Overcoming Nuclear Fear
John Bewick’s October article “Facing Nuclear Fear” struck the perfect balance between concise and comprehensive in reviewing public acceptance challenges faced by the U.S. nuclear industry. With both historical and global comparisons to today’s situation, his piece compels us not to repeat past mistakes in taking for granted public understanding of nuclear energy need.
I have long concluded that the greatest enemy of a sound, diverse national energy policy is apathy. Americans want reliable, affordable, clean electricity, but often admit in our interactions with them that they have no idea where their power comes from or how plans for meeting future needs are made. Significant events such as those in Japan trigger their interest, creating opportunity to provide the public with answers to welcomed questions and to shape misperceptions about risk. But we must remain relentless in keeping interest in this crucial subject high, even when other hot topics lull the general public back into ambivalence about nuclear power’s role in U.S. energy policy.
— Kelle Barfield, Vice President, Advocacy Communications Entergy