XYLENE POWER LTD.

LETTER TO CANADIAN FEDERAL POLITICAL LEADERS

February 24, 2015, updated March 18, 2015

To:
Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister, Canada
Hon. Greg Rickford,. Minister of Natural Resources, Canada
Hon. Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Opposition, Canada
Mr. Justin Trudeau, Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
Ms. Elizabeth May, Leader, Green Party of Canada
Other interesed parties

Re: Atmospheric CO2, Fast Neutron Reactors, Nuclear Fuel Recycling
 

PROBLEM
The biggest single threat facing mankind today is climate change caused by cumulative CO2 emissions from combustion of fossil fuels. Our planet is headed toward atmospheric thermal runaway, which will upset the so called "Goldilocks Condition" that enables land animal life on Earth. The resulting prolonged increase in average temperature will trigger a massive migration of humans from low elevation equatorial regions to higher elevation near polar regions, such as Canada.

In Canada conflict precipitated by competition for limited resources will kill those that climate change does not. The geologic record clearly shows that 56 million years ago, during a period known as the PETM, atmospheric thermal runaway caused extinction of all large land animal life on Earth.

There is a presentation outlining the problem of atmospheric thermal runaway and the measures required to prevent it at:
http://www.xylenepower.com/Presentation%20Notes.htm

Canadian political parties are in denial. No party has realistically faced the CO2 emission problem. The only certain means of sustainably preventing atmospheric thermal runaway involves wide spread application of liquid sodium cooled Fast Neutron Reactors (FNRs). Other technologies such as renewable energy and nuclear fusion may make comparatively small contributions but absent near term wide spread adoption of FNRs mankind is doomed.

To prevent atmospheric thermal runaway fossil carbon must be left in the ground. For some energy dense liquid fuel applications, such as aircraft and small ships, synthetic liquid fuels formed from bio-carbon feedstock and nuclear energy must be used.

The present world nuclear reactor capacity must be increased about 40 fold within 60 years. This capacity increase will require application of automated mass production techniques to modular FNR assembly and to nuclear fuel recycling. Nuclear reactors must be re-designed for fuel recycling, life extension and to minimize production of long lived radio isotope waste. That re-design involves ceasing use of concrete for neutron absorption, due to production of the long lived radio isotope Ca-41. Other neutron absorption materials, such as liquid sodium, must be used instead. Concrete can be used for structural purposes, but not for neutron absorption.
 

POLICY CHANGES
In order to meaningfully address the CO2 triggered climate change issue:
a) The Green Party of Canada (GPC) must accept rather than reject nuclear power by deletion of section 1.21 and the second and third bullets from section 1.20 of its policy document titled Green Vision.

b) The New Democratic Party (NDP) must change section 2.4 e of its policy document to embrace expansion of nuclear power and nuclear fuel recycling.

c) The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) must adopt a policy that embraces expanded nuclear power, nuclear reactor re-design and nuclear fuel recycling.

d) The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) must demonstrate leadership with respect to major CO2 emission reduction. The government must direct the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to replace expensive Deep Geologic Repositories (DGRs) with liquid sodium cooled fast neutron reactors and nuclear fuel recycling.
 

INFORMED MP
One MP, Mr. Corneliu Chisu, has demonstrated an understanding of fast neutron reactor and nuclear fuel recycling issues. Mr. Chisu has proposed the Pickering Advanced Recycle Complex (PARC) for nuclear fuel recycling. The true extent of the government's commitment to long term CO2 emission reduction will be indicated by the extent of approved PARC and FNR development funding. Mr. Chisu's recent PARC presentation is available at:
http://www.xylenepower.com/Corneliu%20Chisu.htm
 

PUBLIC ACTION
The choices made by voters in the coming federal election will likely determine the fate of the voters grandchildren. The choices are difficult because no Canadian political party has realistically faced the CO2 emission problem. Technical aspects of energy and CO2 emissions are available at:
http://www.xylenepower.com

Informed members of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) and Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) are available to make technical presentations on matters relating to fast neutron reactors, nuclear fuel recycling and CO2 triggered climate change. Every MP and every voter should acquaint him/her self with the full extent of the CO2 problem. It is time for government action based on scientific facts, not wishful thinking.

Sincerely,
 

Charles Rhodes, P. Eng., Ph. D.
Xylene Power Ltd.
Charles.Rhodes@xylenepower.com
Telephone: 905 473 1704
 

This web page last updated March 18, 2015