Page 4, The Herald, Thursday, May 31, 1979

TERRACE/KITIMAT

daily herald

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Circulation - 625-4357

GEN. MANAGER - Knox Coupland
’ EDITOR - Greg Middleton

CIRCULATION. TERRACE.
' KITIMAT OFFICE : 632-2747

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635-6357

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Reproduction Is not permitted.

EDITORIAL

With all the publicity over the
problems at the Three-Mile Island
nuclear reactor plant, and subsequent
reports that similar accidents could
happen elsewhere, alternatives such as

wird, and solar energy should be even [is

more.-seriously. considered.

Tey,

‘terme tons 7

Many’ people are becoming in-

creasingly aware of these kinds of |

solutions to the problem of how do you
obtain energy without causing en-
vironmental damage. Proof of that is the

KetTo r& CT iZEy .
i me +
' ©
wen ,
eet, .
Eovian Tere SOUR

“They demand protective custody while the parolées roam the streets.”

numbers of people who attended the
Solar Energy Fair B.C. Hydro sponsored -

In Vancouver.

Hydro says about 10,000 interested
visitors took a look at the 23 exhibits.

Working models of devices to convert
synlight Into electrical and mechanical
‘energy: were displayed. A model of a
satellite collection station which would
beam microwave energy down to earth
was also on display along with
ltlustrations.

‘There were, of course, less esoteric
displays. Visitors were invited to.
examine solar heat collectors that would
witikk for a home. They were also invited

pHearn more about conservation
through insulation.

- Hydro’s vice president of corporate
affairs, Charles W. Nash, In brief fair-
opening remarks, compared the use of
energy from all sources to banking.

, “For ages the planet earth has been
ioperated on the resource deposited by
‘the energy from the solar system, and
:for too long we have been opening up the
:safety deposits of capital resources such
ias coal,'oil, gas, and more recently
juranium,” he said.

: He went on to advise that It was time
:we perfected ways to operate more on
‘the “income” resources and especially
:those which continue but are untapped,
isuch = as_—sswWind) = and _—s sunlight.

By ROD EDWARDS’
WINNIPEG (CP) —
Farmers - will lose
millions more dollars this
year because of problems
with grain handling and
transportation - that‘
robbed them of an
estimated $450 million in ©

1978.- ; .

“We're looking now at
total exports well below
the exports in the last
crop year,” Dave Su-
‘derman, information
director — with the
Canadian wheat board,
sald in an Interview
Tuesday. -

Suderman said the —
board’s export sales
program for the 1978-1976
crop year is more than
one million tonnes behind
schedule and it probably
will get worse.

"Even with ideal cir-
cumstances we will not be -
able to catch up,” he said,
“I can't give you any

Hydro’s energy use advisor Stuart

(GRAIN BACKLOG

“Once word gets

. around that. you’re at
_.your shipping capacity,
many buyers simply don't
bother coming — in,”
Sunderman said, ‘

If the board ia unable to
make’ up the shipping ©
backlog, the million .
tonnes represents a loss
of up to $170 million, Add_
to that an undetermined
amount in lost sales, -

As a result of similar
troubles last year, wheat
board commissioner J.L.
Leibfried reported that
farmers lost about $450
million or $3,000 each. -

~ Exports of all grains
from the start of the crop |
. year Aug. 1, 1978, to May
.16 were 14.6 million
tonnes compared with
15.7 million shipped
‘during. a comparable
period in the 1977-78 crop
year when total exports
_teached 21,7 million

” Jongshoremen have beén

- Ont, with grain

It is costing millions ~"|

_ The most encouraging -
element ih the system has

been the performance of -
the British Columbia port.

of Prince Rupert.
’ -4In fact, 1 think it was .

"Monday that they. sur- .

passed the volume: they ”
Cleared for the entire crop
year last year,’ Suder-.
man sald. on

“Grain handlers and:

iB

- working Saturdays and
Sundays throughout.”

Until recently, workers
at Vancouver had pefused -
to work overtime or.
weekends. A similar
situatlon existed for some
time at Thunder Bay.

n-
spectors, © se

The. biggest problem-
has been a shortage of

' railway cars, particularly

at Thunder Bay, where
the wheat board has

7 . shorta;

_ operations. .
Jasper: Alta,, eut off the

- board announced it will

chre a week. we
On the West Coast, a.
rate of 8,200 car unloads a
week is netded to keep
exports at. levels _ they
were. last year. Unloads
there in the last six weeks
have averaged about
2,700 a week. .
Suderman blames a
hea mau:
ing this 3 or
in areds of Saskitehewdns': 4°
and Mahitéba= disrupted «+!
the transportation system -
and hurt Thunder Bay

Last weekend a
derailment on. the
Canadian National =
Rallways main line near

car supply t the West

Coast for a few days.
Farmers got more bad.

news this week when the

not. issue deferred
delivery permits to those
who are unable to fill

«Leslie, speaking to a large audience on
ithe closing night of the fair, outlined
‘Hydro‘s activities in promoting wider
‘use of solar energy.

' Major efforts include: ° ;

, Publication of an fnformation kit o

‘the use of solar energy which Is
idistributed at no charge.
: Publication of a book describing
‘several solar systems in B.C. and
providing do-it-yourself instructions —
on sale for two dollars.

Free advisory services provided by
engineers and technicians — to
homeowners considering a solar in-
stallation.

A monitoring program.to meter the
savings provided by Instalied solar.
heating equipment — now In use in some
20 of the 160 home sotar systems In B.C.

Solar water and space heating prin-
ciples designed Into Hydro’s own new
bulldings. ;

A computer program to help calculate
the probable energy and money savings
of a solar Installation. .

A solar energy film, shown at the fair,
avaailable for loan to interested groups.
Planning for a study Into applications

the _ photovoltaic cell.
Participation through Canadian
Etectrical Association to help establish
standards for solar equipment..

What we would like to see Is a program
to assist those who wish to build or
convert homes to wind or solar power.

of

figures, but it has forced —- tonnes. undertaken to export 6.3 — their quotas by the end of
| defertients of sales,” The delays have been - Million tonnes of grain the crop year July 31.

Deferred sales resultin gue primarily to a- before July 31. The board said the
lost sales. With the. That would require decision . was made
system unable to handle. shortage of railway grain 7,200 car unloads a week. because last year “the

. ; ‘cara, labor problems ‘at = Butinthesix weeks since extra deliveries contrib-

more volume, potential terminal elevators and =the port opened in mid- uted significantly to
customéra go elsewhere = washedoutrallway April, the unloads have _— elevator congestion early
for grain. branch lines. - averaged fewer than 4,000 —in the 1978-79 crop year.”

EUROPEAN ELECTION

A united Europe a reality .

WASHINGTON (CP) — -

Voters in nine West
European countries troop to
the polls next week for
elections that are un-
precedented in history.

A total of 180milllon Eu-
ropeans, many of whom
were fighting one another 35
years aga, are elig
east ballots June? and
JunelO in the first direct
elections to the legislative
assembly of the European
Economie Community,

Despite signs In some
countries that election of the
new parliament has stirred

‘Uitte voter interest, it is

nevertheless a major event
In European history,

For some, the elections are
seen as another step In
eventual development of a
United States of Europe, -
omething that statesmen and
visionaries once shared at a
dream.

Others, notably French
President Valery Giscard
d'Estaing, say that is an
extreme position. But there
is a shared hope the new
parliament can play a
stronger role in promoting
economic growth than wag
the case with the old ap-
pointed parliament that was
dissolved May10.

There will be 410 elected
members in the European

{ble to .

parliament, sitting in the
French cathedral city of
Strasbourg. =

The four moat populous
members — Britain, France,
Italy and West Germany —
each will send 81 members to
the new assembly. The
Netherlands will elect 23,
Belgium 2%, Denmark 16,
‘Treland 15 and Luxembourg
six, . .

The assembly's chief fob
initlally in to’ supervise
Cammon Market 9;
But observers be wat-
ching closely to see whether
elected members tart
developing other politteal
initiatives,

wing Renee Market is
arily an economic union
that promotes trade and
monetary development
among member countries.
The old parliament, made up
of members appointed b
majority parties in ea
member country, Was
malnly a debat society. It
pleyed.only a minor role in
directing the community's
over-all budget spending,
eatimated at about $16billion
this year.

In the past, Common
Market polley was set by
cabinet ministers of the nine
countries  whomet
irregularly at a council of
ministers. .The elected

By GLENN SOMERVILLE

members of the. European
parliament are expected to
play a far greater-role in
selting policy and in ex-
ercising the community's

"economic clout.

The West Germans, for ex-
ample, will have ‘another
forur. In which to press their
influence as well ag their
ideas for monetary union,
The Danes, the Dutch anjt
the Irish gain an opportunity
for further Integrating farm
marketlng policies that have
brought them prosperity in
recent years. .

But whether the Comm
Market's authority ip
boosted depends largely on
resolving confilcts between
West Europe's four main
political streams — the
Christian Democrats, Liber-
als, Soclalists and Com-
munists, If they concentrate
merely on public squabbling,

. any hope of poliltical

initiatives will falter.
There is arleady some con-
cern among Weat European
Conservatives that the com-
bined Socialist parties of the
nine member countries will

dominate the new
parliament.
Any European can declare

himself a candidate. But in
practice the establisyed
parties generally have
formally nominated and
entered candidates so moat

voeters have a choice from.
the sarhe partles that run in
national elections. .

In Britain, for example, it
is assumed Margaret
Thatcher's Conservative
party that took power May 3

‘will win -a majority of
. Britain’s §1- seats in the

European periiament. It,
gives the ruling party new
leverage to push for a better
deal for Britain on the.
continent,

But this also means tradi-
tional domesile politica)
rivalries, as well as the uaual
frietion paints between such °
countries as Britain and
France, are carried into the
new assembly, It remains to
be seen whether these can be
reconclied with the com-
munity’s over-all Interests.

If the member countries
stop arguing and begin co-
ordinating economic
policies, they have the power
to rehsape world trade
patterns, But some ob-
fervers suggest one of the
main results may also be a
realignment of traditional
political groups back insde
the member countries. .

Whatever the eventual
outcome, Britain, Denmark,
Ireland and the Netherlands
vate June 7, but ballot
counting won't start the polls
close in the other five
cluntries June 10.

_ systems tocontain the resulting excess pressure, Judge says. -

oF
ced

. sufficient pipe was used, he said

one

- 7). By MARLENE ORTON 0
.. OTTAWA (CP) — The future of off-shore oil-and -gas-
production in the Arctic still reats with scientists wlio need: *.
continued fliancial support for research, says Alan Judge,'a.

“Drilling for energy resources in the high Arctic has cost.
or energy resources in ;
-lives and millions of dollars because of a lack of sclentific” -

dnformiation about the far North... . ee
‘“Theae disasters cost millions of dollars to put right. Yetif

. there would have been a small investment in selerice it would”

have been put right'in thé first place,” Judgesald. .
of the earth's interior. -
subgurface soils and rocks, both frozen and unfrozen — all of *.

* which is essential for‘an adequate assessment of the envi: *”

ronmental Impact of proposed
construction. ‘
*““Herause of research aver the last

northern development cand

few years, major com: ,

can drill safely.”

drates need more investigation, he says.

Oil and gas production in the Arctic cannot begin until,

these problems are settled. ; -
“We don't have the ability to produce gas and ol] througti~.
these wells over a 20-to 0-year period.” ”

. . However, a joint governmentindustry research group was -

formed lest year to figure out some answers, said Judge, who .
was also one of.the researchers aboard the Lorex Ice station,
near the North Pole. ‘ as
“While gas hydrates may someday become a potential -
source of energy, drilling through formations which hald the
hydrates can be very hazardous if the formations are not
recognized and controlled. - . ran
For example, blowouts in two Dome Petroleum wells off-.
_ shore in the Beaufort Sea in 1976 were probably caused after
operators penetrated permafrost, related features and gas
hydrate layers below the sea floor without adequate support:

“Since decomposition of the hydrate normally releases
more gas than'can be contained in the same volume at the
same temperature and pressure, the heat-generated by’

drilling ardor the use of warm drilling mud may cause a-

‘serious pressure increase, mud gasification and a possible

_ consquent blowout.” -

Judge cited pthet cases of socalled gas kicks because of hy-
Mackenzie River delta in the mid-1970s. a a
Several workers were killed when a similar incident oc- -
curred ata Gulf Oil well'in the south partof the delta,
; Drilling through permafrost can cause changes in under-
ground properties, says Judge. -
As part of the drilling process, warm

- @rate decomposition, including twp Shell Oil wells weatof the

fluids are circulated

down the hole. As they escape they melt ice in surrounding

underground formations and create serious problems,
Onesuch problem occurred when a natural gas well drilled.
by Panarctic Oils Ltd. off King Christian Island in the Arctle
blew out of control in 1970 for four months, It coat nearly $2
million ta get the well ca / *
“They probably drilled down and accidentally got inte a
(gas) reservoir horizon without sufficient piping to cement —
off the horizon," sald Judge. fo 4
The crew had absolutely no control over the well becayse
‘the distribution of permafrost had not been known and in-
‘Fhese situations now can be dealt with: during drilling, buts:
tis problem inow-ebines after & dirmebhasisdnnd avimajons
deposit’ ‘says Judges'e «4% wabganha ss hie:
"A producing well thermally disturbs the rock around It
and when {t ja producing for a long period of time, the fluids
become quite ho! and the strength af the surrounding support
formation drops.” _ : cot
As the formation changes and ice melts, pipes can bend,

_ break or sheer. .

‘Tf thera are gas hydrates behind the formations, then we
don’t know what happens." .,

The joint research group now has put together a program —
of questions which need to be answered before gas production
can begin in the Arctic, Judge said: a,

The only serious question to be answered now is one of .
money so such research can continue, he added. .

[- CONSUMER
COMMENT —

A young man decided to buy his favorite git! a
sweater for her birthday. After checking the latest
styles, he found one that would look just right on her,
Although $40 was more than he could afford to
spend, he knew that just this once, the weater would be
worth every penny, — . oot
Until later in the day, that is, when he found exactly
the same sweater on sale in another store for only $80
— half the price he had'paid! ; .
Feeling miffed that he had been “ripped off’ by the
first store, he bought the $30 sweater as well, intending
to return the first one for a refund. -
As it turned out, the first store would not accept
returned merchandise, and he had bought the second
sweater knowing that the sale was final. He had
become the. proud owner of two sweaters instead of

onel ,
to learn two important facts to

That’s the hard way
help protect yourself in the marketplace.

First, the retailer sets the price at which mer-
ehandise will be sold. You'll often find a wide variety
of prices charged for the same or similar items in
different stores. If you're interested in saving money,
you've got to shop and

Remember too, that once you have made your
purchase, you cannot asaume that youcan return it for
a refund or exchange it for something else if you don’t :
like it or if it’s cheaper somewhere else, Exchanges,
credits, andrefunds are a matter of store policy. -

’ So, shop around. Compare quality and pricé in
several stores before you buy. Ask the salesperson if
the item you intend ‘* buy can be returned at a later.
date,eitherforan* ange, a credit, or a refund, and,
get the conditious .- 2 sale written on your saleslip.

These simple pre: autions would certainly have
helped the young man who now has two Identical .
sweaters for only one girl, «= ;

Letters welcome

The Herald welcomes its readers com-
ments. All letters fo the editor of general
public Interest will be printed. We do,
however, retain the right to refuse to print
letters on grounds of possible tibel or bad
taste. We may also edit letters for style and |
length. All letters to be considered for
Publication must be signed.

4

geophyaicist with the earth physics branch of the energy.

His work involves the study of heat or thermal properties of? a

_ panies now understand permafrost (frozen subsoil) and hy- . -
_ Grates (frozen gas) cause problems in drilling, With careful -
co-operation between government and industry, they now ©

“Yet the occurence and behavier of permafrost and gas hy-

compare prices. -

I

Judge is a specialist in geothermics or the heat mechasiisia a

ce might _