Our Workforce - Duke Energy | Nuclear Information Center

Nuclear Notes: Training never stops

Duke Energy — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:30:00 GMT

There’s always something to learn. Maybe it’s a new cooking method, how to repair a vehicle or even an entirely new career field. No matter where your interests take you, training is part of the process to become and stay proficient in a new topic or skill.

It’s no different in nuclear power generation. No matter the job, our Duke Energy nuclear employees undergo training throughout their careers to ensure our nuclear plants continue to provide power safely and efficiently to our customers.

Watch this episode of Nuclear Notes and learn how learning never stops in nuclear.

This new series, Nuclear Notes, is designed to give you a clear picture of the importance of nuclear generation for a clean energy future.

Want to know even more about training in the nuclear profession? Read about how we train to ensure reliable operations.

Learn more about careers at Duke Energy.

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Thankfulness is in the air this holiday season

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 14:00:00 GMT

Normally, this laser engraver is put to good use etching items around the plant for proper identification and signage, not etching a pumpkin pie.

But that’s the thing about the members of our nuclear fleet – they’re on the lookout for innovative ways to utilize resources.

During this season of thanksgiving and throughout the year, we’re thankful for a growing culture of innovation within the Duke Energy nuclear fleet.

We’re thankful for the people who are working to keep the lights on, our homes warm and our ovens baking this holiday season.

We’re thankful for reliable, carbon-free nuclear energy.

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It's not like the movies - working in nuclear energy

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 14:19:00 GMT

As a Senior Project Controls Specialist, Sigourney Clark spends a lot of her time ensuring that projects are not just completed on time, but that they also remain within an approved budget. She refers to her group as the conscience of the project team simply due to their constant running of scenarios to find cost savings. Kind of like the tv show “What Would You Do?”

Prior to joining Duke Energy, Sigourney found herself in a prior episode of “What Would You Do?” scenario when it came down to a career choice in nuclear. Fearing the unknown and having a myth mindset about nuclear energy were almost enough to make Clark reconsider a career opportunity at Duke Energy’s Harris Nuclear Plant. However, over the course of seven years, not only has she gained valuable experience, but the confidence to advocate for it as well.

Growing up near the plant in the town of Fuquay-Varina, Harris Nuclear Plant wasn’t foreign to Sigourney. She knew it existed, but, like so many others, had only heard of nuclear power from movies or events such as Chernobyl or Three Mile Island.

After graduating from North Carolina State University with her bachelor’s degree in business finance and accounting, a recruiter friend working at the plant as a contractor suggested that she put her MBA plans on hold and instead apply for a contractor opportunity with Duke Energy. However, she was reluctant.

While hesitant about working in a nuclear plant, Sigourney decided to have faith over fear, and accepted a position at Harris. It’s a decision, seven years later, that she has no regrets about.

“As soon as I got here, I was proven wrong. It was apparent to me that all of the safety culture and worker standards put in place, along with all the knowledgeable people working at Harris gave me the confidence to trust nuclear power.”

Even though most people do not have the opportunity to witness what goes on at a nuclear plant, Sigourney attributes the Harris Energy & Environmental Center as a great resource for people to learn what goes on in hopes of easing their fears and concerns.

With a new attitude about nuclear, Sigourney also found her Duke Energy career to be rewarding, not just through additional knowledge about nuclear energy, but also through being able to be such a major part of the company’s efforts to give back to the community. For the past three years she has coordinated the site’s Power of Giving campaign, the company’s annual employee engagement campaign which provides employees with flexibility to support eligible causes of their choice.

“There are so many underserved families in our surrounding areas. One of my proudest moments working in nuclear was probably my third year with the company as we did the usual Christmas giving campaign,” she said.

Usually helping with collecting and coordinating gifts, this particular year, Sigourney had the opportunity to be a part of the team that delivered the gifts to the families. She recalled that during this time, a family showed up in a car that looked as if they had been living in it for quite some time, which made her feel very sad. The team had loaded the family’s car with so many gifts that year that they had to make multiple trips to pick up their gifts.

“The generosity of our teammates is enough to bring tears to my eyes. Harris employees are committed to giving to the less fortunate, even during our own tough times. It’s clear that we are here to provide more than just electricity.”

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Training to ensure safe, reliable operations

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:30:00 GMT

Continuous learning is part of any profession. Our nuclear professionals are no exception; indeed, no industry requires as much continuous training as commercial nuclear power generation. Training is needed to ensure safe, reliable operations for the generation of life-essential electricity.

All nuclear teammates go through training for initial qualifications based on their job function and must maintain proficiency in skills. We also train and practice for emergency operations. It is not unusual for personnel to train on something related to emergency response and operations on a weekly basis. Scenario-based training helps operators develop competence and experience to handle any emergency imaginable.

Training is especially important for our reactor operators licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Besides regular classroom training, each nuclear site maintains a control room simulator, which is an exact replica of the actual control room. Instructors use a computerized system to mimic scenarios and operators practice responding. The simulator is a test of operator technical skill and team effectiveness. Following the scenario, the team engages in a critique where they assess performance and define subsequent training opportunities.

But this isn’t an annual process. Operators engage in technical and scenario-based training one week out of every five, or about 10 weeks every year. As a comparison, consider the training requirements for other licensed professions. The field that requires the most formal education is medical. To get a medical license to practice, you would need a four-year college degree, followed by four years of medical school. Doctors also typically have 3-7 years of practicum experience required. Once past that, doctors usually are required to get a minimum of 20 hours a year of continuing education.

A reactor operator does not necessarily require a four-year degree, however most have either a four-year degree or a military background. Some operators have served years on a US Navy submarine or other nuclear power field before they work at a commercial power plant. Once at the plant, the operator must complete 18-24 months of formal training on the specific plant they will be licensed for. Once licensed, there is no profession that invests as much time in continuing education. Licensed operators must average 160 hours per year over the two-year license period. In practice, however, the training program for licensed operators is much more robust than the minimum 160 hours. Typically, an operator spends every fifth week in training.

Here is a comparison of various professions:

Field	Medical Doctor	Legal - Attorney	Veterinarian	Air Transport Pilot	Education	Reactor Operator
Typical Formal Education	Undergraduate plus 4 years Med school	Undergraduate plus 3 years Law school	Undergraduate plus 4 years Vet school	1500 hrs or Undergraduate or military	Undergraduate plus 2 years	Undergraduate or Military
Continuing Ed in North Carolina	20	12	20	60	16	160
Continuing Ed in South Carolina	20	14	15	60	24	160

Why so much training?

Operators are accountable to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as the licensing agency so training is tailored to meet the mandated regulated requirements. In addition, the nuclear industry makes heavy use of learning from operating experience. Operators learn their specific plant, but also learn about other plants across the industry, especially regarding any significant events. For example, after the earthquake and tsunami hit the plant at Fukushima Daiichi, we incorporated new equipment, procedures and training at our plants. Finally, training includes human performance and teamwork. Operators always work in teams, and so part of their training is about how to better perform as a team member and to help other teammates.

Learn more.

Continuing education requirements vary considerably. Our comparison uses the following sources and converts all to a standard 12-month period.

Medical

Federation of State Medical Board (Nov. 19, 2019) indicates that the standard in North Carolina is 60 hours every three years and 40 hours every two years in South Carolina.

Legal

The American Bar Association reports a requirement of 12 hours in NC and 14 hours in SC.

Veterinarian

NC Veterinary Medical Board indicates a requirement of 20 hours per year.
SC Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners has a requirement of 30 hours every two years.

Air Transport Pilot (Airline)

The FAA requires 1,500 hours of flight time or less time with a college degree or military experience for the initial license.
Continuing training varies by aircraft type and airline. Generally, it is about 60 hours per year.

Education

NC State Board of Education requires 80 hours every five years.
SC State Board of Education requires 120 hours every five years.

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The dawn of the atomic age in the Carolinas

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:10:00 GMT

Seeing the dawn of what was dubbed the atomic age, in the early 1960s, four southern utilities joined together to build a prototype nuclear power plant to test the feasibility of nuclear power as a commercial power source. The Parr Nuclear Station, or Carolinas-Virginia Tube Reactor, proved nuclear energy’s viability and inspired all four utilities to pursue their own commercial operating reactor. The person who served as director over the cooperative was H. Burton Robinson.

Lake Robinson construction

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1902, Henry Burton Robinson was educated at Clemson College, North Carolina State College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the roaring twenties. Robinson began his career at Carolina Power and Light in Raleigh as a relay manager in 1925. After a series of promotions, he progressed to his eventual position as executive vice president.

Prior to its involvement in the Parr Nuclear Station, Carolina Power and Light had already been exploring nuclear energy by sending engineers to study at North Carolina State University in 1955, which was the first U.S. campus to have a nuclear reactor. This experience and the successful operations of the Parr Nuclear Station in 1963 had set the company’s course for nuclear construction. In 1966, the board approved plans to construct a nuclear power plant in Hartsville, South Carolina.

Early Lake Robinson

Located in Darlington County in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, Hartsville was the ideal location to house what would be the first nuclear plant in the Southeast. In 1960, the company completed construction of the Lake Robinson dam, which impounded water from the Big Black Creek, Little Beaverdam Creek and Big Beaverdam Creek. This water source provided cooling water for the original Robinson Plant, which was a coal-fired generating station that began operation in 1960. The lake, coal and nuclear plants were named for Henry Burton Robinson.

When the H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant began construction in 1966, the local community was unprepared for the scale of construction required for what was then the largest nuclear power plant in the world. Large components passing through town could cause a parade-like atmosphere of excitement. One long-time Hartsville resident remembered joining a group of locals to watch the reactor vessel travel on a railway trestle near the center of town.

Containment building construction

With construction and testing completed, Robinson began commercial operations in 1971. In 1979, the plant applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a power uprate, or an increase to the amount of electricity the unit is allowed to produce, adding an additional 100 megawatts of electricity. Now, the Robinson Nuclear Plant produces 741 megawatts, which is enough electricity to provide power to over half a million homes. Despite being constructed in the 1960s, Robinson is a modern generating facility.

Reactor vessel arrival via rail

That’s thanks to the many modifications and enhancements that have been made to the plant over the years. The same spirit of innovation that led to the plant’s construction is alive and well today, as shown by the plant receiving an industry innovation award in 2018.

As the largest taxpayer in Darlington County, Robinson has been a solid and stable economic provider for the local community. The plant has employed a workforce of hundreds of nuclear professionals for generations and serves as one of the larger employers in the county. With decades of investments and community involvement in the area, many residents see the plant as a neighbor as much as a business.

Unit 2 containment dome under construction

The H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant serves as a testament to its namesake’s legacy. Perhaps more than any South Carolinian, Henry Burton Robinson helped to legitimize nuclear energy as a commercial power source. As a result of Robinson’s pioneering work, Robinson Nuclear Plant continues to provide clean, safe and reliable energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes and will continue to do so for decades to come.

H.B. Robinson 1 Groundbreaking

Front: H.B. Robinson

Back, left to right: W.L. Hunnicut, Jr., President of the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, A.L.M. Wiggins, Master of Ceremonies, Robert Hemphill, U.S. Representative, L.V. Sutton, CP&L President, Strom Thurmond, U.S. Senator, John L. McMillan, U.S. Representative, Robert Cooper, Director of the State Development Board

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4 ways playing video games is a skill in nuclear energy

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 20:59:00 GMT

There are approximately 166 million people in the United States who play video games, according to the Entertainment Software Association. With so many gamers in America, there are sure to be gamers who have “day jobs” working in nuclear plants. For future nuclear professionals, some of the very same skills you develop playing video games can be put to work in nuclear plants.

Current research shows there are some cognitive benefits from playing video games, such as improved hand-eye coordination. This is no surprise, since accomplishing a task in a game requires players to exercise fine motor skills (slight hand movements) at the controls to respond to what they see and hear onscreen. These same coordination skills are needed within many positions at Duke Energy.

For example, robots have proven their worth in the nuclear industry for strengthening personal and operational safety. One such application is robots inspecting dry fuel storage cannisters. These canisters are robust containers for storing nuclear fuel after it has been removed from used fuel pools. Like a gamer playing a video game, the controllers operating the robots have to respond to what they are seeing when maneuvering the robot.

Another benefit of the video game culture in the nuclear industry is its application to training. For our nuclear plants, the technology of virtual reality is further enhancing the training of our nuclear professionals.

Duke Energy’s metrology group uses laser equipment to image plant systems and components, allowing them to capture the interior of hard to access locations, such as the reactor building, in a virtual environment. Without experiencing this in virtual reality, workers would have to don layers of protective gear to enter certain areas for tasks as simple as taking measurements. With this technology, people can walk into the reactor building virtually and complete some tasks without even leaving the office. Likewise, in preparing for a job in this area, a person who has never ventured into the reactor building can orient him or herself to the environment. That familiarity can lead to more efficient and safer work when they head into the field. As this practice becomes more and more common, the need for workers already adept at exploring digital worlds only grows. It’s an opportune time to be a gamer entering the workforce.

Any casual player knows that engaging in a video game requires attention. What some studies are beginning to show is that certain types of first-person video games help improve the attention of players and help individuals become more adept at filtering out unneeded information in completing whatever task is at hand. While this is a benefit in games, researchers suggest these findings may also extend beyond the screen into the real world. Workers with greater attention abilities in complex environments seem to be tailor made for the nuclear industry.

One application where greater attention to detail and dexterity are necessary is in the emerging use of drones in the nuclear industry. Indoor drones provide a way for our nuclear workers to perform tasks more efficiently and safely. For example, Duke Energy nuclear workers are using indoor drones to perform inspections in confined spaces. By deploying indoor drones, a trained pilot can use its high definition video and infrared camera to capture the necessary footage down to the very last bolt. The pilot can then send the footage back to others for review. The drone pilot must be adept at the controls for maneuvering the drone in flight, but also needs to have the ability to focus on the task at hand and filter out what’s unimportant in the surroundings to make a thorough inspection. It’s a skill unfamiliar to many, but commonplace to a gamer.

Working with an indoor drone

Video games have become more and more a central part of our lives. The skills video games provide players help position them for important careers in the physical world. So, the next time you pick up a controller and head to another world, you might be boosting your resume in the real world and preparing yourself for a career in nuclear energy.

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Community colleges offer unique nuclear career paths

Duke Energy — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 14:14:00 GMT

“Grit, intelligence and a willingness to work.” That’s what a successful student in Gaston College’s Nuclear Technology Program looks like, according to Virgil Cox, the school’s Dean of Engineering and Industrial Technologies. It’s an academically rigorous program that prepares students to enter the training program for non-licensed nuclear plant operators. Although the program only takes two years to complete, “It can be a real challenge,” says Cox.

For students interested in the nuclear energy industry, particularly nuclear operations, community college programs like the one at Gaston College are not the typical choice. “The majority of new hires in nuclear operations are former Navy or graduates with four-year engineering degrees,” says Scott Warren, a nuclear control room supervisor at McGuire Nuclear Station in Huntersville, N.C. But, Warren adds, there is a desire to hire local talent, a desire that can more easily be met through partnerships with local community colleges.

Recruiting local talent is just one reason Duke Energy’s nuclear plants are interested in working with community colleges. As the existing workforce begins to retire, the need for technical nuclear plant workers is increasing. Additionally, there is competition for individuals exiting the nuclear Navy, putting pressure on this traditional pipeline for skilled nuclear workers. “Since the program at Gaston only takes two years, students are typically young when they graduate,” says Warren. “This potentially provides our nuclear plants with workers looking for long-term careers, which, in turn, helps us better plan for the future.”

Seeing these changing workforce dynamics, in 2008, Duke Energy began working with Gaston College to develop a program for nuclear power plant operators. “I was delighted to help start this program because I had been a naval officer and had been associated with the naval nuclear training program,” says Cox. In fact, Cox has brought the nuclear industry full circle from serving on the first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, to teaching students to operate current-day nuclear reactors.

The Nuclear Technology Program includes technical coursework, as well as 320 co-op hours with Duke Energy during the summer between the first and second year. This summer, four students interned at McGuire Nuclear Station. Warren, who has worked closely with the interns from Gaston College, says the overall experience has been positive. “I’ve told all the classes I’ve worked with that they will get out of their time at McGuire what they put into it.” One of this year’s interns, Dakota Hood, says he felt like he got a lot out of the program and the internship experience in particular. “I enjoyed my internship very much. It was a great learning experience and I grew a lot in just 12 weeks.”

While the Nuclear Technology Program is small, graduating only a handful of students every year, it’s opening up new career paths for students interested in nuclear energy. Hood, who learned about the program from a friend, says his search for an exciting career led him to the nuclear industry. “I decided to enroll because I wanted to be in a unique field that gave me the ability to do something a little bit different every day,” says Hood.

The Nuclear Technology Program at Gaston College is one of several community college programs Duke Energy works with to train future nuclear employees. For example, Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C., offers a Nuclear Technology program similar to Gaston’s, including an internship opportunity at nearby Brunswick Nuclear Plant.

These and other community college programs serving the nuclear energy are part of a larger industry effort to address changing workforce needs. To ensure the right people are in the right places at the right times, nuclear energy leaders developed the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum (NUC) to make training consistent among schools and relevant to current business needs. While not all community college programs formally follow the NUC, most adhere to its principles and high standards.

As the industry continues to evolve, utilities like Duke Energy hope more students will pursue a career in nuclear energy and take advantage of local community college training programs to realize their aspirations.

Header photo (pictured left to right): William “Nick” Carter, Dakota Hood, Virgil Cox, Nathan Simmons, Braxton Rikard, Thomas “Tom” Douthit and Scott Warren

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The Campaign for Nuclear: Key Takeaways from the Duke Energy NAYGN Chapter Conference

Duke Energy — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 17:02:00 GMT

Duke Energy NAYGN Chapter photo by Daniel Lewis

Last week, Duke Energy’s chapter of North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) held its annual conference in Charlotte, N.C., bringing together young professionals from across the company’s nuclear fleet. As the conference’s timely theme, “The Campaign for Nuclear,” suggests, the focus of this event was how to educate yourself and others about the important benefits of nuclear energy.

While the conference offered numerous insights, here are three tips for successful nuclear advocacy.

See the bigger picture. The conference began with a panel of experts discussing current legislation affecting the nuclear industry, including policy related to advanced reactors, clean air and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reform. While details about these particular policies is important, perhaps more important is the understanding that the nuclear energy industry affects and is affected by multiple stakeholders such as regulators, environmental advocates, and customers.

Successful nuclear energy advocacy, therefore, requires not only knowledge of a specific job, but the willingness and ability to comprehensively learn about the industry and how it relates to different audiences. To stay current on issues affecting the nuclear energy industry, visit the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Issues and Policy webpage.

Stay positive. The second morning session featured two professionals from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar Nuclear Plant – Kevin Walsh, senior site vice president and Ryan Lisa, NAYGN chapter chairperson – who discussed the start-up of the plant’s second unit. As the first nuclear unit to start commercial operation in the 21st century, the presentation reminded the audience that, despite recent nuclear plant closures, nuclear energy has an important future.

Consider, for example, the following advantages of nuclear energy.

Nuclear advocates should share these positive examples to highlight nuclear energy’s important role in our country’s energy mix.

Speak persuasively, not abrasively. After several breakout sessions, the group came together in the afternoon for a professional development plenary about how to have important conversations in the workplace. Based on principles from the book, Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, the session featured several methods for discussing pivotal issues with co-workers, leaders and others. These methods also apply to discussions about nuclear energy.

Most notably, the STATE method offers a tool to encourage open dialogue, while credibly making your point about nuclear energy. This technique teaches how to stay true to a belief, but soften the approach to ensure more productive conversations. Using this approach, advocates should start with facts, illustrate them with a personal story and genuinely encourage others to share their thoughts on the topic.

By staying informed, positive and credible, anyone can become a nuclear advocate. What other tips do you have for communicating the benefits of nuclear energy?

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Area Students Explore Careers at Catawba Nuclear Station

Duke Energy — Fri, 20 May 2016 09:51:00 GMT

Last year, when a local Clover, S.C., high school parent asked the Catawba Nuclear Station vice president if the station offered a high school internship, he had no idea his question would lead to a career exploration day for his son and other students interested in nuclear.

Area students learn about the control room on this glass top simulator.

Duke Energy does offer summer internships … for college students. To bridge that gap, on March 11, 2016, employees at Catawba Nuclear Station hosted the first career exploration day for high school juniors and seniors from three local schools, as well as local homeschool students. This event connected students interested in STEM and nuclear careers with plant employees working in science and engineering fields.

The event was set up speed-dating style, where students visited 12 career stations staffed by plant employees for 10 minutes each.

School counselors and advisors at the schools handpicked the students that had previously expressed an interest in a STEM or nuclear career.

Students learn about radiation protection at Catawba’s Career Exploration Day.

“The message was ‘spot on’ regarding preparation, education and job roles,” said one school administrator.

Plant employees volunteered to staff the 12 career stations. The careers explored were nuclear engineering, civil engineering, radiation protection, environmental science, finance, mechanical maintenance, instrumentation and controls maintenance, supply chain, chemistry and operations (with a tour of the station control room simulator).

With a large percentage of the nuclear workforce set to retire in the next 5-10 years, getting high school students interested in STEM and nuclear careers is paramount. And, events like this are a step in the right direction.

Catawba employees share their career experiences with local area students.

“You’ve left the impression it’s a healthy, positive environment and the employees enjoy interesting, meaningful and challenging work,” said one of the homeschool teachers. “The staff work well together and have many career development opportunities open to them.”

So, what about that Clover parents' son? He attended the event and now wants to study engineering at a local technical school.

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Law Enforcement Agencies Work Together for Nuclear Security

Duke Energy — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:00:00 GMT

A security officer at the Harris Nuclear Plant inspects a vehicle at the plant's checkpoint.

During Local Law Enforcement Agency Day hosted by the Harris Plant, various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies share information on emergency preparedness, nuclear security technical upgrades and Department of Homeland Security initiatives. The day concludes with a tour of the plant's owner-controlled area where the visiting officers get to see some nuclear security measures first-hand.

Participants come from local police, fire and sheriff's departments; as well as from state and federal agencies, including the N.C. Highway Patrol, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, State/Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Aviation Administration.

Although the Harris Nuclear Plant's security organization, like security teams at all Duke Energy and U.S. nuclear stations, is always fully staffed to protect plant assets 24/7, it's crucial to be able to call on additional support when needed.

Nuclear security teams can request assistance for incidents such as trespassing, facilitating traffic in the event of a site emergency, and responding to an outside security threat.

A good example of this support was a bomb threat that occurred several years ago at the Harris Plant's vehicle access checkpoint. The sheriff's office took the lead and coordinated the response with local police explosives experts to investigate the possible threat. The sheriff's office stopped traffic and communicated with the appropriate agencies, including Harris Security, until they were able to determine the area was safe and clear.

"Our local law enforcement day is a great opportunity to build better relationships," says senior nuclear security specialist Jason Blackmon. "More important, this interaction helps all of us understand how we would interface in the event of a security threat."

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Duke Energy Employees Win Top Nuclear Industry Awards

Duke Energy — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:57:00 GMT

Every year, the nuclear industry recognizes top industry performance through the Top Industry Practice (TIP) awards. These awards are presented annually at the Nuclear Energy Assembly and recognize innovative achievements in the nuclear industry.

This year, Duke Energy teams won the Operate Plant Award and the TIP Vision, Leadership and Ingenuity Award.

Operate Plant Award

Duke Energy NeverWet® team representative accepting the Operate Plant Award (Photo credit: NEI)

A team of Duke Energy employees from the Robinson Nuclear Plant in South Carolina were awarded the Operate Plant Award for the industry’s first large-scale application of a product called NeverWet^®. NeverWet^® is a system designed to create a highly water repellent coating on materials like metal, wood, aluminum, concrete, fiberglass and plastics. The Duke Energy team tested NeverWet^® in a laboratory environment and found the treatment prevented radioactive contamination from sticking to submerged materials. The team successfully applied NeverWet^® to a container used to transfer uranium fuel from the reactor to the used fuel pool. By using NeverWet^®, the team eliminated the need to decontaminate the container, significantly reducing time and money while also further improving personnel safety by limiting employees’ exposure to radiation.

Vision, Leadership & Ingenuity Award

Duke Energy ECM Program team accepting the Vision, Leadership & Ingenuity Award (Photo credit: NEI)

Another team of Duke Energy employees received the Vision, Leadership and Ingenuity Award for the Excellence in Cost Management (ECM) program. ECM is a program developed by Duke Energy in response to the competitive economic pressures facing nuclear power plants. ECM focuses on maintaining safety and reliability, while eliminating non-value added work and costs from the operation of Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet. ECM is not a “cost-cutting initiative,” but a program to enable sustainable cost savings and improved nuclear fleet performance. In all, the program has increased worker safety, innovation and employee engagement and saved Duke Energy more than $35 million in 2014.

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Nuclear First Responders: There When Needed

Duke Energy — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 11:44:00 GMT

When one hears the words "first responder," the first thing that comes to mind are emergency medical technicians, fire fighters and police officers.

These are also the first responders at a nuclear facility — the medical emergency response team, the fire brigade and security.

Fire Brigade

Members of Duke Energy's fire brigades regularly practice their skills with live fire training sessions at Gaston College in North Carolina.

Every commercial nuclear facility in the United States has its own fire department.

The purpose of the plant’s fire brigade is singular, to stop the spread of fire, in the event of a fire, at the plant.

All members of the fire brigade have been through training to serve on the plant's fire brigade, and they regularly have drills and exercises to practice. Some members of the fire brigade have other nuclear jobs, such as maintenance technician or nuclear operator. But when the time comes, they change out of their regular work attire into their firefighting gear.

Security

Nuclear security officers have extensive training and often have experience in the military or police work.

Another nuclear first responder is security. Each Duke Energy nuclear facility is guarded 24 hours a day by an armed, well-trained security force.

Security officers maintain their high level of readiness through classroom courses, drills and practical exercises. They regularly drill, just like the fire brigade , to hone their skills and prepare for any situation.

Security officers usually come from a military or law enforcement background and are trained to protect the plant and employees. The NRC tests the readiness of nuclear security teams through a series of exercises, which simulate a planned attack on the plant. Security officers must prove through these exercises that they can respond to any attack on the plant quickly and effectively.

MERT
A subset of security is the Medical Emergency Response Team, or MERT. These individuals are ready at a moment's notice to respond to any medical emergency on site.

All of these individuals train, prepare and refine their skills if they are ever called upon.

The number one priority at every nuclear facility is the safety of the public and employees. And the individuals in these jobs are the first to respond during an emergency.

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Duke Energy's WINning Chapter

Duke Energy — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:25:00 GMT

Outstanding efforts deserve recognition, and Duke Energy’s Women in Nuclear (WIN) Central Chapter got just that this summer at the 2014 U.S. Women in Nuclear National Conference.

In July, 45 Duke Energy WIN members made their way to Boston to accept two national awards for the company’s Central Chapter, which includes members from Brunswick, Robinson and Oconee nuclear stations. This chapter was honored with the “Overall Excellence” and “Excellence in Public Outreach” awards based on the impressive accomplishments the chapter’s 70 members completed in the past year, which included:

2,549 hours of public outreach, reaching 4,899 people

2,032 hours of professional development for 200 people

1,264 hours of networking with 360 members

Duke Energy’s WIN Central Chapter received two awards at the 2014 WIN national conference.

Some examples of the chapter’s public outreach activities include:

Participating in National Nuclear Science Week by teaching elementary students about basic electricity and nuclear power with hands-on activities and teaching high school students about nuclear careers

Showing Pandora’s Promise, a documentary film about the history and future of nuclear power, to high school students

Participating in Career Day, sharing information on becoming a nuclear professional to 150 middle school students

Teaching 127 homeschool students about electricity, nuclear energy, radiation dress out and how to make rockets at Oconee Nuclear Station’s World of Energy Homeschooler’s Day

Partnering with the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and the public library to hold Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Days with hands-on activities

Science fair judging

Participating in pen pal programs with students

Teacher education with American Nuclear Society at UNCW

Robotics team sponsorship and demonstrations; STEM speaks to high school students

Mentorship of Clemson Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) – Girl Scout badges

Myth busting with Southport Junior Women’s Club

“We primarily concentrated on STEM activities with a nuclear power or electricity focus for K-12 students,” said Melanie Roberts, Duke Energy Central Chapter member from Brunswick. While WIN provides outreach activities year round, a major focus occurs during National Nuclear Science Week, which is held October 20-24 this year.

WIN members from Oconee Nuclear Station teach Girl Scouts about energy during last year’s National Nuclear Science Week.

Duke Energy’s other active WIN chapters – the Piedmont Chapter, including members from the Charlotte corporate office and McGuire, Harris and Catawba nuclear stations, and the Gulf Chapter, including members from Crystal River 3 – also regularly interact with the community, promoting nuclear power as a viable, safe, green power source, as well as a stimulating and rewarding career opportunity.

WIN members from the Brunswick Nuclear Plant held a STEM Fair with hands-on learning activities for 72 second grade students at Bolivia Elementary during National Nuclear Science Week last year.

Throughout the year, Duke Energy’s WIN chapters also offer its members networking activities, such as plant tours, fitness and wellness walks with other utility WIN chapters, and professional development activities like seminars, regional and national conferences, webinars, lunch and learns, and financial planning sessions.

Congratulations to Duke Energy’s Central Chapter, and thank you to all who continue to share the benefits of nuclear energy with the public.

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Powerful Career Paths in the Nuclear Industry

Duke Energy — Tue, 27 May 2014 15:42:00 GMT

Did you know the U.S. nuclear energy industry supports approximately 100,000 quality, high-paying American jobs?

And, did you know the majority of workers employed by the nuclear energy industry are non-nuclear engineers?

There are job opportunities across the country for folks with high school diplomas to those with doctorates. Nuclear utilities and other nuclear companies employ all types of workers to support their operations – from computer engineers and plant operators to pipefitters and accountants.

Types of Careers in the Nuclear Energy Industry

Engineers	Specialists	Technicians and Skilled Trades Workers
Civil/structural	Accountants	Carpenters
Electrical	Analysts	Construction trades and related workers
Materials	Business management experts	Electricians
Mechanical	Chemists	Engineering technicians
Nuclear	Document control experts	Heavy equipment operators
Computer	Health physicists	Machinists
Instrumentation and control	Information technology experts	Maintenance technicians
Fire protection	Occupational safety, including radiation safety experts	Millwrights
Systems	Plant operators (licensed and non-licensed)	Pipefitters
Project management	Statistics/probabilistic risk assessment experts	Science technicians
	Training specialists	Security officers
	Communication specialists	Welders

Of the 100,000 currently employed in the industry, it is expected as many as 20,000 new, highly skilled workers will be needed in the next five years to operate and maintain existing reactors. Several factors are driving this need, including:

New nuclear plants (one reactor creates up to 3,500 jobs at peak construction, and a new nuclear facility creates about 500 permanent jobs per 1,000 megawatts of electricity generating capacity – compared to 50 for a wind farm and 50 for a natural gas plant)

License renewal (73 of the nation’s 100 nuclear reactors have renewed their operating licenses and will continue producing electricity for decades)

Retirements among existing workforce (about half of the industry’s workforce will be eligible to retire over the next 10 years)

To meet this need, recruiting the next generation of workers is a major focus for the U.S. nuclear energy industry. Through the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program, the industry partners with more than 30 community colleges to recruit and train students in a standardized way for employment at nuclear facilities. The industry also focuses recruitment on students from universities, labor apprenticeships and U.S. military personnel – especially graduates of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion program – to fill specialized positions.

For more information on careers in the nuclear energy industry, refer to the following links:

Nuclear Energy Training and Education Programs in the U.S.

How Do I Start a Career in the Nuclear Energy Industry?

Online Nuclear Job Boards

Sample Nuclear Energy Industry Job Descriptions and Salaries

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Nuclear embraces robotic technology

Duke Energy — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:46:00 GMT

The nuclear industry is always searching for even safer and more efficient technologies. One such trend is the use of robotics at plant sites. Robots are used across the Duke Energy nuclear fleet as way to strengthen personal and operational safety.

The robots, however, may not look like what you imagine. Many are repurposed designs originally intended for use in war zones to search for explosive devices. They are nimble, agile, equipped with track tires that allow them to easily navigate any terrain on site and give them the appearance of miniaturized tanks with arms. The robots are equipped with several cameras allowing for multiple viewpoints.

A cultural cornerstone of the nuclear industry is strictly limiting the amount of radiological exposure nuclear workers encounter while performing work. While all radiological exposure at a nuclear facility is closely monitored and tracked, both in the short term (a single work project) and long term (over the entire career of the worker), the industry’s approach to radiation reduction is that any tool or technology that prevents worker exposure should be used. Nuclear workers could safely perform tasks without the assistance of robots, but using robots reduces or even fully eliminates exposure for many tasks.

Robots offer a number of creative solutions for limiting exposure from remote viewing of radiological areas within the plant to collecting and storing radioactive materials.

Recently, workers at Duke Energy’s McGuire Nuclear Station, located north of Charlotte, N.C., utilized the iRobot 710 Warrior robot (710) to lower collective radiological exposure of workers during the replacement of radioactive waste filters. These filters act in a similar fashion to your home HVAC filters, and like those filters, need to be changed on a regular basis.

Previously, removing the filters required professionals using a six-foot pole to grasp the filters and move them into temporary storage prior to transport. The same process was used for installing new filters. As you can image, using a six-foot pole to do precise work can be very challenging.

In other cases, robots simply make the work more efficient. At the Robinson Nuclear Plant, in Hartsville, S.C., robots were used to place material into storage. In order to complete this task without the assistance of robots, an enormous amount of planning and preparation would have to be performed, including the placement of barriers and other safeguards to reduce radiation exposure. By using the robots, workers were able to eliminate exposure and work more safely and efficiently.

These are just a couple of the instances, in which robots are being used throughout the Duke Energy fleet for maintenance, examination and worker protection. Robots reduce the risk of human error, providing for consistent, high-quality results. We expect the application of robots at nuclear sites will only continue to increase, as we continue to find new and innovative ways to make work safer and more efficient.

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Reactions to a Reactor

Duke Energy — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:00:00 GMT

A New Employee’s Perspective from Inside a Nuclear Reactor Building

“This must be how an astronaut feels when he climbs into the space shuttle,” I thought, as I climbed through the first airtight door of one of the reactor buildings at Oconee Nuclear Station.

My ears filled with pressure as our tour guide locked eight of us into the portal just outside the area that contains the reactor vessel, which creates heat for steam generation.

It was eerily quiet, and I was nervous.

Decked out in my protective gear that included three layers of gloves, I followed my teammates through the last door. I was in.

The building was dimly lit with pipes and ducts and cables running in every direction. The large, complex systems weren’t laid out as simply as they were in the diagrams I’d studied before the tour.

One of my teammates nudged me as we entered the first level of the multi-story building.

“Look up at the ceiling,” he said. “Pretty impressive, huh?”

I pressed my hard hat tightly to my head and looked up at the concrete dome.

Very impressive.

Growing up less than five miles from Oconee Nuclear Station, in Seneca, S.C., I had grown used to spotting the plant’s three reactor building domes from various places on the highway and on Lake Keowee.

Looking at those buildings as a child, I never thought I would be standing inside one of them as a new employee.

My manager had signed our team up for a tour of the reactor building, which was halfway through a scheduled refueling outage. It was a rare chance to enter the building – something few people get to do.

Our tour guide led us around multiple floors of the building, from the dark basement to the deck overlooking the reactor pool.

That was an awe-inspiring moment, standing there looking at the reactor core under roughly 20 feet of crystal clear water. I felt like I was looking at something only seen in a James Bond movie. The core is covered by the reactor head during operation, so it is only uncovered during refueling.

Each of us on the tour eagerly agreed to get an even closer look at several components of the primary and secondary water systems by climbing down long, narrow ladders throughout the building.

Our guide showed us the reactor’s pressurizer and steam generator, which keeps the primary water from boiling and generates steam through the conduction of heat into the secondary water system, respectively.

At full power, the “hot leg” piping of the steam generator pumps water through its system at roughly 600 degrees. The “cold leg,” which pushes water back into the reactor core, is a cool 500 degrees.

Needless to say, it gets pretty hot in there.

Both the steam generator and the pressurizer were enormous, and looked like those capsules that astronauts used to ride in (before space shuttles) while barreling back through Earth’s atmosphere.

The experience was other-worldly.

After an hour of climbing up and down ladders in awe, our group made our withdrawal from the unit and crossed back into more familiar, Earthly, territory.

But we weren’t quite home yet. We still had to remove our protective clothing - an experience in itself. Nuclear plant employees take the utmost precaution when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of the employee, the public and the plant. To protect against potential skin or clothing contamination, employees are required to wear several layers of protective clothing while inside the reactor building or in areas where contamination is possible. That means those protective layers – gloves, booties, hood, suit, hard hat, etc. – must be taken off using methods that ensure potential contamination is discarded safely.

As a new employee, I had just taken a training course on how to properly remove my protective gear in the correct order.

I did not expect, however, to be standing in my modesty garments in front of the entire tour group after dress down.

Let’s just say there is no modesty in radiation protection.

After exiting from multiple contamination-detection portals, a tedious process, I was finally able to head home for the evening.

As I walked to my car, I stopped and looked at the three Oconee reactors. It was quiet except for the constant hum of machinery in the Turbine Building.

No more do I wonder what goes on in those tall buildings – I’ve seen it for myself. It’s an experience I will never forget.

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Nuclear Fuel: What do we do with that stuff?

Duke Energy — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:34:00 GMT

All nuclear power reactors use uranium fuel to generate electricity. This fuel consists of small ceramic pellets stacked into metal fuel rods, which are bound together into fuel assemblies that are eight to 12 feet in length.

Once fuel has been used in a reactor, it needs to be stored. Currently, all used nuclear fuel is stored at the plant site in either used fuel pools or in dry storage. The Nuclear Energy Institute estimates that all the used nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. nuclear energy industry in nearly 50 years—if stacked end to end—would only cover an area the size of a football field to a depth of less than 10 yards.

Jason Smith, a lead engineer specializing in nuclear fuel management for Duke Energy, says that safe used fuel storage is a priority at all nuclear power plants. “Currently, every site is responsible for storing its used fuel. There’s a tremendous amount of work and planning that goes into managing used fuel. Whether it is stored in fuel pools or dry cask storage, it poses no risk to the public or our workers,” Smith said.

Diagram of a typical dry cask storage system.

On average, nuclear fuel spends about four years in a reactor. Once removed from the reactor, the fuel is stored in the used fuel pool for a minimum of five years, which allows the fuel to cool and lowers radioactivity levels. The used fuel remains in the pool until it meets certain requirements necessary for it to be transferred to dry cask storage.

Dry cask canisters are concrete and stainless steel. To transfer fuel from the pool to dry storage, workers carefully place the canisters into the fuel pool and load the used fuel. Once the fuel is loaded into the canister, the water is removed and it is filled with helium and welded shut. At this point, the canister is transported into a storage module for long-term storage.

The fuel will continue to give off heat and radiation, but it is safely contained within the dry storage cask. “Once the fuel is placed in the concrete storage module, the exposure is very low and poses no threat,” Jason Smith said. “Of course, we continuously monitor it.” At the Robinson Nuclear Plant, the used fuel on site dates back to the beginning of operations in 1971.

Containers used to store and carry used fuel are extremely robust and provide additional layers of protection beyond that provided by the fuel rods themselves. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires thorough tests and analyses prior to certifying used fuel containers.

Facilities such as Sandia National Laboratories have tested containers under extreme circumstances to ensure they will protect the public in the unlikely event of an accident during transport. Tests have proven that containers can withstand high-speed crashes, extremely hot and long-lasting fires, puncture, and submersion in water.

Dry casks being monitored by plant workers.

The approved containers are massive, weighing 25 to 40 tons for truck shipments and 75 to 125 tons for rail shipments. Multiple layers of steel and other materials confine the radioactivity. Typically, for every ton of fuel, there is more than three tons of protective shielding.

There is still a need for a sustainable, long-term solution for storing used nuclear fuel. However, dry cask storage remains a viable, safe and secure storage option for the foreseeable future.

Want to learn more about the disposal of nuclear fuel, click on the links below:

NEI - Transporting Used Nuclear Fuel

NEI - Safely Managing Used Nuclear Fuel

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Nuclear Security – Mission Focused

Duke Energy — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:07:00 GMT

Photo of a hidden adversary

The assault team is settled on the wood line on a night with no moon. They are fine tuning their approach route, waiting for the right opportunity. In a few short seconds, they are identified, assessed and engaged by the highly trained security force at the Catawba Nuclear Station in South Carolina. A hail of gunfire from multiple locations reins on the terrorist cell, neutralizing the entire team before they can get to their feet.

Sound like science fiction? This is a typical training scenario for the nuclear security professionals across Duke Energy's nuclear fleet. At Duke-operated nuclear stations, security is continuously evaluated through the critical review of the site's ability to respond to a mock attack by adversaries and physically protect the site and its employees and equipment. This is a typical scenario of what is called a 'force-on-force' (FOF) security exercise. These exercises include a team of very fit, well-trained and well-armed mock adversaries.

Since 1991, these FOF exercises have been regularly carried out as part of the nuclear industry's comprehensive security program to ensure the ability to protect the health and safety of the public. Every three years, each site is also evaluated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which brings in a special team of adversaries referred to as the “National Team.” This inspection evaluates multiple aspects of plant security and includes three nights of full-scale mock attacks. This National Team includes active duty military members from the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The NRC evaluates the ability to respond to these attacks – not just the security response, but all aspects of the site including a special focus on operations, and emergency preparedness.

Catawba Nuclear Station York, SC

Catawba Nuclear Station personnel recently successfully completed their NRC FOF evaluated exercise and the McGuire Nuclear Station near Charlotte, N.C. will be evaluated later this year. These represent two of the six Duke-operated sites in the Carolinas. Ed O'Neil, director, Nuclear Protective Services, describes the secret to Duke's top-notch nuclear security program. "Duke Energy has a well-trained and highly skilled security force. Our officers are very professional and take great pride in what they do - our mission is to be the best in the industry and we are on track to achieve this mission.”

O’Neil added, “The combination of a team who genuinely cares about what they do, a world-class training and qualification program and a well designed and comprehensive security strategy, you ensure nuclear power plants are among the most well protected facilities in the nation.”

Want to learn about major security enhancements at U.S. nuclear energy facilities since 9/11? Click on the icon below to learn more.

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Radiation Protection for Nuclear Employees

Duke Energy — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:58:00 GMT

At every nuclear station in the country, radiation protection (RP) teams work daily to control and reduce the amount of occupational radiation exposure workers receive while performing various jobs in the plant.

All nuclear employees take radiation very seriously. If work is required in a radiological area, employees must wear the proper protective equipment, which differs depending on the work area and the work required.

Radiation is a natural part of our environment and we all receive small amounts of radiation from the sun, the soil and the food we eat. Nuclear station workers receive additional exposure, but you may be surprised at just how little.

Radiation is measured in units called rems and millirems. The rem is a unit of measure that takes into account the effect different types of radiation have on the body. A millirem is 1/1000th of a rem.

Just living in the United States exposes us to an average of 620 mrem of radiation annually from natural and man-made sources such as radon gas and medical procedures (Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

It is estimated that if you lived 24 hours a day outside the gate of a nuclear power plant for a year, you would receive less than one mrem of additional radiation. To put this in perspective, a cross-country, round-trip flight exposes passengers to approximately four mrem of radiation.

On average, a nuclear worker receives approximately 150 mrem of occupational exposure a year (Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission). Additional information on radiation exposure can be found elsewhere on the Nuclear Information Center.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) allows up to 5,000 mrem of exposure annually for nuclear workers. Duke Energy’s annual limit of 2,000 mrem is less than half of the federal limit. Scientists have observed no health effects from doses of radiation below 10,000 mrem.

“We have extensive maintenance programs at our nuclear plants and spend a lot of time ensuring equipment remains in good working order. A large part of this work is performed in areas where radiation is present,” said Steve Dobbins, Technical Training Instructor at Duke Energy’s McGuire Nuclear Station.

“The RP group’s basic job is to help protect workers by keeping radiation exposure as low as possible and always within regulatory limits,” said Dobbins. He spent 26 years working in McGuire’s RP group and now instructs employees in radiation protection practices and procedures.

In the nuclear industry, keeping radiation as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) has become a basic tenet of plant operations. In fact, radiation exposure for nuclear workers has trended down over the years largely due to training, technology and a constant emphasis on reducing sources of radiation in the plant.

Sophisticated monitoring equipment located in certain areas of the plant provides real-time information on radiation levels. During pre-work planning, this information is used to help determine the most efficient approach to completing the work while minimizing worker exposure to radiation.

Special mockups of plant equipment such as valves and pumps are used to practice work activities so that workers spend less time and receive less exposure when performing the actual job. Each plant employee wears an electronic “dosimeter” that provides immediate information on their exposure.

Time, distance and shielding represent the fundamentals of radiation protection. Through good planning and efficient work practices, the amount of time a worker spends in a radiation area can be reduced.

At times, remote handling tools and robotics are used to increase the distance between personnel and the piece of equipment being worked on. Concrete shield walls and temporary lead shielding can be used to limit radiation exposure, as well.

“Radiation control areas are identified with signs indicating the radiological conditions. Workers are provided details of all requirements before entering these areas,” said Dobbins. Workers entering these areas must wear appropriate protective clothing to avoid contact with any radioactive “contamination.” Contamination refers to particles of radioactivity deposited where they are not supposed to be.

“We remove most of the radioactive contamination or material by filtration, water chemistry and other methods that reduce exposure to workers,” said Dobbins.

All employees at a nuclear plant receive radiation training and must pass a written exam annually. Nuclear workers participate in accredited training programs that include specific task training and segments on employee health and safety, radiation protection and nuclear security.

“We have personnel contamination monitoring equipment located at the single point used to enter and exit the radiation control areas at the stations,” said Dobbins.

All employees must pass through radiation monitors located at the plant’s exit turnstiles. These detectors provide an additional level of protection to ensure no radioactive material leaves the plant.

“We constantly look for ways to reduce worker radiation exposure,” said Dobbins. “The bar keeps getting raised throughout the industry. It really is a never-ending effort.”

To learn more, watch the following video:

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Nuclear Communicator…Not Your Ordinary PR Professional!

Duke Energy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:39:00 GMT

Public relations professionals are typically expected to wear multiple hats – that of a journalist, communicator, advocate and problem solver. While the same can be said for a PR professional working in the nuclear industry, there are several other atypical responsibilities which encompass the role of a nuclear communicator.

Duke Energy has nuclear communicators at each of their nuclear plants in North and South Carolina. At each site, these professionals focus on internal and external communications, community outreach, energy education and building strong relationships with plant communities. They have a special obligation to be involved in their respective communities and to share and explain technical information with various stakeholders including neighboring businesses, educators and students, the media, community leaders and civic organizations. In addition, similar to a public relations professional serving in a corporate communications capacity, nuclear communicators provide the public and the media with clear, accurate and complete information about nuclear technology by developing and issuing press releases, conducting plant tours and giving presentations to various audiences. They also follow news coverage for each site and respond to media and public inquiries.

Sounds pretty standard, right? While not all communicators work inside the plant, they do spend a great deal of time inside the plant supporting work-related activites and conducting tours. While tours of the plant offer an exceptional view into the workings of a nuclear power plant for members of the public, they require communicators to learn how to interpret technical details and translate those messages into language the public can easily understand.

Another hat worn by nuclear communicators is that of an event planner. Many of Duke’s nuclear communicators work at the onsite energy education centers where they provide valuable information on energy and electricity to a variety of audiences and plan community events for plants neighbors and the general public. The energy education centers are also venues for community activities – everything from hunting and fhishing days to symphony concerts to art shows and family nature walks are hosted at the centers. For more than 40 years, Duke Energy’s nuclear outreach program has played a significant role in educating the public about nuclear issues. Community outreach helps to build strong, ongoing relationships with the local community and helps the public feel more secure about visiting a nuclear site.

Working in the nuclear industry requires rigorous and ongoing training. Duke Energy and its regulators, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, require nuclear communicators to pass a series of exams annually on radiation and plant safety as part of their jobs. Nuclear PR staff also participate in emergency response drills as part of their role in Duke’s emergency response organization (ERO). During each drill, they help manage the messages and flow of information to answer media inquiries, participate in mock press conferences, write press releases and work with company spokespersons. This past August, representatives from five counties, the state of North Carolina and Duke Energy were involved in a rigorous, graded exercise of a simulated nuclear event, which included the involvement of schools, hospitals, fire departments, a media center and the activation of several emergency facilities. As part of Duke’s ERO, nuclear PR staff also participate in an on call rotation. Because nuclear plants operate around the clock, the person on-call responds to calls at any given time of the day, even if it means responding at 3 a.m. This allows members of the communications staff to stay abreast of plant issue in the event after hours communications assistance is needed.

While it is true nuclear communicators wear many hats, they are committed to establishing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, adhering to industry standards of excellence and providing the public with facts so they can better understand nuclear energy.

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