NEWS OF THE WEEK

50th birthday of nuclear age celebrated in Chicago A series of events in Chicago this in a painting by artist Gary Sheahan. week will celebrate the birth 50 years No photographs were taken at the ago of the nuclear age—achievement time, but the painting, made in 1957 of the first controlled, self-sustaining after four months' research, recon-nuclear chain reaction, depicted here structs the scene on Dec. 2,1942, in a

vaccines can stop the progression of AIDS toward death. That's because to date there are no reliable physical indi­cators to use as surrogate markers to judge if a vaccine is working.

The panel warmed to the idea of studying the vaccines' effects in as many as 30,000 people with AIDS drawn from the entire U.S. population—with more detailed studies simultaneously on the disease's course in a smaller subgroup. "I vote we spend this money," says Jesse

Reports abound that President-elect Clinton plans to give the Department of Energy a major role in creating new jobs, protecting the environment, promoting energy efficiency, and developing re­newable energy sources. Now, environ­mental, sustainable energy, and labor groups have weighed in with their own policy and budget proposals designed to influence Clinton and Congress.

A coalition of several dozen energy, environmental, consumer, and industry groups issued a "Sustainable Energy Blueprint" with four goals: pumping up the economy, saf^guarding the environ­ment, preserving public health, and strengthening national security. These are the same goals candidate Clinton outlined in his book "Putting People

Norman of Project Inform, a San Fran­cisco-based AIDS advocacy group. "Lef s try to get good science out of this so there will be some benefit even if there's no therapeutic effect."

Healy will make a decision only after meeting this week with the NIH direc­tor's advisory committee. FDA and DOD appear to support the panel's rec­ommendations, but must still formally decide whether to endorse the trial.

Pamela Zurer

First." The coalition includes the Natural Resources Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth, the American Wind Energy Asso­ciation, the National Association of Ener­gy Service Companies, and the Solar En­ergy Industries Association.

The coalition says at least 1 million new jobs would be created by year 2000 through investments in sustainable ener­gy technologies and policies—mainly energy efficiency and alternative energy sources. It says such programs could cut energy use at least 10% by 2010, reduce greenhouse gases 25% from 1990 levels by 2005, and substantially cut produc­tion of long-lived radioactive waste.

One of its 50 recommended steps calls on the new Administration to publish within six months an action plan to first

squash court under the stands of the University of Chicago's football sta­dium. Scientists led by Enrico Fermi tensely watch from a balcony (at left) as a colleague below withdraws the fi­nal cadmium control rod from the world's first nuclear reactor, creating a self-sustaining chain reaction. A "liq­uid-control squad" of three scientists on a platform above the uranium-graphite pile (at right) stands ready to flood it with cadmium salt solution if the mechanically operated control rods fail. The first chain reaction was a crit­ical step toward making the atomic bomb, as well as opening the way to other nuclear development. The uni­versity is commemorating the anniver­sary with a historical exhibit and two symposia. The anniversary was also celebrated two weeks ago at meetings in Chicago sponsored by the Ameri­can Nuclear Society, European Nucle­ar Society, and U.S. Council for Ener­gy Awareness (a nuclear power trade association).

i- stabilize and then cut greenhouse gas s emissions. Another step creates a White e House Commission on Competitiveness o & Energy Productivity. A third redirects

DOE's 1993 or 1994 budget from nuclear »r R&D, oil and coal R&D, and the Super-:- conducting Super Collider to renewable d energy, energy efficiency, and natural :- gas programs. A fourth step, parallel to y the third but aimed at the private sector,

ends tax subsidies to mature, conven­er tional energy technologies, and redirects

them to new, emerging resources and " technologies.

Also, last week Greenpeace, which is not a member of the coalition, issued a re-

d port in alliance with the Oil, Chemical & e Atomic Workers International Union y (OCAW) calling for achievement of simi-:- lar goals. Their proposal, "Energy for Em-t- ployment," calls on Clinton to shift about

$15 billion a year (5% of the current annu-n al defense budget) to a program to create 0 jobs in clean energy technologies.

Such defense fund redirection could y yield a net employment increase of y more than 1 million new jobs, say it Greenpeace and OCAW. But it could e also produce severe economic disloca-s tions. So they propose a Superfund for, :- Workers, modeled after the post-World

War II G.I. Bill of Rights, to fund job s reeducation while providing full in-h come support to displaced workers. >t Lois Ember

Groups send energy plans to Clinton, Congress

8 NOVEMBER 30,1992 C&EN