[cdn-nucl-l] The most dangerous people in the world

["Jerry Cuttler" <jerrycuttler@rogers.com>]

I like this letter in the Hamilton Spectator.
Why do the media keep going to the bull (the Sierra Club) to get milk
(information about energy)?
Jerry
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Nuclear's the only power game in town
The Spectator, Tue 27 Jul 2004
Byline: Randy Schelhas, Brantford

With all due respect to Jack Santa-Barbara's letter criticizing nuclear
energy production -- I have no particular affection for Murray Elston -- 
however his defence of nuclear energy is both logical and honest.

Wind and solar electricity production are a woefully sporadic means of
electricity production. They can only be used during the extremely limited
time when the wind blows or the sun clearly shines. Moreover, the kilowatt
production of these sources is limited and will create a soft supply
problem.

Factors such as switching noise and harmonics may not seem like such a big
deal if you only have to reset your digital clock or your TV channels at
home. However, the situation is a much more serious matter for industry. As
an electrician in heavy industry, I know that brownouts can cause a barrage
of trips and glitches in electronic drives and controllers. Without an
overcapacity in energy availability, industrial power grids get very noisy.

Any significant reliance on solar and wind electricity production will
undoubtedly cause numerous intermittent brownouts. It will also seriously
diminish industrial production efficiencies in Ontario and drive industry
out of the province.

Mr. Santa-Barbara's percentage-type calculations comparing nuclear and
solar/wind electricity production means are misleading.  Electricity
production decisions must be made by qualified people using calculations
involving kilowatts.

As a natural gas technician once told me, "The most dangerous people in the
world are the ones who think they know what they are doing."
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