Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness celebrates 20 years

Staff photo.

A group of individuals with a background and interest in nuclear energy came together in 1991 with the goal of educating the Aiken community about the uses and benefits of nuclear power.

On Wednesday, more than 100 members of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness gathered at Newberry Hall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the organization, and to recognize that there is still work to be done.

CNTA Executive Director Clint Wolfe shared with the crowd a quote that he often repeats in speeches, "Men go mad in herds. They recover their senses only slowly and one by one.

"So this is our reason for being - to help the public recover their senses. Our sponsoring of teacher workshops, student essay contests, opinion/editorials, letters to the editor and technical white papers are all aimed at educating the public, and especially the next generation," he said.

While the mission of CNTA has remained the same over the past two decades, it has expanded to about 400 members, and representatives of the organization have provided testimony at hearings held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and various Congressional committees.

"Whether we are speaking for medical uses of nuclear technology, food irradiation, or whether it is speaking on behalf of new missions, nuclear waste management, nuclear waste recycling, small modular reactor development, MOX or the management of plutonium at the Savannah River Site, or whether it is providing the public with factual information on nuclear power, much remains to be done," Wolfe said.

Wolfe said he believes that, nationwide, most Americans are nuclear supporters.

Following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant crisis earlier this year, however, much attention and concern focused on the safety of nuclear power.

"In many ways, this organization is faced with the same challenges that existed 20 years ago," said Susan Wood, chair of the CNTA's board of directors. "The fear has not gone away."

While educating the national population on nuclear topics was a challenge 20 years ago, Wolfe said that the Aiken community always showed support for the use of nuclear energy, which he said resulted from being an educated community in which 25,000 employees worked at the Savannah River Site.

CNTA hopes to one day expand the organization across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, and eventually expand overseas, though the initiative would take time, Wolfe said.

The organization also recognized the scientist for whom CNTA's annual Edward Teller lecture and banquet is named by showing a brief video of the late Teller giving the speech at CNTA's inaugural banquet in 1992.

Contact Anna Dolianitis at adolianitis@aikenstandard.com.