On Tuesday, January 19, Jackson State University (JSU) – a member of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) network – hosted a nuclear policy forum. Dr. Moore took part in a panel discussion on the job opportunities offered by nuclear power to an audience of over 120 students, faculty, and administrators.

CASEnergy Co-Chair Dr. Patrick Moore is interviewed by WLBT

That evening Dr. Moore addressed the positive role nuclear energy can play in helping solve the state’s increasing energy needs at a dinner with 25 leaders in the energy community and other industry stakeholders.

The following day, Dr. Moore was the keynote speaker at Advance Mississippi’s “Power Lunch,” where he spoke to key influencers, including Mississippi community, business, legislative, and educational leaders on the benefits of nuclear energy from his perspective as an environmentalist. Dr. Moore discussed his own conversion story with the audience, which numbered over 150 people.Dr. Moore’s participation in the JSU “Nuclear Policy Forum” and Advance Mississippi’s “Power Lunch” energy panel resulted in a variety of media coverage – two local broadcast news programs, MS public radio, two top business journals, and an on-line business weekly reaching a minority audience. While in Mississippi, Dr. Moore was interviewed by local NBC affiliate, WLBT, local ABC affiliate, WAPT, Mississippi Public Broadcast Radio, The Mississippi Business Journal, The Greater Jackson Business Journal, and The Northside Sun. During these interviews, Dr. Moore discussed the economic benefits of nuclear energy, as well as the recently approved uprate for Grand Gulf nuclear power station near Port Gibson, Mississippi.

 Additionally, The Mississippi Business Journal, the leading business publication in the state, interviewed Dr. Moore and covered his participation in the JSU nuclear policy forum. In a piece, “Forum: Nuclear energy is best clean energy option,” The Mississippi Business Journal used Dr. Moore’s conversion story to explain why he now supports nuclear energy and considers it the best proven low-cost and reliable clean energy source. Moore further asserted that nuclear power is the best investment for baseload power given the intermittent nature of solar and wind.” Dr. Moore also touted the industry’s stellar safety record and noted that it is “one of the safest industries in the world.”

 To round out the trip, Dr. Moore spoke with “On Deadline with Sid Salter,” SuperTalk FM’s afternoon talk show, about his perspective on nuclear energy as an environmentalist.

Following his interview with Governor Whitman, the Wall Street Journal’s “Environmental Capital” blog reporter Keith Johnson recast the climate change debate as one that primarily hinges on jobs. In his post “Pushing for Energy Legislation, Pushing for Jobs,” Johnson argues that “the energy debate is ever more a jobs debate—unions aren’t just signing up for the Blue-Green Alliance, but also flocking to the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, a pro-nuclear group that touts the job-creation potential of a U.S. revival of nuclear power.” Additionally Governor Whitman suggests in the piece that clean energy, including nuclear, can help America regain its industrial competitiveness by creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector. She noted that “we aren’t going to just sit on the sideline” while other countries revitalize their nuclear-manufacturing capability.

Gov. Whitman also talked with Investor’s Business Daily reporter Sean Higgins following his recent piece that positioned nuclear power as a way to help meet national carbon emission reduction targets currently being debated by Congress.

As the nuclear moratorium debate heats up in Wisconsin, Gov. Whitman spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio’s “At Issue with Ben Merens,” an afternoon drive-time policy talk show which broadcasts throughout the state. Gov. Whitman discussed a number of nuclear’s clean energy advantages and addressed spent fuel misconceptions, arguing that spent nuclear fuel can be safely stored at current facilities for the next thirty years and that with reprocessing and recycling, current waste can be drastically reduced. Former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford presented a counter-point on nuclear following her one-on-one interview.

Highlighting nuclear energy’s economic and job creation benefits, Gov. Whitman spoke with Fox Business News, appearing live on Bulls & Bears to discuss the thousands of jobs that can come with nuclear expansion. The Governor also discussed the clean energy advantages of nuclear power, stating that “nuclear is the only form of base-power — that means reliable power that is 24/7, is there when you need it — that emits none of those greenhouse gasses.”

Supporting efforts to inform the climate change debate, Gov. Whitman also went on MSNBC’s The Ed Show, as the featured live guest in host Ed Schultz’s “Playbook” segment. Schultz, a democratic political commentator and supporter of nuclear, focused on job creation and the climate bill. “Clean energy would create a lot of jobs,” he said. To which Gov. Whitman replied, “It would. Particularly nuclear energy, which is what we’re talking about and what I’ve been talking about. Those are good-paying jobs that are not going to go anywhere. Once those jobs are here, they‘re going to stay.” She also talked about the urgency of moving toward low-carbon energy sources like emission-free nuclear in order to slow down climate change.

In support of CASEnergy’s ongoing effort to educate the public about nuclear energy, Dr. Moore met with the editorial board of the esteemed Philadelphia Inquirer, the third-oldest daily newspaper in the U.S., with the 16^th largest weekday circulation and 18 Pulitzer Prizes. At this meeting Dr. Moore had a productive discussion with the paper’s ed board, addressing concerns about spent nuclear fuel, risk-sharing, and the positive role of nuclear energy in Pennsylvania’s alternative energy portfolio.

As part of CASEnergy’s continued outreach to a wide range of media outlets, Dr. Moore spoke with a reporter from Al Dia, the Philadelphia region’s leading Hispanic weekly newspaper, reaching Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Northern Delaware. The piece, posted in Spanish here, takes a broad look at nuclear power, providing a balanced look at all sides of the nuclear debate. Dr. Moore is quoted extensively throughout the article, highlighting nuclear’s clean air benefits and offering insights to specific issues around nuclear – including storage, spent fuel, safety, and security.

CASEnergy also worked with two other Pennsylvania-based publications on upcoming pieces about nuclear energy –  the Minority Business Journal, a magazine designed to educate the public about the success of minority businesses, and Scoop U.S.A., a community newspaper providing news to Philadelphia’s African-American residents. Coordinating with the publications’ editors, CASEnergy supplied background information on nuclear energy’s clean air and economic benefits, which will be featured in both publications’ upcoming issues.

Be sure to sure to check back as we update this page with further media coverage of Dr. Moore’s trip!

The centerpiece of the trip was a panel discussion hosted by the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum. Dr. Moore was able to further capitalize on his time in Texas by also attending several meetings with influencer groups and sitting down with a number of top-tier media outlets in both Houston and San Antonio.

In a luncheon debate hosted by the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, Dr. Moore spoke in favor of the expansion of the South Texas Project as CPS Energy – owned by the city of San Antonio – prepares to make its decision at the end of September on whether or not to move forward with two new reactors at STP. Joining Dr. Moore on the panel in support of the expansion was Steve Bartley, Interim General Manager at CPS Energy, while two voices opposing the expansion represented the other side of the debate: Dr. Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and the Environment, and Craig Severance, author of Business Risks & Costs of New Nuclear Power. The discussion centered on the cost of nuclear expansion and the viability of other alternative energy sources, include solar and wind. Dr. Moore made a compelling case for nuclear as a clean and safe source of energy which creates high paying jobs and will attract businesses to the local community seeking a cost-efficient energy base.

Prior to the lunch-time forum, Dr. Moore and his fellow panelists met with the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News, the third largest daily newspaper in Texas. The Express-News has extensively covered the nuclear debate and published a piece, “Energy Leaders to debate nuke issue in S.A,” on Tuesday promoting the Forum. Following the event, the Express-News provided a recap of the debate – featured prominently on the Web site’s homepage – that deconstructed each of the arguments focused on the costs associated with the possible expansion STP, noting that either outcome will have a critical impact on San Antonio’s economic future.

In conjunction with Dr. Moore’s participation in the San Antonio debate, CASEnergy placed an op-ed by Dr. Moore in the San Antonio Express-News. Dr. Moore’s piece, “Nuclear investment part of a viable energy portfolio,” underscored nuclear’s clean energy advantages, as well as its cost-efficiency and job-creation potential, further reinforcing the economic advantages of nuclear expansion.

Dr. Moore was also in Houston this week, where he met with key energy and business reporters with Dow Jones, Houston public radio (KUHF), and the Houston Chronicle, as well as the Chronicle’s Editorial Board. In his interview with KUHF, Houston’s top business radio, Dr. talked about why nuclear power is a worthwhile investment – while it may have a higher upfront cost, nuclear ultimately offers long-term savings. “It’s a bit like a compact fluorescent light bulb compared to a normal incandescent bulb. They cost five times as much, so why would you buy one? Well, because it only uses a quarter of the energy and last four times as long. And the same is true of nuclear power.”

At the Houston Chronicle, the largest daily newspaper in Texas, Dr. Moore met first with their energy business reporter, Tom Fowler, then participated in a larger discussion with their Editorial Board. Following the meeting, Fowler posted a piece, “A nuclear evangelist tours Texas,” to his energy blog, NewsWatch: Energy.

Gov. Whitman addressed Georgia Tech engineering students during her presentation, “Job Creation in the Nuclear Renaissance.” The Governor offered 30 minutes of remarks highlighting the job opportunities the nuclear industry offered her audience upon their graduation. The remarks were well received and the students asked many high-level questions. The event was attended by about 80 students.

In another keynote speaking opportunity, the Governor spoke to 100 business, academic and political leaders at a policy briefing luncheon hosted by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, an organization which conducts scholarly research and analysis of state public policy issues and works to educate citizens, policy-makers and the media. Gov. Whitman offered the audience her perspective as a former Governor and EPA Administrator on how nuclear power can boost the economy by creating jobs, meet the rising energy demand in this country, and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. The speech was well received by members of the audience who each received a copy of the CASEnergy Jobs White Paper. Georgia Public Radio covered Governor Whitman’s remarks.

While in Washington D.C., Dr. Moore met with Amanda DeBard of the Washington Times to address nuclear energy’s role in a clean energy policy, discussing the fate of nuclear power in the climate change bill, ultimately predicting that nuclear will be part of the final bill. Dr. Moore also gave his perspective on the climate change debate, outlining the subsequent divisions within the environmental community since the cap-and-trade bill passed the House, and possible next steps as the bill makes its way through the Senate.

Additionally, Dr. Moore contributed to the re-launch of Clean Skies TV as “The Energy and Environment Network,” and was interviewed by B-Green Collaborative, a new online magazine dedicated to ‘green’ energy. Dr. Moore spoke to Clean Skies’ Energy Report about the future of nuclear in the United States and other energy policy issues, which aired online Thursday, July 16. Dr. Moore provided B-Green Collaborative with its inaugural look at nuclear energy as a clean form of baseload power. He talked about spent nuclear fuel, new plant licensing and construction, as well as nuclear’s role in a low-carbon energy policy.

Dr. Moore also spoke about the benefits of nuclear power with Radio PA, a Pennsylvania news radio station focused on politics. Against the backdrop of a state debate on adding nuclear uprates to the Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Credit Program, Dr. Moore reasoned that any responsible clean energy plan must include clean and safe nuclear power.  He detailed the vast job creation potential and environmental benefits of nuclear energy, pointing out the potential nuclear holds for Pennsylvania, specifically, as it will help reduce the state’s large carbon footprint.

During her speech, Gov. Whitman focused on the potential of nuclear power to stimulate the local economy, pointing out that if all five nuclear reactors currently under consideration in the state are built, Texas is “looking at as many as 12,000 jobs at peak periods of construction, and between 2,000 and 3,500 permanent jobs total with some of these jobs arriving long before ground is even broken on a new site.”

The luncheon was covered by several television, print, and radio outlets, including KABB-TV – a local FOX affiliate – and the San Antonio Express-News, the third largest daily newspaper in the state. Texas Public Radio (KSTX) taped the Governor’s lunchtime speech and conducted an interview afterward. The interview, as well as speech excerpts, will appear on an August 26 KSTX Town Hall special that will focus on clean energy sources.

In addition, Gov. Whitman was featured live on KTSA’s morning drive-time program The Morning Edge touting nuclear’s clean energy advantages, “nuclear is the only form of base power that releases no greenhouse gases.” Gov. Whitman was also interviewed by WOAI, San Antonio’s 24-hour news radio station, and sat down with the publisher and editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News during which she spoke broadly about nuclear energy’s economic and environmental benefits.

Gov. Whitman met with leaders from the minority, business, manufacturing and tech communities.

While in Washington Gov. Whitman brought CASE’s message to national and regional public policy programs focused on the current energy policy debate. She appeared live on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal to talk about nuclear’s role in job creation, as well as in the climate change debate, telling viewers that “nuclear energy is [nearly] 75% of our clean power today.” In addition, Gov. Whitman was featured in a live interview on New York public radio’s  Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC, where she addressed concerns about cost and waste, as well as growing public support behind new nuclear as part of U.S. energy policy. She described the necessary role of nuclear power as the only “clean, reliable base power,” and talked about support for nuclear within the Obama Administration, including Energy Secretary Chu’s recent statement in which he argued that “nuclear energy needs to be part of our energy future.”The Governor’s next stop was a taped interview with Roll Call TV, during which she discussed the importance of nuclear as part of a responsible energy policy, creating jobs and meeting our growing energy demand cleanly and safely. The segment aired on the Comcast Network Sunday, June 5.

On June 18 and 19, CASEnergy Co-Chair Dr. Patrick Moore was in the Nation’s Capitol attending several meetings with key lawmakers, their staff, and media to talk about the environmental benefits, as well as job creation potential of nuclear power.

The Governor began her day with a live appearance on FOX Business News’ Money for Breakfast, which promoted the segment four times in the hour leading up to her interview. Gov. Whitman spoke on a variety of policy issues around the “green energy movement.”  With regards to Obama’s energy plan, Gov. Whitman welcomed the emphasis on including clean energy – as well as renewable energy – as areas for investment and jobs, citing nuclear as the only “clean baseload power.”

Gov. Whitman continued her day with another live interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, where she talked about nuclear’s job creation potential as an emissions-free power source.  She also addressed a number of general misunderstandings about nuclear power with regard to cost and support, commenting that although plants take time to build, “[power] companies are stepping up right now, saying they’re willing to invest” in nuclear power.

Next up, Gov. Whitman met with CNN’s Poppy Harlow, business correspondent and anchor of CNNMoney.com, for an in-depth interview focused on nuclear power and job creation in the new “green energy economy.”  These efforts resulted in five different broadcast segments on Friday, June 5th – running on CNN’s Energy Fix feature, two segments on CNN’s Headline News, and two video stories on-line at CNN Money.com, “Whitman’s Nuclear Ambitions” and “Job Opportunities in Nukes.” CASEnergy and our jobs report numbers were highlighted throughout each segment.

Rounding out her busy trip, Gov. Whitman also spoke with Greentech Media, an outlet which covers green technology trends.  Greentech then posted an article featuring the Governor that discussed the possibilities of nuclear expansion, “Former EPA Chief: Building 100 More Nuclear Reactors Is Doable.”  The piece covered a range of issues, including misconceptions about nuclear power, the cost and process of building new nuclear plants, and the need for investment and federal funding.