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 Fri, Feb 28 1992 Date: Fri, 28 Feb 92 05:50:42 EST Message-ID: 02-28 0000 DECISIONLINE: Energy USA TODAY Update Feb. 28-March 1, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network A-PLANT STRIKE NO THREAT: The Energy Department's top uranium enrichment official says the eight-month strike at the Piketon A-plant does not threaten national security, so a mediation board is not needed. William Young, assistant secretary for nuclear energy, responding to a request to have the Atomic Labor Relations Board mediate the strike, said the plant is "operating very well, very safely." (For more, see special Strike package below.) PRICES UP IN GAS-POWERED RALLY: Oil prices rose, led by a strong rally in gasoline. Light sweet crude oil for delivery in April settled at $18.75 a barrel, up 29 cents, at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Unleaded gasoline for delivery in March settled at 56.28 cents a gallon, up 1.71 cents. Natural gas prices fell, with contracts for delivery in April settling at $1.156 per 1,000 cubic feet, down 2.4 cents. USA READY TO JOIN WARMING FIGHT: The United States, among other things, is prepared to buy more alternative-fuel vehicles, and encourage mass transit, car pooling, electric vehicles and take other measures to limit fossil-fuel emissions, delegates at a United Nations global warming conference were told Thursday. Chief negotiator Robert Reinstein also said the USA will encourage more hydroelectric, nuclear and solar energy. UTILITIES SHOULD PLANT TREES: A new study shows that tree-planting would be one of the cheapest ways for utilities to cut emissions of carbon dioxide. The study used American Electric Power Co., whose subsidiaries burn mostly coal in producing 4% of the USA's electricity for parts of seven states. The utility could economically use tree-planting for up to 60% of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2015. BURNING METHANE MAY HELP: Another effective way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, according to a study by the Center for Clean Air Policy, is burning methane vented from coal mines for safety reasons. The Center for Clean Air Policy is a non-profit group funded by foundations, corporations and states. It opposes proposals for an energy tax advocated by some environmentalists. TROJAN NUCLEAR TO RESTART: Trojan Nuclear Plant in Portland, Ore., will restart Friday after being out of service for a year for repairs. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the plant is safe although 600 steam generator tubes that carry radioactive water haven't been fixed. Anti-nuclear groups are gathering petitions to close the plant. NATURAL GAS FOR DIESEL: Navistar International Transportation Corp. and Ricardo Consulting Engineers, a British firm, are designing and developing a diesel engine fueled with compressed natural gas for medium trucks and school buses. The goal is to exceed the U.S. 1994 heavy-duty engine emissions targets over a transient test cycle. Several natural gas and environmental organizations are cooperating. MAZDA WORKING ON ELECTRIC MIATA: Mazda Motor Corp. is co-developing an electric car based on the MX-5 Miata with Chugoku Electric Power Co., a Japanese utility. Last week, Mazda said it expects to complete three research cars by the end of this year through a reported joint investment of about $1.2 million. Using a nickel-cadmium battery, the electric Miata will be capable of speeds of up to 87 mph. EIGHT-HOUR CHARGE REQUIRED: The electric car being developed by Mazda and Chugoku Electric Power Co. will have a battery that requires an eight-hour charge, with cruising range per charge of 112 miles, Mazda says. Chugoku will supply the battery charging equipment. Following reliability and durability tests of the three prototypes, the partners will decide whether to produce the car in larger volume. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON STRIKE: ENERGY SEC. MUST ASK BOARD: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, requested that the Atomic Labor Relations Board mediate the dispute between the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Local 3-689 and Martin Marietta Energy Systems, which runs the plant for the government. The Atomic Labor Relations Board is part of the federal mediation service. It can get involved only if Energy Secretary James Watkins asks it to. SEN. GLENN FRUSTRATED: "We don't consider establishment of such a board to be necessary. National security interests are not at stake here," Young said this week during a hearing of the Governmental Affairs Committee. Glenn appeared frustrated with Young's rationale. "I don't for the life of me understand why you would not want someone to go in there and get that plant back on a solid basis," he said. STRIKE MEDIATED IN PAST: Larry Thomas, the union's financial secretary, said the board mediated a strike at the plant in 1979, even though national security issues were not involved. "It was brought into the fray because of a negotiations impasse," he said. Young said the department believes Martin Marietta is trying to settle the strike, but the union is not responding. LAST OFFER REJECTED: Martin Marietta made an offer Feb. 15, but union leaders did not take it to the membership because they said it essentially was the same contract they had rejected months ago. The strike centers on Martin Marietta's desire to change the seniority system. The company has continued to operate the plant using supervisors, retirees and employees from DOE's other uranium enrichment plants. (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. 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