t'age 14 KAH\J uecember 1 ~lSU Synfuels Cont. refully studying both industry and governor sentiment, seven source can be "dewatered," become a "coolant" (for coal and nucpossible sites were selected in the western United States as suitable lear power plants), and finally be slurried to Arkansas. On the other for these facilities. Ironically, and without exception, these sites hand, if a tribe comes out opposed, energy development in the West are located on or adjacent to Indian reservations. could be in jeopardy. As of 198d, only two governors remained seriously interested in This issue more than any other makes the advice and plans for pursuing the nuclear parks. Green River, Utah, and the Hanford Indian country of vital concern to the entire nation. tJ □ Nuclear reservation in Washington state are the two most likely sites for these facilities. [Dixy Lee Ray's recent electoral defeat in TRIBE Washington probably eliminates the Hanford site. -eds.] The expectations of the industry and the governors have been scaled down Acoma Pueblo (NM) considerably-the "nuclear parks" are now expected to include Blackfeet (MT) only 10-12 nuclear reactors. <J,eyenne River Sioux (SD) In 1979 the Western Interstate Energy Board became primarily interested in synthetic fuels and the potential of the coal industry. Ouppewa-<:ree (MT) In a 1979 annual report 24 synfuels facilities, 16 coal slurry lines, Colville(WA) and up to 30 coal-fired power plants were predicted for the western Crow(MT) United States. The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) is the Indian En- Fort Belknap (MT) ergy Think Tank. Working with 26 tribes, the advice and informa- Fort Berthold ( ND I tion provided by CERT to the tribal chairmen has a very direct in- • Fort Hall (ID) fluence on "dec'isionmaking, and eventually on the entire nation. Half a dozen studies on uranium potential, numerous studies on Fort Peck (MT) resource inventory, coal potential, the feasibility of coal-fired HQpi(AZl power plants, and synfuels facilities have been the major reports of Jemez Pueblo (NM) the organization. Several studies on environmental options and regulations open to the tribes have also been conducted. When Jiarilla Apache ( NM) compared to both the funding and time allocated to gasification, Laguna Pueblo (NM) however, plus the potential for a nuclear power plant on the SpoNa\-ajo (AZ. NM. lIT) kane reservation in Washington state, CERT's advice appears to be geared towards exporting resources to the United States. Nez Perce (ID) Reasoning out CERT's advice, it appears to have some logical Northern Clleyenne(MT) explanations. First and primary, the economic situation of most Santa Ana Pueblo (NM) reservations-from 70 percent unemployment to an average reservation per capita income of one-fourth the national average-is a Southern Ute(CO) spur towards "economic development." The most efficient means Spokane (WA) toward this goal of "development," according to CERT, the Depart- Uintah-Ouray-(Uf) ments of Interior and Energy, and several other bodies, is by reUtr Mountain (CO) source exploitation and export. Perhaps the most significant concern of governors and Indians in W'and River (WY) the West is water. In this case, the tribes are the wild card to any Ywma(WA) energy development. Legally entitled to most of the water in the Zia Pueblo (NM) arid West, if a tribe opts for energy development the precious reCORPORATIONS • Nine of the ten largest photovoltaic companies are owned by multinational corporations and six are owned or controlled by major oil firms. Big Business & Renewable Energy Sources: An Analysis of the Corporate Connection, October 1980, $1.50 plus $.25 .postage from: Citizens' Energy Project 1110 6th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001 202 / 387-8998 The people at Citizens' Energy Project (CEP) have put out stacks of reports on various aspects of renewable energy development, many of which have been reviewed in RAIN. This one, though, is gonna blow the roof off. The report details the encroachment of the major oil companies and energy conglomerates into the young renewable energy industry. Some highlights of the 18 month-long study: • Ninety-nine percent (99%) of domestic copper production, essential for making solar heating equipment, is owned or controlled by the oil industry. • In each of the last five years, big businesses have received no less th.an eightyseven percent (87%) of the government prime solar contracts. This occurs despite the fact that eighty-five percent (85%) of solar businesses are small firms (less than 500 employees) . . • A National Science Foundation study shows that small businesses are at least 20 times more cost-effective and innovative than big businesses in developing new technologies. However, the Department of Energy's (DOE) patent policies, solar standards, and equipment procurement practices handcuff small solar businesses-giving major energy corporations an unfair competitive edge. KNOWN AND POTENTIAL RESOURCES a)AL uaANIUM c:acmaMAL NAl\JaALG.u 011. 011.stw.z Cl • tr Cl • ' Cl • • ' Cl "' i ' • "' Cl • ' Cl "' • ' Cl ' ' "' i ' Cl "' • ' Cl • "' • "' Cl •· "' • ' Cl • "' Cl • "' ' ' Cl "' Cl • 6 • "' Cl • "' ' • • • tr Cl • • ' I Cl • tr • ' Cl • • ' tr • "' From CERT • The media campaigns of big oil firms have, in the past, decried solar energy's potential as trivial and they continue to downplay solar despite the fact that, given proper incentives, solar energy could, according to DOE's estimates, easily contribute 20% of our nation's energy supply by 2000. • Major corporations receive at least 75% of all government windpower contracts. For example, corporate giant Rockwell International administers the DOE Small Scale Wind Program. Trends suggest that the major oil companies also s~ek to dominate the research and development, manufacturing, and distribution of alcohol fuels. The CEP study concludes that solar energy development in the U.S. is being frustrated and stymied by big oil companies, the energy conglomerates, and their advocates in government. The data suggests that by dominating the new solar energy industry, the major oil firms hope to restrict solar's growth while simultaneously maximizing their profit margins in conventional fuels. In light of these findings, CEP offers several policy recom-
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