How you are personally impacted by nuclear energy:

“I grew up in Oconee County during the construction of the Oconee Nuclear Energy Facility near Seneca, S.C.  I saw the benefits of new nuclear then, and I’m excited about the resurgence of nuclear energy in our state and in our country with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) issuance of Combined Construction and Operating Licenses (COLs) for two new reactors at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station near Jenkinsville, S.C.”

 Impact of nuclear energy in your community:  

“As the Chairman of the Public Utilities Review Committee, I understand that nuclear energy is a great economic engine for the local community where the facility is located. Here in South Carolina, construction on the V.C. Summer units will provide up to 3,000 long-term construction jobs, and once completed, the new units will offer as many as 800 career-long jobs, which is great news for us when the unemployment rate in South Carolina is 9.3 percent.”

 A lesson for your community:

“Nuclear energy provides a source of clean and safe electricity to our community while boosting the local economy. Everybody wins with nuclear. For instance, construction at V.C. Summer impacts those beyond my community as thousands of jobs in other states are expected to support the project.”

 Background:

“A native of South Carolina, I earned a B.S. in Economics from Clemson University and went on to become a small business owner. I became involved in politics as a council member for the city of Walhalla, S.C. before serving in the South Carolina State House and then joining the South Carolina Senate in 1994.” Sen. Alexander joined CASEnergy in 2011.

Impact of nuclear energy in your community: “As a County Commissioner and community leader, it is my duty to leave our country better than it was when I came into office.  We cannot continue to pollute our country with dirty sources of energy.  We need to reach out to all sources of sustainable energy such as solar and natural gas, and, of course, the most cost effective, nuclear energy.”

Most interesting aspect of nuclear energy that you have learned: “Given that nuclear energy powers more than 20 percent of American homes and businesses, I was surprised to learn that until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Combined Construction and Operating Licenses (COLs) for two new reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia in February, there had been no new nuclear licenses granted in the U.S. in the past 30 years. I’m proud that Georgia is leading the U.S. nuclear renaissance with the construction of the reactors at Plant Vogtle.”

A lesson for your community: “Most agree that America needs to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and nuclear can certainly help us with that prospect.  In addition to being a clean energy source, nuclear is a great incentive for economic development. For instance, the recently approved reactors at Plant Vogtle here in Georgia are creating thousands of local jobs and generating millions in state and local tax revenue.”

Background: “As a concerned parent, I was very interested in the quality of our public schools, so I decided to run for the Fulton County School Board.  I enjoyed being able to contribute to our community, and I also had a passion for politics.  Prior to being elected to the Fulton County Board of Education, I was chairman of the Fulton County Republican party. I also worked to create the City of Johns Creek, and served on the first Johns Creek City Council for three and a half years before running for the County Commission.” Commissioner Hausmann, a native Georgian, joined CASEnergy in 2011.

CASEnergy involvement: “

Most important benefit of nuclear energy: “Nuclear energy is a reliable energy source, providing baseload, on-demand electricity 24/7. With energy demands set to grow, the future of energy security in the United States depends on the country’s ability to take ownership of its energy production.  It is important to keep nuclear energy as part of our energy portfolio for its ability to provide a dependable, clean, cost-effective, reliable and domestic energy source.”

Impact of nuclear energy in your community: “The unemployment rate for the Hispanic community currently stands at 10.7 percent, well above the national rate of 8.3 percent.  The construction and operation of new nuclear energy facilities will bring billions of dollars to local economies and create tens of thousands of jobs, representing concrete job opportunities for minority communities all while providing Americans with an affordable, environmentally clean and safe source of electricity.”

Background: A graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College and the Inter-American Defense College, National Defense University, Col. Rojo earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Maine. He also holds diplomas in business and environmental subjects from the Tec de Monterrey. During his Army career, Col. Rojo went on to specialize in many areas that include, artillery, infantry, foreign areas, Military Engineering, Aviation, Medical Services, Intelligence, Counter Terrorism and Counter Intelligence, Border Security and Migration.

A Vietnam and Cold War veteran, Col. Rojo’s experience spans the fields of business, government, politics, military and international affairs. He is a Latin American expert with more than 30 years of experience in the security and counterterrorist fields, having provided his services to the US Army and the US Department of Energy. Originally from Old Town, Maine, and Mexico City, Col. Rojo currently resides in Washington, DC.

CASEnergy Involvement: “I joined CASEnergy after attending a meeting, hosted by Midlands Technical College in Columbia, South Carolina. As an educational institution in the Central Savannah River Area, Aiken Technical College has a leadership role in developing and delivering nuclear technology programs. CASEnergy is an organization that provides us with updated information and creates public dialogue on nuclear energy.” Member since 2009

Impact of nuclear energy in your community:  “Nuclear energy facilities are a key component to the economy of the Central Savannah River Area the home of the Savannah River Site. Plant Vogtle and VC Summer are within 75 miles of Aiken Technical College, placing us in the center of the nuclear renaissance. The College is designing and implementing technical programs to provide a skilled and knowledgeable workforce for the nuclear industry – a Radiation Protection program was implemented in 2009 and currently a Quality Control Systems program is under development with a nuclear welding and maintenance to follow in 2012-2013.”

Most important benefit of nuclear energy: “It is a green technology that is sustainable long-term, providing our country with energy independence.  Further, nuclear energy is affordable and predictable in cost because there is little fluctuation in production costs and the average fuel cost is more economical compared to other energy sources.”

A lesson for your community: “Training the workforce for nuclear energy is beneficial to many industries in the community. The desirable skill sets include the emphasis on STEM, attention to detail, and safety awareness among others.”

Georgia is paving the way for a resurgence of nuclear energy with new nuclear technology and the “go-ahead” from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build and operate two new reactors at Plant Vogtle. This new development marks an exciting time for the U.S. nuclear industry and Georgia residents, as the expansion will play a vital role in increasing clean-air energy production and providing a much-needed economic boost to Georgia communities.

CASEnergy Co-Chair Dr. Patrick Moore paid a visit to the “Peach State” to lead a livestream event, “An Update on the Nuclear Renaissance,” in Atlanta on Monday, Feb. 6 for CASEnergy members and Atlanta residents, as well as online viewers. The webinar was co-hosted by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

During the webinar, Dr. Moore discussed the future of nuclear energy and answered viewers’ questions about progress at Plant Vogtle and the next generation of nuclear reactors during a Q&A session.

“Planning for the nuclear renaissance and new nuclear construction is estimated to have already created 15,000 jobs in the United States…if we want to keep nuclear energy as a key component of the U.S. energy supply, we have to build 20 to 30 nuclear energy reactors in the next couple of decades to replace ones that go offline and to keep up with the growing requirement of energy. That is going to employ tens of thousands of people,” Moore said.

In addition to leading the webcast, Dr. Moore also addressed an audience at the State House Democratic Caucus and caught up with radio host Tim Bryant onWGAU-AM.

If you weren’t able to attend or watch the livestream event, you can still catch the replay of Dr. Moore’s webinar below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Background: The South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce promotes and supports the advancement of the economic growth of Hispanic businesses in South Carolina, providing leadership and serving as a bridge between community leaders, different cultures, and the community at large. Evelyn Lugo is the President of the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and represents the organization’s membership with the CASEnergy Coalition. Ms. Lugo is originally from Puerto Rico, and also serves as the Hispanic/Latino Outreach Coordinator for the American Cancer Society.

CASEnergy Involvement: “The South Carolina Hispanic Chamber recognizes the significant positive impact nuclear energy can have on South Carolina’s economy.” Member since March 2011

Impact of nuclear in your community: “South Carolina is home to five nuclear energy facilities, which provide us with the electricity we need to power our homes and places of business.”

Impact of nuclear on your organization: “The South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce believes that competition and innovation in the marketplace are vital to the success of the economy.  Competition and innovation in the energy industry is no different.   By pursuing new technologies, including new nuclear technologies, we help meet rising energy demands and stimulate our local, state, and national economies, allowing us to be more competitive in an increasingly globalized marketplace.”

Most important benefit of nuclear: “Nuclear energy is a sustainable and safe source of electricity and contributes to the growth of the communities and the economy of South Carolina.”

Most interesting nuclear fact: “The nuclear energy industry takes meticulous care of the nation’s facilities and is constantly improving its practices to make these safe facilities even safer.”

A lesson for your community: “It is important that the people in the community understand that nuclear energy is safe.  Nuclear energy facilities are designed to protect the American public, and are subject to oversight by a strong, independent regulator, known as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).”

If you are a member and interested in sharing your perspective on why nuclear energy matters to you, please let us know!

CASEnergy involvement: “I joined CASEnergy while living in Idaho Falls, a pro-nuclear town where Dr. Patrick Moore spoke in 2007.  Joining the coalition was a no-brainer.” Member since 2009

Impact of nuclear in your community: “In Ohio there are two nuclear reactors providing electricity to meet the state’s energy needs.  However, Ohio still relies on coal to generate 82 percent of the electricity used in the state. Because nuclear has the potential to meet rising energy demands without generating greenhouse gas emissions it is a vital part of America’s clean energy portfolio.”

Most important benefit of nuclear: “Nuclear energy is a cost-efficient source of emission-free electricity.”

Most interesting nuclear fact: “Most people don’t know that the fuel cycle for the nuclear industry directly benefits the solar energy industry. The chemical compound uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is used to enrich the uranium that produces fuel for nuclear reactors. The recovered fluoride is used to make solar cells.”

A lesson for your community: “Most people just flip the switch but don’t think about where the power comes from.  I’d like to make more people aware of the contribution that nuclear energy makes to the nation’s economy.”

Follow Dan: to learn more about Dan’s perspective on nuclear energy follow him @djysrv, or check out his blog, Idaho Samizdat.

In the piece Gonzalez talks about what it’s like to work at the South Texas Project Generating Station, saying “I like the culture of South Texas Project.  It fosters openness, problem-solving, and teamwork…The great thing about the people is that they come from all around the country and all around the world.”

The South Texas Project Generating Station is one of the newest and largest nuclear facilities in the nation, producing “2,700 megawatts of carbon-free electricity” and “providing clean energy to two million Texas homes,” according to its website.

As one of the nearly 60,000 people employed by the nuclear energy industry in the U.S., Gonzalez also talks about lessons he’s learned so far from his career in nuclear and stresses the industry utmost commitment to safety.

“We don’t take risks in the nuclear industry…We don’t care how long it takes.  We do it the right way.  We’re not about speed.  We’re about safety,” he says in the piece.

Hispanic Career World Magazine, launched in 2001, is the recruitment link between Hispanic students and professionals and the employers who seek to hire them. This publication offers career-guidance columns, news, and feature articles that profile Hispanic professionals in all fields.

As a vocal and respected advocate of Michigan’s pristine and heralded Pigeon River Country, David currently serves as a member of the Pigeon River Advisory Council and The Pigeon River Natural Rivers Zoning Board.  He served five years as the President of the Pigeon River Country Association and two years each as the President and Chair, respectively, of the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation and Michigan Trout Unlimited, where he currently serves on Board of Directors and is a past and former member of the Trout Unlimited National Board of Directors.
 
David is an avid fly fisherman and bird hunter.  He spends some of his non-fishing time as a consultant for the State of Michigan visiting licensed youth camps, bringing together his belief in young people and his passion for the outdoors.  

David joined CASEnergy for two primary reasons.  First, he believes nuclear energy is a clean and sustainable energy option that will protect the water and air that is threatened by other forms of energy now used.  Additionally, he strongly contends that, as a nation, we must begin to take positive steps towards energy independence.

These two reasons clearly are at the heart of CASEnergy’s mission, and the Coalition welcomes David as our 2,500 member and the latest individual from the environmental community to support nuclear energy and the work of the Coalition.

Maudine R. Cooper

Throughout her career, her diligent efforts have helped thousands of minorities advance in employment, education, and business ownership in the metropolitan area.  A tireless civic activist, Ms. Cooper is also a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.