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Restoring faith in America's energy industries

Journal Article · · Public Util. Fortn.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6438278

The theme of the paper is the need for an energy program in which over time the general public will have the faith and trust which it does not now have in the energy industries. Quite simply, overwhelmingly the people of this country at the present time just do not believe what it is told about energy either by the government, by management, or by the experts and analysts. This widespread skepticism about energy did not happen overnight. It has its roots in events of the past three or four decades. In this article adapted from a speech by the author at the P.U.R. Utility Regulatory Conference in Washington, D.C., in October, 1978, he sketches a prescription for a re-creation of public trust and confidence in the actions and decisions of the managers of energy projects. He uses the civilian nuclear energy program to illustrate the mistakes made in trying to build public trust. He issues a word of warning in restoring confidence. The important lesson is that concern for the environment must be localized and expressed in the locality where the environment needs protection, where the local citizenry and officials can understand and see the ravages that caused their concern, where they can monitor, in their own localities, the extent to which protection is effective. (MCW)

OSTI ID:
6438278
Journal Information:
Public Util. Fortn.; (United States), Journal Name: Public Util. Fortn.; (United States) Vol. 102:11; ISSN PUFNA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English