Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nuclear group works on PR effort
By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- The nuclear industry's trade group is preparing a new lobbying and public relations campaign to promote nuclear power including waste burial at Yucca Mountain, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The Nuclear Energy Institute is planning a broad effort, said Steve Kerekes, senior director of media relations.
"We are looking to do possibly an outreach to capitalize on the resurgence that is unfolding in the industry at large," Kerekes said.
He cited the energy bill, which contains incentives for plant construction, that President Bush signed into law this month.
The campaign could dovetail with new efforts in Congress to jump-start the proposed Yucca Mountain repository, which is years behind schedule.
At an NEI conference on July 27, the chairman of a House energy subcommittee scolded nuclear power executives. Rep. David Hobson, R-Ohio, said he "hasn't heard a peep out of the industry" as he has tried to boost Yucca Mountain spending.
"That tells me nobody cares," Hobson said. "If you want zero, you will get zero."
If Congress fails to fix flaws in the Yucca Mountain program, "it is the (Bush) administration's fault, and it's your fault you didn't get out front," Hobson said.
The NEI's new effort was reported Tuesday by The Energy Daily newsletter. The publication reported NEI will award a contract worth up to $8 million, and the field of candidates includes national public relations firms such as Burson-Marsteller and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.
Kerekes would not discuss the value of the contract and when it would be awarded. He said plans had not been finalized.
