How does a nuclear site know when it’s developed strong relationships with the community and gained the public’s trust? When nearly 11,000 neighbors come to the site for an evening of socializing, eating and listening to a summer concert with the reactors as the evening’s backdrop. This was the scene on June 21 as McGuire Nuclear Station hosted its 12th annual Charlotte Symphony concert on the lawn of its energy education center, the EnergyExplorium, along the shores of Lake Norman near Charlotte, N.C.
A dramatic sight for a nuclear facility, the annual event represents a unique way to leverage the site’s assets to build public confidence and enhance relationships with the community. McGuire began hosting the Charlotte Symphony concert in 2001 for the site’s 20th anniversary. Since then the concert has become something residents look forward to, and the numbers continue to grow each year.
Coordinating the concert and hosting such a large crowd is a team effort for McGuire. Many departments including site services, security, maintenance, communications and others work together on the logistics and determining how to safely accommodate guests. The event is also an opportunity to engage employees and raise awareness about the importance of building goodwill in the community. Dozens of employees from McGuire and Duke Energy’s customer contact center volunteered as golf cart drivers, greeters and golf cart assistants to ensure every attendee received special attention.
The event continues to be a great success as concert goers come by land and boat to enjoy an evening under the stars. Guests represent all segments of the community, and many make it an annual family or group outing. Guests pack picnic dinners and stage elaborate settings to make it a truly festive and elegant evening. This year, the symphony performed its “Summertime Serenade” program of orchestral favorites including selections from “West Side Story,” “My Fair Lady” and other classics.
McGuire’s annual concert represents how nuclear sites can engage the community. Educating citizens and establishing positive relationships is central to ensuring successful and sustained operations. Events such as this attract visitors who might otherwise never go to a nuclear site, and more importantly, provides them with an up close and personal experience on the safety and security of the nuclear industry.
