Imagine more than 10,000 people sitting on a large manicured lawn listening to the sounds of the symphony. Now imagine the setting for this event is on the lawn of a nuclear power plant. Highly unheard of, right? Although not typical for nuclear power plants across the U.S., at Duke Energy, this is the norm!
This past June, McGuire Nuclear Station, Duke’s plant in Huntersville, NC set a record and attracted nearly 10,500 people for its 10th annual Charlotte Symphony concert. In May, nearly 500 Boy Scouts camped out on the lawn of the nuclear station breaking yet another record. In South Carolina, Oconee Nuclear Station recently sponsored its annual movie series with nearly 1,100 attendees. They will host one of the largest outdoor recreation and conservation events in Upstate South Carolina in October. At Catawba Nuclear Station, located in York County, SC, a Boy Scout encampment is held every year, employees participate in an annual pen pal program with local schools and the site promotes healthy habitats for local wildlife, such as osprey. While these events are free to the public, Duke reaps the rewards in other ways because they provide an opportunity for people to gain a better understanding of nuclear energy. In addition, community events and employee volunteerism build strong, ongoing relationships within the local community.
Duke Energy is committed to operational excellence and continues to instill confidence in the safe and reliable operation of its power plants in its communities and beyond. In addition to the larger events typically held during the summer months, each of Duke’s three nuclear facilities have a strong community outreach program. At the center of the programs at McGuire and Oconee are their energy education centers. McGuire’s EnergyExplorium and Oconee’s World of Energy offer interactive exhibits and are free to the public. These centers promote open conversations about energy, the environment and the role of nuclear energy in meeting the growing demand for cleaner, greener forms of energy. In addition, each center offers presentations on topics such as electricity generation, nuclear power and energy sources and hosts a variety of teacher and student workshops throughout the year. While Catawba no longer has an energy education center, special events are still hosted at the site and employees are active in the local community conducting presentations, volunteering at schools and participating in service projects. In 2010, more than 72,000 people attended programs and events hosted by the three nuclear stations.
While Duke Energy has not made a final decision to build Lee Nuclear Station in Cherokee, SC, community outreach efforts have been underway for a few years which include partnering with local schools to donate school supplies, volunteering and providing grant money for community improvement projects, hosting meetings for community leaders and providing a community newsletter to plant neighbors on project updates.
Duke Energy’s nuclear community outreach program has a long, storied past of serving the local community, as well as visitors from across the United States and abroad. For more than 40 years, the nuclear outreach program has evolved to meet the needs of specific audiences and address particular issues. Duke Energy’s outreach efforts have focused on activities that are education-driven, sustainable, cost-efficient and easily adaptable to multiple audiences and locations. Once people visit our facilities or attend a presentation, the goal is for them to leave with a better understanding of nuclear energy and the important role it will play in the future.
If you’re interested in attaining more information about nuclear energy, click here. We also encourage you to visit McGuire’s EnergyExplorium and the Oconee’s World of Energy to find the latest information on upcoming events.
