Insight Web Extra
December 2009—Offering the public opportunities to learn about energy, and more specifically nuclear energy, has become increasingly difficult for companies nationwide. Decreasing budgets and increased security requirements have forced some companies to shutter their energy education centers and limit public access to plants.
Despite these hurdles, nuclear energy plants are re-examining the opportunities these centers can offer. Employing community members who are knowledgeable about the local plant, energy education centers open lines of communication and build trust, and more nuclear plant owners are revisiting the idea of operating these facilities.
Globally, nuclear energy plants that offer education centers attract thousands of visitors each year. But of the 66 plant locations across the United States, only 22 have these centers. Nearly 20 others have been closed, owing to financial reasons or post-9/11 security concerns.
Facilities like Duke Energy’s EnergyExplorium at the McGuire plant in North Carolina, and the company’s World of Energy center at its Oconee plant in South Carolina have a long, storied past of serving the local community, as well as visitors from across the United States and from abroad.
The World of Energy center, is one of the oldest in the United States, and celebrated its fortieth anniversary this year, with nearly 10,000 people attending celebrations this past summer. Both centers deliver nuclear energy information to a variety of audiences, while doubling as venues for community activities—everything from symphony concerts to nature walks and art shows.
Energy education centers, such as Florida Power and Light’s Energy Encounter Center at its St. Lucie plant, often highlight the plant’s environmental commitment. Through its “College of Turtle Knowledge,” the center shows visitors how the sea turtle is protected and studied around the plant.
Many of the industry’s centers have been operating 30 years or more. With changes in exhibit technology and with the shifting needs to address current issues—such as nuclear energy and climate change—these facilities are in constant need of updates and refurbishment. In addition, a number of energy companies considering new reactors are also looking at building new energy education centers.
At a recent national conference for nuclear energy industry communicators, attendees talked about the promises and challenges of building new energy education centers and refurbishing existing ones as the industry prepares for the next generation of reactors. An industry-wide task force chaired by Rick Rhodes, Duke Energy’s director of generation communications, represents companies with existing centers, as well as those planning new ones.
The task force’s aim is to share best practices in the operation of these facilities, to pool industry resources and to pursue cooperative approaches in developing centers that best serve visitors while keeping them financially viable. The task force has collected comprehensive information on energy education center content, staffing, operating hours, exhibit status and plans for upgrades.
This task force is using this information to assess whether all energy education centers are providing a common, quality experience to all visitors nationwide. The task force is considering options to pool industry resources in developing common designs and exhibits. Scott Peterson, NEI’s vice president of communications, said this would provide economies of scale, helping standardize messaging and visuals and simplify selection of exhibits from vendors.
With the industry now considering up to 25 new reactors, Rhodes said the number of utilities that had signed up to be a part of the task force was the strongest sign yet of interest in the new wave of centers.
“If you don’t have a visitor center, build one soon,” he said.
Photo: McGuire Nuclear Station hosts its annual Charlotte Symphony concert in the EnergyExplorium’s cove. This year more than 7,650 concert-goers with picnic baskets, along with 140 anchored boats, showed up to enjoy the show. Bruce Hamilton, McGuire site vice president, says “We began hosting this concert eight years ago to celebrate McGuire’s 20th anniversary. Since then, this annual gathering of family, friends and Lake Norman neighbors has become a tradition.” —Read more articles in Nuclear Energy Insight and Insight Web Extra.