Successes included the U.S. Department of Energy’s granting of two long-awaited loan guarantees, one to Southern Company for its new unit at Plant Vogtle and one that was announced last week to AREVA for its Eagle Rock Uranium Enrichment Plant in Idaho Falls. Southern Company CEO David Ratcliffe reminded the audience that as the first new nuclear plant to be built in the last 30 years, the next unit at Vogtle will be a target of anti-nuclear activists and asked for help in dealing with them. Conference participants learned about the impressive new nuclear energy program being launched in the United Arab Emirates. And they reveled in the great performance and safety record that the industry has maintained for years – the best in the world.
But other speakers reminded the industry that there are challenges ahead. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko put special emphasis on the need for strong communications programs, both internally and externally. Internally at nuclear plants, to continue to nurture and expand a strong safety culture for nuclear energy plant operators. And externally, to reach out to communities to help them understand that nuclear plant operators are trusted stewards of safety and the environment. Chairman Jaczko pointed to issues where much of the public sees a safety threat when in reality there isn’t one, such as tritium emissions into water sources. He cautioned the industry to listen and respond to public concerns, rather than brushing them off as irrelevant, and to be transparent with plant communities. And, he challenged the industry to look ahead, anticipate the issues that are likely to emerge over the next decade and plan to address them.

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