The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

8-Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, April 4th, 1979 Darlington Nuclear - An Alternate View , I; 1 1 ! i ! il by Wafren Lowes , Since that day when Ontario Ontario Hydro announced the cut-back in plans at the, Darlington site, reaction in some local circles has often appeared to border on panic. . Deputations have been flying back and forth from the citadels of power and words of vilification hurled in many directions. Hydro itself has been castigated for cutting back after having overestimated overestimated by 45 percent current consumer needs. For the ordinary citizen to venture into this debate would seem like asking to have ones wrists chopped off in the Bowmanville square at high noon. But possibly the air has now cleared somewhat and possibly possibly the whole occurrence was inevitable in any event. In a recent address, Mr. Taylor, chairman of Ontario ' Hdyro, put it quite succinctly when he said: "Whether the lower projected rate of growth in electrical demands . will become a norm is unknowable at this point. The ■answer will depend, not only on the performance of the economy and the part electricity electricity is required to play, but also what habits of conserving conserving our customers are willing to acquire and maintain. But energy needs, and the roles of different energy resources - including new renewable energy forms - will remain at centre stage in public and - political debate". The most confusing aspect of this subject on the local scene appears to centre around just what role electrical electrical energy will play in the future. At present, Ontario homes and farms consume about 20 percent of our energy intake and transporation accounts accounts for a 25 percent slice. We all know that fossil fuel reserves are dwindling and the world supplies are subject to great social upheavals abroad. When it comes to the final crunch, then, the question question we must ask ourselves is can electrical energy supply the needs of home heating arid transportation operations? Not without refitting homes and redesigning the engines on our automobiles and most of our rolling stock. The costs would be astronomical. So "where is the answer? In the long term it must lie in the development and use of sophisticated renewable sources, but the immediate need is to conserve the liquid fuel stocks we now have in reserve. If we don't want to remain at the mercy of unstable foreign suppliers, the least we can do is start conserving stocks at home. This means the use of the most efficient gas-saving engines engines in smaller cars, more rail transport as opposed to truck use, a cutback in the , frivolous uses of the gasoline supplies and a freeze on net fuel exports. Then, we should be working on a farm and , forest program to add meth- anole and ethanole for automobile automobile use. A 50 percent mix is possible and the end result is ' better fuel mileage per gallon, and a notable reduction reduction of sulphur exhaust fumes that contribute largely to the acid rain problem that is threatening our lakes. When it comes to the matter of saving fossil fuels in home heating, the possibilities are even more inviting. A thorough thorough insulation program has not even begun; new building codes that will assure optimum optimum insulation, including individual metering and thermostat control in density housing. We need district heating concepts and even designed conserver cities. "Such programs have only been nibbled at to date, but already the savings in energy are spectacular. Spectacular, yes. Indeed they have been a factor which has caused the reappraisal of the needs for the Darlington plant. Possibly, if we, as a society, would pursue this thinking with more vigour, we might find that the nuclear plant at Darlington could be dispensed with altogether. And we should not be surprised surprised if the alternatives, over a period of time, would create more jobs than the building of this nuclear behemoth behemoth with a short life-term of production. Of course, this scenario, through lack of space, must of necessity be imcomplete (we have said nothing of solar installations and other energy capturing devices). But, even without them, we have already eliminated three major sources of headache looming on the horizon: the- problem of where we are going to dump the tons of lethal wastes that will pile up; the worry about some aspects of the China Syndrome that have so many people already upset (even CANDU is operated operated by humans) ; and thoughts of further expanding that $9.7 billion dollar debt that Hydro has already accumulated accumulated (it rivals the sum U.S. will pay to bring Egypt and Israel to terms). At this moment it would appear that advocacy of a "growth-in-any-direction- and-abany-cost" policy is leading Ontario on a perilous path - one which sprouts problems such as acid rain, lethal dumps and radioactive contamination like a scourge of poisonous mushrooms. In> deference to Ontario Hydro, we must give them credit for having at least paused to look at the course they have been following. How distressing it is, however, to see so many ndn-conserving Conserva- Jr. Conservationist Award program The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority will be sponsoring a Cobourg ■student, Michael McNulty, as a possible candidate for the Junior" Conservationist Award Program. This program program is a combined working and learning experience in conservation and resource management. Its pûrpose is to stimulate, through an active suirimer program, a continuing interest in the wise-management of our natural natural environment. This program program is administered by the Conservation Authorities Branch of the Ministry of SAVE REASONABLE PRICES SAVE SAVE WHY PAY MORE FOR HEATING SAVE ON PREMIUM QUALITY FUEL OIL HXriUi YOUR flltt OIL HEEDS 1S17DUNDAS ST. EAST WHITBY Telephone Tedifl Call Collect 6684381 ' Prompt, Courteous Servie* tives urging Hydro on to greater blunders. Much has been written about the merits of a conserver society. Report No. 27 by the Science Council of Canada might be a starter. But, for the immediate edification edification of municipal officials and elected representatives, a reading of a pamphlet entitled, "Energy and the Conserver Society" might be recommended. This, believe it or not, is published by the Ministry of Housing at Queens Park (not apt to be a very revolutionary group). And this entire debate can be wrapped up with one basic observation. Measured by the Second Law of Thermodynamics, Thermodynamics, the overall efficiency efficiency of Canada's energy . system is now estimated at 8.3 percent. A reductin of the- 91.7 percent waste by only 1 percent at this time would save Canada the energy equivalent to close to half a million barrels of oil per day - more than all the oil that Canada imports. Think of it - we could be self sufficient and living in relative safety. Conservation does not mean a lower standard of living and a return to the tribal state - it just means taking a -different Davis backs Clark at Oshawa PC Dinner Natural Resources. The competition was open to any boy or girl demonstrating demonstrating an interest in conservation conservation by active membership membership in a club, organization or group with continuing nature or conservation activities. Aftet interviewing the most qualified students that applied, applied, Michael was chosen for his sincere interest in conservation. conservation. The Authority is pleased to , have Michael represent our watershed in competition for placement in the Junior Conservation Award Program. Premier Davis took the opportunity last Friday to come out in full support of Joe Clark in the upcoming Federal Federal Election. Davis was thé -guest speaker at a $50 a plate fund-raising dinner at the Jubillee Pavilion organized by the four Conservative provincial ridings in Durham Region. Davis gave full support to the National Conservative leader, Joe Clark and said it was vital at this time in our history to have a new direction at Ottawa and that this could come through the election of Joe Clark and the Conservative party. He said he intended to assist Clark as best he could. In lashing out at. Prime Minister Trudeau, he said, Trudeau deals in the politics of confrontation by pitting one part of Canada against another. another. He said Trudeau should be campaigning against Clark and Broadbent rather than the Premiers of the country. Davis was also opposed to Trudeau attempting to make, national unity the prominent issue in the election. He said it was fine to discuss national unity but there was other issues including jobs and the economy. Davis also took the opportunity opportunity to speak out against Rene Levesque's sovereign- association proposal. He said never while he is Premier-of Ontario would he discuss sovereign-association with anyone. He said the word sovereign had only one meaning meaning as far as he, was concerned and that was separation. But Davis did not leave alibis alibis attack to Trudeau and Levesque for he included Mike Cassidy NDP Leader, Dr. Stuart, Smith, Liberal leader ahd Mike Breaugh, Oshâwa NDP representative in the legislature. Davis said it was unfortunate unfortunate that the NDP did not realize that ive needed'economic needed'economic growth to support hospitals and social services. He said profit is not a dirty word, it is what makes the wheel turn. He pointed out that some 135,000 new jobs were "created in the Province over the past year and that the most of these were in the private sector. He stated that when you attack the multinationals multinationals you are hurting your>own social programs. Davis then Criticized Dr. Smith referring to a statement statement in Eastern Ontario when the liberal leader said they should move industry out Elect PC Officers The Durham Northumberland Northumberland Progressive Conservative Conservative Association on Wednesday Wednesday of last week elected their slate of officers at an annual 1 meeting held in Blackstock. Mrs. Robson, Hampton was elected riding association president. Vice-presidents elected were: Ruth Gordon, Cobourg; Rev. Reg. Rose, Port Perry; Joe Leavens, ■ Darlington; Merrill Van Camp, Black- stock; I|ick Broadbent, Bowmanville Bowmanville and Kay Weather- all, Port Hppe. Marion - Manders, Kendal was elected secretary; Jack Plooârd, Garden Hill, treas-* urer and Roy Foster, Kendal,, auditor. " There was a three-way contest for the Bowmanville vice-president between BrUce Colwell, Allan Lobb and Dick Broadbent. The elections were conducted' by John 'Brien, president'of the Oshawa Oshawa PC association. PIYAH ART AUCTION Piyah Chapter of ' ' , HADASSAH-WIZO 1 Invites yod to an art auction of original Canadian works ■ on Sunday,'April 8, 1979 at f PAUL GIOVIS GALLERY 44 Richmond Street ,, ' McLaughlin Square. Oshawa Admission to auction $2.50 Includes: Preview 6 to 8 p.m. Auction 8 p.m. Refreshments ' Door prizes direction,, using different technologies and being more efficient. Possibly a few crown corporations such as Eldorado, turned in a. new direction and charged with the job of bringing new renewable resources on stream could then be revered by all of the people as good corporate citizens. And the pity of it all is that, with a federal election now upon us, there is riot one political party who has the foresight to present the public with a new vision for a better future. No Wonder there is sceptiscism in the land. of the Golden Horseshoe to eastern Ontario. This won't accomplish anything, said Davis, moving industry from one area to another. In speaking on doctors opting out of OHIP he said the government was not enthused about this but that it had always been with them. The fact remains, he said that 100,000s of Ontario people are treated every year and he Was of the opinion that Ontario had the best medical service in Canada and that it was better in an overall sense to that in the United States. There was about 300 in attendance at the dinner. WORK WANTED D.&R. Custom Fencing and custom chain-sawing 983-5005 or 983-9627 Orono, Ont. Q)rÿ 1VaU Taping - Spray Ceilings Plaster Repair Painting Wally Lucyk A 983-5518 ORONO Auction Service Farm & Estate Sales Furniture AAodern and Antique NORM FAULKNER , Stouffville 640-5691 EARL GAUSLIN Stouffville 640 3079