Despite the different political and business structures, Krakow's history and current situation have parallels in North America. Many small communities and industries - and even some large ones - face similar difficulties in solving pollution and economic problems. Particularly in the industrial northeastem U.S., the electrical generation and industrial process heating facilities have aging, inefficient, polluting equipment that must be replaced - but at a price the owners cannot or can only with difficulty afford. The strategies of European communities such as Krakow can be directly applied - cogeneration, adoption or renovation of central heating distribution systems, using savings produced by initial improvements to finance subsequent ones. The improvement plans were being developed in Krakow long before current events brought foreign assistance to finance them, but they needed far-sighted financial and political support to move off the drawing boards. This has come to Krakow through commitments of aid such as that of President Bush but also - and no less importantly - through the political courage of Polish authorities in such acts as allowing prices to reflect true production costs.It must be acknowledged that many of the solutions recommended for Krakow are capital and technology intensive. Once international aid funds are expended, Poland will still face the problem of obtaining parts and supplies to maintain foreign-made equipment. The "make or buy" decisions, limited foreign exchange, high-over head in-plant parts fabrication, etc., will continue to impede cost effective plant operation. Indeed, the DOE ad for the Skawina plant retrofit states that "the solicitation will be restricted to U.S. firms using technologies either ownd by a domestic company or in the public domain" ("Wanted" 1990). While the $8 million project will be a welcome endeavor both for the Krakow district and the U.S. manufacturers and contractors, it does not solve the long-term problems of maintenance financing or consumption control. It does, however, offer an important beginning.
The changes in coal size for firing the plants, consumption metering and control devices at user sites, distribution line insulation, and, if pursued, leak repairs may offer the best improvements in the long run in terms of operations and maintenance and use of local resources. The more sophisticated technical devices, essential to solving the emissions problems, are more vulnerable to problems arising from economic conditions.
Manczyk was impressed by the knowledge and training of the engineers whom he met in Krakow and by their eagerness to tackle the technical challenges posed by the facilities they manage. Jerzy Socha, chief application engineer for the Krakow Central Heating District, who assembled the data for the World Bank study and served as the major technical informant and guide during Manczyk's visit, was particularly perceptive and well informed. The primary impediment to our colleagues' application of their knowledge has been the lack of financial and equipment resources to accomplish their plans.