Nuclear Candor Lacking Again

Posted on July 18, 2007
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It is certainly regrettable to note that, once again, the nuclear power industry has run afoul of failure to communicate promptly and accurately with the public, this time in Japan.

The world’s largest nuclear plant, at Kashiwazaki, has been closed indefinitely amid growing anger over the amount of time it took to disclose an earthquake-induced leak of radioactive water from the plant and other facets of the incident.

The situation confronting the Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant’s operator, is highly reminiscent of that which faced General Public Utilities Corp., then the owner of Three Mile Island Unit 2, when an accident caused by a mechanical failure occurred at Unit 2 in 1979. Because of an initially inept PR response, GPU was accused of covering up the severity of the TMI-2 accident. And that perception contributed greatly to halting the expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. for nearly 30 years.

Though of differing origins, the public relations of both settings are all two similar. There was Mayor Robert Reid in Middletown, Pa., upbraiding GPU for the situation at TMI-2, just outside town. And at Kashiwazaki, it was Mayor Hiroshi Aida who issued the closing order, saying “I am worried. The safety of the plant must be assured before it is reopened.” Although the two incidents different technically, it took more than a decade of cleanup before TMI-2 was reopened.

In the U.S. after the Japanese incident, the Nuclear Energy Institute issued a bland statement noting that the Japanese plant had withstood the earthquake with “no environmental damage,” though some 300 gallons of radioactive water leaked from the plant. There was no expression of regret that it took the Japanese utility 12 hours to annouce the water leak and other aspects of the earthquake’s impact on the plant.

The public relations “black eye” for the Japanese utility is especially regrettable in that Japan took the TMI-2 accident seriously enough to become the only nuclear nation to send teams of observers to TMI-2 throughout the cleanup. They studied all aspects of the accident, including its public relations impact.

The U.S. nuclear power industry today, however, is not emphasizing communications proficiency at its plants. Its post-9/11 focus has become security and efficient operations, not being ready to communicate promptly and candidly to the news media and the public. That could be seen as ominous for the anticipated revival of nuclear plant licensing in the U.S.

WHTM-TV Doesn’t Acknowledge a Flub

Posted on July 18, 2007
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The next time the Federal Communications Commission reviews WHTM-TV’s license (Channel 27, Harrisburg), one hopes it will ask them about the fiasco that occurred on their 11 P.M. newscast July 16.

Reporter Al Ganoza broadcast from the Capitol steps that the Pennsylvania House had adjourned without passing the new state budget, and that that had put paychecks for state workers into question. The anchorwoman advised viewers to check WHTM’s website for updates on the dire situation.

Next morning, however, the Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that the House had actually passed the budget, 140-63, shortly before that 11 p.m. newscast. (The Senate had passed it earlier.)

The really troubling thing was that there was not a word of acknowledgement or apology on WHTM’s news at 11 P.M. the following night. Nor on its website. Reporter Ganoza was off on another story and viewers were apparently expected to be forgiving.

Newspapers publish at least short “Corrections” when something like this happens. But on the public’s airwaves getting it glaringly wrong doesn’t seem to matter. There may have been exculpatory reasons for Ganoza’s error as he was trying to be on top of the news. But without an acknowledgement or apology, it doesn’t matter. WHTM-TV’s credibility is shot.

Patience for Winning

Posted on July 15, 2007
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Juan Pablo Montoya, an Indianapolis 500 winner once known as one of open-wheel racing’s most excitable drivers, demonstrated the value of patience and strategy – business virtues, truly – in winning his first big stock car race at Sonoma, CA, recently.

He won by conserving his fuel, and doing it better than a couple of other drivers who were relying on the same tactic. It wasn’t only saving fuel that mattered; Montoya had to keep his car in a position to win when the other two drivers faltered.

Chip Ganassi, who put Montoya in a stock car, was listening to him on the radio as he said, “It’s a little too early to be racing these guys.” That’s when he was third with 20 laps to go at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway. One of those other drivers ran out of fuel and finished 37th. But Montoya had enough left for a victory lap after winning via patient, cagey driving.

“I didn’t want to finish third but I was trying to save fuel. I was just being very patient on the throttle, and it paid off.”

“Be Patient on the Throttle” is a decent watchword for any startup business. Husbanding resources for a breakthrough move, but staying in the race while doing so, is a great plan for building business staying power.

Congratulations Juan Pablo!

The Feds Don’t Get It

Posted on July 4, 2007
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Abby Low, the project manager for the new federal courthouse pending in Harrisburg, explains in a Patriot-News “As I See It” piece why GSA has become focused on building in downtown Harrisburg.

It will be convenient for people on jury duty (no express mention of judges and lawyers), and new “security materials” and “construction techniques” allow for less setback and a “smaller” site, if downtown blocks can be called small.

And, oh, “A presidential executive order mandates that first consideration be given to locations within a city’s central business district.” She doesn’t say which President issued it. (And what about “second consideration”?)

It’s all about the feds’ conveniences and preferences. Nothing about Harrisburg’s needs or apparent recognition of its dire fiscal situation. Nothing about urban policy, which ought to be the federal government’s first concern, city by city where it is building new courthouses.

This particular courthouse could stimulate an expanded downtown, rather than remove tax ratables from a city that can’t afford to lose more ratables. Or to lose familiar settings that have begun rebounding through the city’s effort and encouragement.

This is not government at work; this is exploitation. Prospective jurors will have to drive to one location or another; or perhaps take a bus. Buses will no doubt be running to the new federal courthouse, wherever it is located. Harrisburg doesn’t need, or deserve, one at either of GSA’s preferred locations. It’s truly sad the feds don’t seem to understand why that’s so.

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