Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.energy From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: energy Thu, Feb 27 1992 Date: Thu, 27 Feb 92 06:04:26 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Energy USA TODAY Update Feb. 27, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network NUCLEAR POWER A CAMPAIGN ISSUE: While the environment has largely been a non-issue during the primaries, the politics of nuclear power may be key in primaries over the next two weeks. Most on the spot is Democrat Paul Tsongas, who gets praise from environmentalists for his overall record, but loses points for his defense of nuclear power. Jerry Brown nearly pulled off an upset in Maine exploiting the nuclear issue. (For more, see special Nuclear package below.) PRICES LITTLE CHANGED: Oil prices finished mixed with little change at the end of a session dominated by technical influences. Light sweet crude oil for delivery in April settled at $18.46 a barrel, down 2 cents, at the Mercantile Exchange. March home heating oil settled at 50.87 cents a gallon, down .48 cent. Natural gas prices were mixed, with April contracts settling at $1.180 per 1,000 cubic feet, unchanged. YANKEE ROWE SHUT DOWN: Yankee Atomic Electric Co. Wednesday said that it will permanently shut down Masschusetts' Yankee Rowe nuclear plant because of continued regulatory and economic uncertainty. The plant was voluntarily shut down in October 1991 due to Nuclear Regulatory Commission concerns over the condition of the reactor vessel. Testing and inspecting the plant would cost $23 million. OIL DRILLING DOWN IN USA: Oil-drilling activity in the USA has been drying up over the past decade. Since 1981, the U.S. rig count, the petroleum industry's measure of drilling activity, has fallen from an average 3,970 to 862 at the end of last year, according to the Independent Petroleum Association of America. The rig count reached its lowest level ever - 653 - Jan. 31. PICKENS TO FINANCE PROJECT: Corporate raider T. Boone Pickens has offered to finance the conversion of Phoenix's vehicle fleet to run on natural gas as a pilot project for other cities. Boone owns Mesa Inc., which sells natural gas. Phoenix is Arizona's smoggiest city. The city would buy Mesa fuel at standard gasoline and diesel costs until Mesa recoups conversion cost. MAXUS CAN PROSECUTE CLAIMS: Maxus Energy Corp. said that Tuesday the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York confirmed Maxus' right to prosecute its Texas state court claims against Kidder, Peabody & Co., Martin A. Siegel and Ivan F. Boesky. The claims by the oil and gas exploration firm arose out of Maxus' 1983 acquisition of Natomas Co. Maxus expects the Texas court to set the case for trial later this year. ARCHITECTS URGED TO AVOID CFCS: The American Institute of Architects is strongly urging members to avoid designs that specify cooling equipment that requires ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. For large buildings, several alternatives exist, including ammonia; CFC replacements called HCFCs; and gas- and steam-driven systems using lithium bromide. For home systems, substitutes are just reaching the market. ALT. FUEL VEHICLES TO BE SHOWN: Chevrolet said Wednesday that it will display its 1992 Variable Fuel Vehicle Lumina, which can run on gasoline or methanol, and the '92 Fleetside Pickup equipped to run on compressed natural gas, at the Denver Auto Show, Feb. 26 through March 1. Chevrolet announced the VFV Lumina program in November with a potential of up to 4,000 VFV Luminas in conjunction with the California Energy Commission. INT'L LEAD MUST CLOSE PLANT: An Alabama judge Wednesday gave International Lead Co. in Leeds until noon Friday to shut down its battery recycling plant. The judge cited repeated lead air pollution violations by the company. Ninety workers will be idled as a result of the order. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON NUCLEAR: BROWN WOULD CLOSE NUKE PLANTS: Tsongas' "environmental record is outstanding except for one glaring example," says Reid Wilson, the Sierra Club's political director. Analysts say Tsongas' pro-nuclear position was a main factor among Maine voters last Sunday when Jerry Brown nearly pulled an upset by exploiting the nuclear issue. Brown says he would close all 112 of the nation's nuclear plants within a decade. TSONGAS ONLY NUKE POWER BACKER: In contrast, Tsongas stood alone during a pre-New Hampshire debate when he defended nuclear power. "If you take out all your nuclear power plants, ... you're going to have more fossil fuel and add to the greenhouse effect," he said. Tsongas has served on the board of Boston Edison Co. since 1985 and says he helped the utility improve its safety record at the Pilgrim nuclear plant. CALIF., WASH. COULD BE TROUBLE: Activists say the nulcear issue could again haunt Tsongas as it did in Maine. In Washington state - host to the government's troublesome Hanford reactor - it could surface during Democratic caucuses next Tuesday. Analysts also predict serious trouble for Tsongas in California - a state with a long history of opposition to nuclear power. INDUSTRY IS GLAD ISSUE RAISED: Environmentalist give Tsongas credit for his stand on increased use of renewable energy sources and conservation. He favors building new nuclear plants only after smaller, safer designs are made. Nuclear industry officials welcome renewed interest in the issue. Tsongas has "brought the nuclear issue into the debate," says Scott Peters of the U.S. Council for Energy Awareness. (End of package.) Energy Editor: William Snoddy. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002270000D0227 HEAL- R P Many-are-without-adequate-care........ A D0227 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM