There are already tributes being paid to the long career and many contributions of Paul Newman. One activity that will probably not be mentioned in most media is Paul Newman’s sustained efforts to share information about nuclear energy and to promote its use through his Newman-Wachs racing team.
Here are other articles detailing some of those efforts:
NEI Nuclear Notes post about Paul Newman’s support for nuclear power – May 2007
The following is from a letter Paul Newman wrote after a visit to the Indian Point:
During my tour of the plant, I was amazed that a generator that is the size of two or three rooms of my home can provide electricity for 1 million people without producing any greenhouse gas emissions.
I know a lot of people are concerned about nuclear waste. All of the spent fuel rods at Indian Point from more than 30 years of generating electricity are stored in a pool that, in my younger days, I could jump across.
Indian Point is an important source of electricity for millions of New Yorkers today. Because it doesn’t produce any emissions that cause global warming, Indian Point will be even more important in the future.
NEWMAN WACHS RACING CARRIES “NUCLEAR CLEAN AIR ENERGY” MESSAGE – August 2007
The goal of the Newman Wachs Racing team, as well as its parent sponsors, The Wachs Companies, is to educate and promote the clean, safe use of nuclear power in the US and abroad. NWR, a racing organization in support of cutting edge technology and the value of further testing and research, shares the vision and dedication to success that embodies the “NUCLEAR CLEAN AIR ENERGY” collective.
Newman Wachs Racing #34 Simona de Siilvestro driving “Nuclear clean air energy” – Dated April 2008
NWR’s #34 car is dedicated to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)’s current campaign statement. The objective is to ensure formation of public policy to promote the beneficial uses of nuclear energy. NEI will encourage a collection of public and private organizations united under the promotion of the technological advancement of nuclear power to aid in additional support.
Team owners Paul Newman and Eddie Wachs noted, “The objective of our partnership with Entergy and NEI is to aid overall public awareness and to promote public policy that supports the beneficial uses of nuclear energy. It’s a long road, so what better way to start at than at the race track?”
Thank you, Paul Newman. We will miss you.
