now Even at £3,000, omitting the space number of techniques worth cost little more than a standard home heating system paid for the new considering when renovating an old of the same size and quality. There features, so the house cost the same house. It also proved that the draughty are few cold or temperate American as a standard British Columbia old brick houses of eastern Canada can regions where superinsulating a new "building code" house. be turned into high quality, energy­ house does not reduce householders' The builder of the house found lots efficient homes more cheaply than by outgoings; ie. mortgage or rent plus of demand for highly energy-efficient demolishing and building anew. energy. Certainly, in climates like houses. From these initiatives alone, Work involved doubling the lott the UK's, it has been found worthwhile. the 500,000 people on Vancouver insulation from 150mm to 300mm, Such homes may be healthier than Island have more superinsulated homes insulating the sloping upstairs ceiling conventional houses. The energy saving than the whole of the UK. between the rafters and internally, was the original reason for building and insulating ihe solid exterior walls superinsulated houses, but their with 150-200mm glass fibre above comfort, possible health benefits, and THE RETROFIT ground, and with lOOmm expanded cleanliness (the ventilation system Applying superinsulation to polystyrene in the basement. New controls humidity and filters out dust triple windows, insulated exterior from incoming air) seem to be existing homes doors and porches were also fitted. significant. A superinsulated house near To superinsulate old homes is Victoria, British Columbia, which was proving feasible. Combined with finished in 1983, Is almost a direct normal improvements, the energy continued over

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 15 from page 15 TABLE 2 A mechanical ventilation system, Appliance Electricity Consumption Saving with air-to-air heat exchanger, and an (kWh/yr) (%) efficient hot water system were included; and a new room was added, to show how the details common in 1984 North Best Available new construction could be American Stock Technology incorporated into a renovation project. Fridge/freezer 1,727 184 89 Superinsulated retrofit is almost Freezer 789 91 89 unknown in Europe. Experiments in the Clothes dryer 264 67 UK, where such standards have never 786 been reached or even thought possible Colour TV 339 113 67 will be interesting. Dishwasher 249 0 100 Washing machine 70 35 50 HOT WATER EFFICIENCY Total 3,960 687 83

Innovations are leading to act in consumer interests by investing building fabric, the systems yield heat extremely efficient use of hot water in the cheapest options, which ore at costs similar to conventional in North American households. The generally more efficient electricity sources, eg. natural gas. best single measure is low flow, air users. Hence, 60% of all US utilities In the USA's "sunbelt", with only entraining taps and showerheads. Low now give financial incentives to twice as much solar energy as in the flow showerheads give a high quality consumers to buy energy-efficient UK (not ten times more), solar shower with about 60% less water appliances; many give help to low thermal electricity is already being than conventional fitments. income households, and the number sold to electric utilities for less than A compressed air shower reduces and sophistication of their efforts is electricity from coal. Of five solar shower energy use by 90%. Using high constantly growing. power stations recently completed in volume, low pressure compressed air, North American progress has been California, the latest cost is under it effectively substitutes 0.42kW of helped by mandatory "energy labels". £3,000/kW installed. This is rather less electricity for 60kW of low In the UK, unless one buys from the in capital cost than the US nuclear temperature heat. In an average one department store with its own power stations ordered in the 1970s household, return on investment is 20- labelling scheme, one cannot tell and nearing completion! 250% a year. whether a fridge costs £ 10/yr or £40/yr to run. CONCLUSIONS ENERGY -EFFICIENT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SOLAR HEATING & POWER The USA and Canada have taken a Cost less than operating GENERATION world lead in many energy-efficient existing nuclear power plants Solar power stations costing building technologies, along with the less than nuclear ones Scandanavian countries. The USA has a considerable lead with renewables, If all of the above improvements especially solar cells, solar thermal have been made, then electrical After over 10 years' development electricity generation and innovative appliances can become the largest and experimentation, solar water technologies In the passive and active single domestic energy cost. (Table 2 heating has progressed well beyond its solar fields. indicates the 1985/6 "state of the art" status in the UK. In "state of the art" To put it most charitably, UK in energy-efficient appliances.) systems, 6-8m 2 of solar collectors and government institutions seem oblivious Overall, the best appliances use short term heat storage costing £600- to this phenomenal progress with safer six times less electricity than present 700 provide 60-80% of a North energy options. The UK will have a ones. If UK households had energy­ American household's hot water. hard time catching up. efficient refigeration equipment, Despite the UK Government consuming 60kWh/yr instead of the abandoning most R&D on solar in present 600kWh/yr (our fridges are 1982, claiming that it could not smaller than North America's), become economic, these systems are the energy saving would displace the cheaper than conventional energy output of a 2,000MW base load power sources, even in cloudy climates. station. If all UK domestic and In numerous houses in the north commercial electrical appliances were east USA (with only slightly more replaced with the most energy­ winter sunshine than the southern UK), efficient models, the electricity saved 100% solar space heating is operating. would be similar to the output of the The first such homes hove now stayed whole nuclear programme. comfortable for four successive The extra cost of most energy­ winters with no backup heat. With efficient appliances is modest: clever design and integration into the considered os a utility investment, they save electricity for £2-3/GJ, about five times cheaper than competing projects, such as Sizewell 8 *ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE$: RECENT NORTH or Torness. Just fuelling and operating AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. David Olivier, May 1986. Available present US nuclear plants, from Energy Advisory Associates, 158 Bradwell Road, Bradville, and apparently UK plants, costs £4/GJ. Milton Keynes, Bucks MK13 7AX. Tel: 0908 314381. Most US utilities are privately Cost £45 incl postage; prepaid orders only. Please ask your owned but strongly regulated by state commissions which can force them to library to stock it. An accompanying slide set is also available.

16 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 Socialism & Energy The nuclear power debate within the Labour Party reaches a Methods: climax at this year•s Conference in Blackpool. Chernobyl will 1) Continued lobbying of Unions and the Labour Party; certainly have played a part if the Party ends up committed 2) "Outreoch" publicity work; 11 to the ••phase out option, but credit should be given to the 3) New campaigns. Socialist Environment and Resources Association(SERA). MIKE MALINA here gives the background to the Energy Group and Specific roles: suggests how its work could progress in the future. In addition to a Group convenor, we .need a campaign co-ordinator and a Group secretory (unfilled at present) to keep members informed, The SERA Energy Group was formed for the adoption of a fully non­ perhaps by a newsletter, and in 1978 and initially focussed on nuclear energy policy. A TU CND generally co-ordinate the Group's alerting the Trade Union and Labour leaflet was produced for the Trade activities. Movement to the problems of nuclear Union conferences, and SERA power and the technical and political activists attended many of them. Sub groups on special topics might also advantages of alternative energy. be appropriate. The Group consisted of a dozen or THE CURRENT PHASE so people -with technical expertise in the energy field (who then went on to The last six months have been submit evidence to various Select spent working on specific projects Committees on CHP, conservation, rather than formal meetings, using the etc.). We had an active speakers panel NA TT A Newsletter to report on and various technical sub-groups, progress. 1:3ut, clearly, we need a fielding speakers at many Labour Party formal meeting soon to take stock. and Trade Union conferences and After all, this activity has sucked courses. in a lot of new people. ECO SOCIALIST PERSPECTIVE An inner core of mainly London Recently nearly all of our efforts based activists worked, for example, have been geared to the TUC and It may be well to remember why on evidence to the Sizewell Inquiry, Labour conferences. But we need to we are intervening in the nuclear communicated by phone and face to start thinking about the next phose. debate. It's not just because we are face working meetings. By 1984, NA TT A has produced a "forward "anti-nuclear" or "pro-alternative" or group activities had diminished ordering programme" for renewobles "concerned environmentalists". We are considerably, although a useful file while FoE, with SERA, nos been all of these things. But we are also on nuclear waste was produced (which sorting out the fine details of the radical socialists who believe that the NUS used), and individuals became nuclear phose-out. decisions about how energy heavily involved with support work for technologies are developed are the NUM (eg. producing and political decisions. distributing the "Future of Coal" file). We believe that the nuclear issue At this point the Group Newsletter in particular opens up key trade union was replaced by a Column in the and labour movement issues, not just NA TT A Newsletter which aimed to employment and health and safety, draw NA TT A members into SERA but also broader questions which and provide Energy Group members transcend the nuclear context with a point of contact. concerning what sort of social and So, where next? The Energy Group technological advance we want, and RELAUNCH may be offered a slot on the BBC whose interests will and should "Open Space" community access dominate in the decision making The remaining core group had all programme ••. But beyond that we process. but exhausted itself on the mining need to plan our strategy and The new Pluto book "The Energy dispute. But new blood, and new organisation. Fix" explores many of these issues ideas, emerged: we got a radical anti­ well, in terms that most trade union nuclear motion on the agenda at the THE NEXT PHASE and labour movement people will 1985 Labour Party Conference and, connect to. But underlying the with the TGWU having come out anti­ A viable, politically attractive analysis is a much more radical nuclear, it got through! Labour policy is now emerging. approach to socialism thon we get Obviously it will need to be consolidated and developed in the run up to the General E::lection. There 11 decisions about how energy must be no backsliding on nuclear technologies are developed power, with a proper commitment to are political decisions. \\ renewobles. To do this we've got to involve s~~~ more people. To get some ideo of where we ore headed we plan to from the traditional Labour Party or Suddenly the Energy Group was organise a full open Energy Group even from the so-called Left. It re-energised! meeting in the autumn, a sort of amounts to on eco-socialist A relounch meeting in December annual meeting. perspective. 1985 drew in people from FoE and In the end it is our task to Greenpeace, and we worked together Key tasks ahead: develop this set of ideas, apply them on publications and a joint SERA/ to current policy issues and NA TT A conference in April this year. 1) To consolidate and develop the disseminate them widely. And we've Lobbying activity on the Labour Party nuclear phose-out programme; only just started that job. was stepped up, with some effect. 2) To ensure resources ore After Chernobyl we moved into redeployed on job creating top gear, lobbying the Labour alternatives - conservation, CHP CONTACT: SERA, 9 Poland Street, Leadership and building up pressure and renewables. London W1V 3DG. Tel: 01 439 3749.

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 17 West Dorset Safe Energy Over the past few issues of SCRAM we have been printing articles about local energy initiatives, from co-operatives making or installing appropriate technology, to local groups. This article, by YVONNE PETER, tells how the West Dorset Safe Energy Campaign was set up and how it has continued, even after the Herbury nuclear power station they fought against was abandoned. It demonstrates that if you keep at it long enough anything is possible.

We started with a flourish in June So we decided to adopt the name 1980 when a handful of concerned West Dorset Safe Energy Campaign. people met to oppose the Central Our logo embodies that aim. Electricity Generating Board's (CEGB) An energetic committee planned plans to build a Pressurised Water publicity events. The first was a Reactor (PWR) at Herbury on a picnic, with the co-operation of the sensitive part of the Dorset coast. We land owner, on power station's the leafletted Bridport using material from proposed site and it was a great Ecoropa and Friends of the Earth, success. Folk come from for and near events left us in the red and without following up with a well attended and hod fun; some joined in a balloon financial support from loyal committee public meeting. race to demonstrate how far airborne members we would hove been in Or Ken Penney of Exeter radiation might spread after an difficulties. University spoke at the meeting and accident at the plant. The winning Rightly or wrongly, we hod decided gave us chapter and verse on nuclear balloon was recovered from West that information should be free sa, power and particularly the PWR. Germany: something to ponder now, from the outset, we asked for no subs. Many people were already after Chernobyl has spread its When we did ask for minimal protesting against the CEGB's plans, poisonous cloud. contributions to cover production and and "Hands off Herbury" and "Chase Our next step was the Safe Energy distribution costs for our regular 'Em off the Chesil" were the slogans Show. A great deal of hard work went newsletter, which hod been free, we of the day. It was feared that into it but it brought our campaign received a poor response. radioactive effluent from the station and aims to a wider public and, West Dorset is a hard nut to crack. would harm the waters of the inland although it drew fire from the pro­ Perhaps the climate and the scenery Fleet, threaten local fishing and nuclear brigade who did their best to take people's mind off unpleasant damage the Abbotsbury bird reserve. rubbish it, it also earned us praise things! But once the threat to Herbury Others in the audience were learning from many who felt we had done a was defeated some of our support fell disturbing facts about nuclear power good job. away. The NIMBY (Not In My Back for the first time. They added their We repeated it the following year, Yard) foetor certainly operates here. names to a list of those wanting more this time letting space to firms DANA faded away through lack of information, or willing to help the promoting products in the alternative support, although it has been campaign. energy field. We were also lucky revitalised lately and works closely enough to get David Ross down to with the Dorset Green Party. Our own EVENTS PLANNED talk on the Wove Energy programme faithful few didn't give up. We closed which had just been hit below the belt ranks, set ourselves to create" an At the some time time on umbrella by Government funding cuts. Once information base and badgered MPs, organisation - Dorset Anti-Nuclear again we hod to counter arguments government departments and the Alliance (DANA) - was set up to from the opposition, but we felt we CEGB, os well as writing letters to co-ordinate the work of the various were getting the message across. the local press. groups. We wanted to cast our net over West Dorset as a whole and WEST DORSET 11 NIMBYS 11 .. CLIMATE HAS CHANGED 11 decided that it was no use being against nuclear power without having Unfortunately, all our efforts At times it seems that banging something constructive, like safe, foiled in one respect: they didn't your head against a wal is a stupid alternative energy, to put in its place. bring in much cash. In fact some game; then something turns up, someone phones for information or you . chat to someone in the street, and you ' .... --, , discover there is still a lot of , , ' '\ sympathy out there. That comes over I ... ,...... ,,- .. _. ~· strongly each year when we set up on ...... ,,'~, -...., ' .... ,' ' , .. ,'- information stall ond exhibition at the .. ,_,., Melplosh Agricultural Show. That gives , .. -, .. I us a chance to talk to people from , further afield and put our case for ' DORSET I renewable energy. Once people came to scoff, now the climate has changed. We find visitors ore better informed every Dorchester year, and olive to the risks• • Has banging our heads against a wall been worth while? We think so. Who knows, one day it might give way! Lyme Bay The CONTACT: CairnO'Mount, Grove Rood, em Burton Brodstock, Dorset DT6 4QT. Tel: 0308 897396

l8 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 I Tidal Appropriate Technology• the Mersey Barrage Company, claim The UK tidal power research that this approach will be 20% programme has received another cheaper than conventional techniques. setback from Peter Walker, the The Severn barrage proposal is a Energy Secretary, despite his labelling larger and altogether more I Wave it "one of our most promising conventional affair. It could generate renewable energy sources." 7,200MW (about 6% of England and Norway plans to expand its He has pledged £5.5 million of Wales' electricity needs), will cost commitment to wave power following private and government money more than £5.5 bUlion and will be the successful completion of two towards advanced Investigations into 16.3km long. The proposers are a demonstration schemes near Bergen the Severn barrage scheme, and a group of companies known as the (see SCRAM 51). contribution towards studies Into a Severn Tidal Power Group (STPG). Suitable sites for the construction Mersey barrage. The Government's Readers will know the Group's main of a system of Multiresonant contribution to a further feasibility partners - GEC, Taylor Woodrow Oscillating Water Columns (MOWC) study Is only £1.4 mUlion, with the and McAlplnes - as major partners in are being investigated by the rest expected to come from the Britain's nuclear reactor building designers, Kvaerner Brug. Of the two private sector. (See article on page consortium, the National Nuclear demonstration plants, the MOWC has 11 of this SCRAM). Corporation. The STPG hopes to build been the most successful, as the As reported in SCRAM 53, the the barrage between Weston-super­ Tapehon (Tapered Channel) system has Mersey barrage has received support Mare and Cardiff, although the suffered from problems with clearing from local authorities, but there were Government funding of the next study away rubble from the channel blasted worries about the project's future is dependent on the Inclusion of a in the cliff. after the abolition of the cheaper and smaller scheme known as It is hoped that the new MOWC metropolitan councils in April. the English Stones plan. scheme will produce "significant" However, the consortium of companies The Severn barrage is not without amounts of electricity from a series proposing the scheme seems to have its opponents, from environmental of columns installed along a stretch survived and they are now hopeful groups to political parties. One of the of coast. The demonstration plant that it wUI go ahead. main objectors is Plaid Cymru who consists of a single column generating The likelihood of a Mersey project are urging the Welsh Secretary, only about 500kW. The building of the has been increased by a novel method Nieholas Edwards, to hold a public new installation is expected to create of barrage building, known as inquiry into the scheme because they a large number of construction jobs, Diaphragm Walling. This is a technique feel it will threaten the Welsh although once in place it will be pioneered on the Mersey in the '70s coalfield, the identity and economic operated by only a small number of during the construction of the Royal future of south Wales and cause workers. Seaforth Dock. environmental damage. L>ebris is not the only problem to A vast island of sand is created in Other opponents are particularly affect the Tapehan system: a seagull the water and a trench the width of worried about the privatisation of the was killed when it flew into the water the barrage Is dug into it. The trench electricity supply and its concentration spout caused when the waves spill into is then fUled with a thixotropic mud in the hands of a small number of the central reservoir. slurry which thickens when it remains companies with vested interests. The undisturbed but returns to a more construction of a small number of liquid state if it Is agitated. This large generating stations, be they property enables the mud to hold up nuclear, coal or tidal, tends to •Wave Power• Industries, • an American• the walls of the trench as it is being decrease the number of jobs and company, is trying to raise Wall Street dug and strengthening steel bars are increase the political power of the backing far its plans to build a inserted. Huge pipes are then pushed companies involved. The enormous commercial wave power station. The down through the mud, and concrete construction and interest costs of such company hopes to recruit scientists forced through them to the bottom of a project could increase the cost of from Europe, particularly from Britain the trench. The concrete disturbs the electricity as the private companies where wave power research has been mud and makes it flow over the top. try to recoup their outlay in the shelved. They believe that an off-shore The novelty of the scheme is to shortest possible time. A similar design will be particularly attractive use two supertankers, as movable argument has been levelled against the in remote island communities, where coffer dams to protect the sand from Channel tunnel with toll charges generating costs are especially high. the river's currents. The proponents, perhaps being inordinately high. IBiomass

Europe's grain surplus may be turned into tomorrow's fuel. Research scientists in the US have apparently isolated a new fungus in a Denver dungheop, which is especially efficient at converting biological material into ethanol. The importance of the new fungus is that it can convert a large proportion of hydrolised biomeass into fljFiatHolm the alcohol in conditions more extreme B A 5 I N than those tolerated by known microorganisms. Ethanol is one of the most useful of the organic fuels. Unlike methanol it is not corrosive, although until now it has been more expensive to make. It is a rival to petrol because it can Contours show depth in be used in blends of up to 20% in metres to rockheod Jkm S £A modern ear engines and con improve the octane rating of the fuel.

SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 19 • Appropriate Technology Solar

IGeothermal additional $1.3 million from the US While France is closing down its Department of Energy to do more 2.5MW solar research project in the Scientists in California have tests. It involves scientists from 35 Pyrenees, the West Germans are recovered samples from what they say organisations in five countries. planning to start a 1MW project next is the hottest and most corrosive In New Mexico, 40 million litres year. environment yet explored when of water were heated under pressure The Pyrenees project closed after investigating the geothermal potential to 190°C in tests which lasted one three years, with the plant working of the Salton Sea area on the San month. Enough energy was extracted for only two of them due to Andreas fault. And, in New Mexico, to be able to provide electricity for breakdowns in the conventional Los Alamos National Laboratory a town of 2,000 people. A year long equipment. The French electricity researchers are looking at ways of test is now planned to demonstrate utility claims that the electricity heating water by pumping it through the commercial feasibility. Japan has produced was too costly, although the hot dry rocks in a project similar to provided part of the funding. project's director, Michael Rolant, that being carried out at the A geothermal power plant has been paints out that the pilot fast reactor Camborne School of Mines in developed in another project in produced electricity that was more Cornwall. California, in the Imperial Valley. The expensive, and nobody complained then. In March, the Californian scientists plant makes use of lower temperature The West German project will only obtained fluid samples from the brine than is normally required for go ahead if the Federal Research bottom of a 3km deep hole where the geothermal power and is already Ministry commits itself financially to temperature reached 355°C. Brine and producing 24MW of electricity. RWE who are promoting the venture. steam flowed at a rate of 350 tonnes The new approach is called RWE plans to locate the project in on hour, which is more than enough "binary" technology and consists of three different areas in order to take for the production of geothermal pumping the hot water from 13 wells variations of climate into power. Wilfred Elders, the chief to the plant and extracting the heat consideration. The main objective of scientist on the project, said that by a heat exchange process. The the research is to examine the "the high temperatures suggest that it secondary fluid, which accepts the conversion of the direct curent would be worth drilling deeper for heat, is 90% isobutane and 10% produced by solar power into three geothermal power than is done isopentone. This fluid vaporises and phose current suitable for commerical currently. the vapour turns a turbine to generate use. The project has received an the electricity. Conventional geothermal systems harness the steam from extremely hot water, without the I Hydro use of a secondary fluid.

The Canadian GoverRment is to fund a $7 million feasibility study into bullding a major hydro-electric scheme ------ADVERTISEHENT ______on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river in China. If the scheme goes ahead it is expected to cost $20 billion, could take up to 17 years to complete and will be the largest dam in the world rising to some 80m high. MATT-BLACK ENAMEL The idea of damming the Yangtze at the Three Gorges has been around FINISH. -- 4.0KW for the last 30 years, but it is a MULTI-FUEL STOVE controversial one. If it were to go CAN BE FITTED WITH ahead it would obviate the need for on increase in China's nuclear BOILER FOR capacity, but the opponents of the DOMESTIC HOT WATER plan say that it would be an environmental disaster. BURNS ALL FUELS If the study proves the scheme INCLUDING HOUSE­ viable, and the opposition is overcome, then Canada would expect to receive HOLD COAL, HAS the major part of the contracts. Even SHAKER, GRATE OP­ if the contracts do materialise then the funds already sunk into the study ERATED WITH STOVE would seem to be a very long term CLOSED TOP OR REAR investment, as the dam is unlikely to be started before the beginning of FLUG OUTLET. China's next 5 year plan in 1991 •

On •the other• side of the• world, •the Dutch have started the construction of a hydro scheme on the Nederign river SQUIRREL STOVE 1410 in Mouric. The 10MW plant is expected to come "on stream" in PRICES, INCLUDING VAT: STOVE £240. BOILER MODEL £304. 1988. The Netherlands may not be the STOVE WITH LONG LEGS ILLUSTRATED £15.00 EXTRA. first place one would consider siting £60.00 PER INSTALLED KILOWATT! hydro-electric stations but the Dutch FOREST FIRE electricity producers' association, VEEN, claim that the country's rivers 50 ST MARYS ST. EDINBURGH. 031-556-9812. could sustain some 75MW of capacity, THE BEST OF SAFE AND RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY about 0.75% of total Dutch electricity consumption.

20 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 Reviewsl Renewable Energy: Towards a wind development: £30m p.a. energy source far into the future, but Renewable Energy Programme renewables should be seen as the next 3) Serious support for small scale generation. for the UK; NA TT A £2. wind turbine development including It is annoying that it is not easy preferential subsidies to relevant small to compare some of the tables with Despite the Labour Leadership's firms: £ 15m p.a. each other, or see the contributions failure to capitalise on the anti­ as a percentage of total electricity nuclear feeling aroused by Chernobyl, 4) A commitment to a series of tidal demand. It is a short pamphlet and we mustn't forget that they have barrages, possibly starting with the doesn't attempt to quantify jobs or actually said that they will not build Severn mini-barrage or Mersey lay out a strict programme. What it any more nuclear power stations, at barrage: £20m p.a. does attempt to do is give renewables least for the time being. In 1984 a sense of purpose and set some NA TT A (Network for Alternative 5) Refunding the UK wave power: realistic targets. Technology and Technology programme: £30m p.a. A firm commitment to renewables Assessment) outlined a programme must be the central thrust of for the renewable energy research. 6) A major commitment to biofuel Labour's energy policy, whatever the Alex Eadie, one of Labour's front research and development: £30m p.a. outcome of the nuclear row. It is bench energy team, has said that this ironic that whilst writing this review is the sort of programme that they 7) Continued commitment to I am listening to news of yet more should adopt. geothermol: £15m p.a. closures in the shipbuilding industry, The £ 150m per annum programme which could benefit greatly from such is included· in this pamphlet, and is 8) Programme administration: £10m p.a. a programme. Get your copy of this worth reproducing here:- document now, and use it to write to The pamphlet shows how a rapid your MP or to get your local authority 1) Continued and expanding support programme of research and to start thinking about the for the large scale on-land wiRd, development into renewables is contribution they are going to make to including vertical axis machines: £15m feasible, and is an attempt to start a non-nuclear Britain - before any per annum. convincing politicians and the public proposals to dump nuclear waste in of the merits of a renewable energy your area. 2) A crash programme of offshore strategy. Coal would remain the main PETE ROCHE

Red and Green: The New divorced from socialist ideals. Greens, therefore, should not be divorced from Politics of the Environment by the Labour movement. They would be Joe Weston (ed); Pluto, foolish to continue the pretence that 181pp, £4.95. they are about a "new" politics; rather they lend a new perspective to "Under the flats, beneath the issues that are as old as the hills. projecting balconies, most of the There are real political battles which garages are unused, the doors twisted 1'11f' .Vt•tt• H~litit·.~ oftlw Eul'irmttm•ttl need to be won, both within and by and buckled. The sheltered walkway at Etliterl byJoe We.ston the Labour movement. For greens to this level is unused, because it is refuse to join these battles in defence unsafe. It leaves the apertures of the of some higher ecological principle is garages as a shelter for brief sexual o dereliction of duty. encounters, for the homeless to sleep I hope that all environmentalists, in, for kids who run away from home, whether they consider themselves to and os a haven for ••• glue sniffing be socialists or not, will read this parties." book with on open mind. It can only help the greens to move away from The thesis of this book is that their middle class image and towards a environmental campaigning has placed radical campaigning strategy. too much emphasis on a concern for "nature" and ignored the social PETE ROCHE environment which Jeremy Seabrook graphically describes in the above quote. The failure of modern Hot News: A Documentary on environmentalism to become anything .-----·--Combined Heat & Power; more than a reflection of wealthy society's concern for wildlife has Parallax Pictures/Trade Films. meant that it is not the radical force 20 m in, colour. for change that it could be. anarchists; and utopian socialists like Environmentalists should recognise Williom Morris and Robert Owen; not Suitable for any age, this video will that it is capitalism, and the to mention the Diggers and the be on instant hit with secondary transference of wealth from the many Levellers. This lack of historical school pupils. Its style is o to the few, which lies behind the insight is really a lack of political combination of "Nationwide" and "Not problems which the greens now insight. the Nine O'Clock News". Definitely on address. This is not to say that the Labour equal opportunity production, it may This book looks criticaly at Green Party does not hove major not go deep enough into technical politics, and the favourite eco-sport shortcomings. Green socialists within details for an engineering audience. of rubbishing all the established and outside the Labour movement ore I would reccomend it for OAP parties. The idea that green politics is only too aware of this. But the Associations, Women's studies classes a brand new product in the political libertarian tradition is certainly and anywhere else with a slot for o market place is also criticised. Greens gaining strength, and decentralisation not-too-serious video on CHP (and are trying to mislead us into is back on the agenda. incidentally fuel poverty) and to get a forgetting a whole lineage of socialist The book attempts to set us on discussion going on energy or energy and populist thinkers who emphasised the right road to build a radical policy. decentralisation and internationalism: campaigning environmentalism. Green SCRAM has o copy and we can show it Kropotkin, Proudhon and Godwin, the ideals, the authors insist, cannot be to your local group. LINDA HENDRY SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 21 •Reviews

The Worst Accident in the the background to the accident. What World, Chernobyl: the End of is more interesting however, is the following chapter, in which the the Nuclear Dream; Observer. authors indulge in every hack's 246pp, £2.95. favourite pastime: mocking their colleagues' work. "How the world That "The Worst Accident" is written found out" is both pungent and witty, by a team of journalists, reacting and should be recommended reading hastily to the latest nuclear calamity, for every budding newshound. is evident, not just from the credits, From this chapter on, the book but also from the book's form slides down hill. What should be the and content. There ore five different core of the whole project: the writing styles and problems with reactions to, and effects of, the syntax remain, and the book's radioactive cloud over Europe, is a strongest chapter is the one dealing perfunctory addendum to the reactions with the post-Chernobyl journalistic of the Soviet hierarchy. Not that the experience. The authors ore on chapter on the Cloud's spread isn't efficient team of good writers which interesting, it is, but I for one have is what maintains the book's hod my fill of the anti-Soviet credibility, where it could well hove propaganda that has surrounded the become on unco-ordinated colection whole grisly accident. Conversely, the of essays. next two chapters about the clean-up The book starts out with o scene and evacuation ore fair. No doubt setting chapter about the Ukraine, this has something to do with the using low key tension techniques, more fact that they are straight reportage commonly associated with disaster of ascertainable fact. novels. As is fitting with the genre, The joy of good journalism is that it cuts between the placid tranquility it is instantly responsive, clear and of a community preparing for o spring objective. "The Worst Accident" is all weekend in the country, and the it all before. The highlight of these of these, and more, that is apart tensions on the reactor floor os the chapters is a series of one page from the final chapter: the future of operators go about their jobs happily summaries of the various aspects of nuclear power. According to the unaware of the impending doom ••• the nuclear cycle; the lowpoint is the authors, it has no future, but neither The following three chapters boring but lucid graphics which, do they credit any future to the outline the history of radioactivity although they add to the text, are alternative energy forms. It is os and its applications, both "peaceful" too dull to interpret. Perhaps there is classic a case of fence sitting os any and otherwise, and the history bf a job for our Oberon at the Observer. SDP hock could dream up. Journalists nuclear power in the Soviet Union. The fifteen pages that deal with who write for the "quality press" They are clear, concise and the accident itself are, by necessity should know better than to call wove informative. As such they provide a skimpy, as they were written before power on "unproven technology". useful introduction to nuclear power the "official" report come out. But A good book but locking finish. politics for the reader, although they are interesting, os they are hardened campaigners will hove read written with a full understanding of THOM DIBDIN

Nuclear Power: Siting and the UK uses US technology, it should Cornwall and the shores of the Wash. Safety by Stan Openshaw; also choose its sites by US methods, However he ignores local and away from areas of high population continental weather patterns in Routledge & Kegan Paul. density. Suitable areas would be in assessing areas affected by fallout 349pp, £9.95 the Highlands and Southern Uplands of from catastrophic accidents (os seen Scotland, Cumbria, Western Wales, after Chernobyl). This restricts By accident Chernobyl has mode "remote" sites in the UK to the East "Nuclear Power: Siting and Safety" o Coast fringes of the Scottish timely book as it foresees the post­ Highlands. He pays little attention to Chernobyl world: "a major reactor low level radiation, and how discharges accident anywhere in the world would accumulate in the food-chain, and result in the majority of the UK spread beyond the remotely sited population feeling themselves to be plants; also such areas often produce at risk" (p307). food for the densely populated areas. Stan Openshow puts the case that And he does not consider siting if the world economy is to continue at criteria for the fuel services for present, nuclear power will be on nuclear power stations. important energy source. To ovoid For all its urgings of responsible safety problems he suggests that sites, decision making Nuclear Power does once chosen, wili be in use for o few not face up to the question of how centuries, and that remote siting adds democratic processes can cope with an important independent safety decisions concerning time scales threshold over and above technological greater than a century. Although it is and managerial safety strategies. He pro-nuclear, it makes a very strong concludes that these sites ore likely case for nuclear power being to be chosen during the next couple of inappropriate in the British context. decades. The feeling is that the author wants He is concerned with how to nuclear power, but in another part of improve the choosing of sites. His the world, with the UK importing analysis of the CEGB's "relaxed siting energy derivatives of such nuclear criteria" shows that little account is sites. This will not suit the notional token of population distribution, but elite's present strategy of that, if it were, there would be no independence in energy. shortage of sites, contrary to the CEGB' s claims. He suggests, that as IAN LEVESON

22 SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 ------ADVERTISEt-1ENT ______

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N E W S 0 C I A l I S T 9 0 P M 0 N T H Jl-----~ . ____j SCRAM Journal September/October 1986 --· - -- Little Block Rabbit has been out and Office funding for his loboritories to in mid August! about o lot lately and has come across carry out the monitoring "in no way The 9 watt bulb ran for over o few snippets which should be passed compromises the objectivity or 20,000 hours; it used about 200 units on the SCRAM readers. independence of our stance here." which cost about £16. A conventional He closed his letter with: "I 40W bulb would hove used 880 units; believe that the activities of pressure about £70 worth. This more than e According to the Scottish Sunday groups hove ... led to major compensates for the £5 cost of the Mail the Government is set to carry improvements in practices within the bulb. out "secret radiation tests" in response nuclear industry." to Chernobyl. Patients will be chosen e Britain is set to join the "30% at random from three hospitals In e Steven Grist, the Secretory of the Club", the group of notiol"s which ore Edinburgh and Glasgow and the tests Glasgow branch of the Scottish Green committed to cut sulphur dioxide will be performed by the Scottish Party works in on Unemployment emission~ by that amount by 1993. Universities Research and Reactor Benefit Office where o new computer This compromise probably has nothing Centre at East Kilbride. The Scottish system is to replace the old clerical to do with Norway toning down its Office has allocated £20,000 for the system. Comments from the staff criticism of the proposed EDRP at study. were requested. Dounreay! The role of the Director of the Steven used the article on VDUs East Kilbride Centre, Professor and health in SCRAM 52 to draw up e Nuclear fusion is this year's hot Murdoch Baxter, Is interesting. Prof his objection to the introduction of news, If temperatures ot the USA's Boxter has said that the Scottish the system. Other members of staff Prlncetow"'' University fusion research Office hod played down the Chernobyl responded encouragingly to his cent!e ore anything to go by. hazard and that Scotland hod "just comments, especially the women. For 0.3 seconds in early August, missed o major nuclear emergency." Management replied with NRPB the scientists there managed to He discouraged people from drinking documents which played down the produce o temperature ten times milk during the crisis because his hazard. hCitter than the Sun's core. The heat Centre hod detected significant levels One question which he put to was not, however, for investigating the of radioactivity in people. This was management was whether properties of the latest advances in one reason for urging the Scottish compensation would be paid if sun ton lotion. lt was used to fuse 10 Office to sponsor a notional members of staff or their wives gave million billion hydrogen atoms, and monitoring exercise. birth to onobnormol baby. They were generate o massive 10kW of power; Frances McKie of the Campaign unable to answer and referred him to more than 17MW of electricity were Against the {)ounreay Expansion Head Office in Edinburgh. He has used to produce this momentous phoned Prof Baxter and asked if he received no reply. breakthrough. would be willing to contribute to the So, 17MW of electricty is required Dounreay Inquiry. He apparently e Good news for Philips, the light to produce enough power to heat ten tacitly agreed to help but later. bulb manufacturers. When we moved one bar electric fires for 0.3 seconds: replied by letter to decline the into our present offices four years ooo not, one would hove thought, o highly invitation, because he now feels "that one of their SL-9 low energy productive process! the post-Chernobyl monitoring effort light bulbs was Installed os o security was not sufficiently deficient." lamp for the Lavender Menace e Tourists hove been voting with He emphasised that the Scottish Bookshop downstairs. The bulb foiled their feet and stoying owoy from the Block Sea's "hot spots" in their droves this year. This has drown the envy of Basque separatists who hove been using their explosive methds of coercion to try and achieve the some results on the Spanish beaches for yeors. it opeors that while your SUBSCRIBE PAY OUR overage punter is quite content to bask on the bombed out beaches of Benidorm, they aren't so keen on glowing on the golden sonds of ~NOW~ ~WAGES!~ Odesso.

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