NUCLEAR SECRETS

The Department of Energy recently stated that the United States has conducted 204 secret underground nuclear explosions since the 1940s. To which we say there should have been lots more. Now if we could just get them to build 204 secret nuclear power plants.

A better kept secret, judging by news media, is that nuclear power has now replaced almost all oil-fired power in the generation of electrical power in the United States. Since 1973, oil has dropped from 17% to 3%, while nuclear has risen from 4% to 22%. See Nuclear Energy Info, October 1993 from USCEA, 1776 I Street, N.W., Wash-ington, DC 20006 and the November 1993 Access to Energy.

Meanwhile, Nuclear Issues, Vol. 15, No. 11 (1993) from APG, 8 Ruvugny Mansions, Embankment, Putney, London SW15 1LE reports a British project to generate electricity from burning wood produced on fast-growing tree farms. This "alternative'' is also receiving favorable reviews in the American press.

Nuclear Issues calculates that the satisfaction of current electric power demand in England by wood-fired plants would require a tree farm covering about one-half of the land area of England.