Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

Report from DC – New Natural Gas Marketing is Everywhere!

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In the past couple of days, I have noticed a significant increase in the amount of highly visible outdoor marketing in Washington, DC that is touting the benefits of burning methane, which is sold under the brand name of “clean, natural gas.”

At the corner of 7th Street and Pennsylvania Ave., right across the street from the National Archives, there is a bus station that I see each morning. On Monday, November 9, 2009, I noticed that it was displaying a new sign whose large letters proclaim “The Future Runs on Natural Gas.” The below is not a great picture, but when the light is low and you are snapping a photo with your phone while waiting for a traffic light to turn, the conditions are not ideal. However, I think you can make out the words. As fans of movies like “National Treasure” may realize, this happens to be a well traveled, high visibility pedestrian location that can reach eyeballs of visitors from across the nation and even the world.

Then, while heading back to my office after a lunchtime workout, I noticed a bus with a paint scheme I have not seen before this week. I need to work on a better photo that shows the entire side, but you can get the idea that the lettering on this rolling billboard is HUGE and clearly tells a story about the benefits of burning natural gas.

Finally, on my way home from work, I had the privilege of waiting behind a bus with a reassuring message on its stern from the Clean Skies Foundation telling me about “Clean, Affordable, Abundant, American Natural Gas.” Again, I apologize for the photo quality, but I really wanted to share the good news with all of you that we no longer have much to worry about when it comes to energy supplies here in the US. Natural gas will save us!

 (Is the sarcasm too obvious?)
I cannot help but believe that this messaging is clearly aimed at the staffers and congressional members who are now spending a lot of time thinking and talking about how to rearrange the US energy industry. The meetings that took place last summer where people like Tim Wirth, T. Boone Pickens and Aubrey McClendon took the industry to task for failing to aggressively participate in the negotiations that resulted in the Waxman-Markey version of the climate bill that came out of the House of Representatives have clearly made a difference. The industry is taking off its gloves, spending quite a bit of spare change and working hard to market its product.
This is no time for atomic advocates to maintain our usual reticence and shy proclamations that nuclear power deserves a place in the energy mix. If the gas industry – which has been around for 100 years and now has web sites calling itself “new” and signs telling us that the future runs on natural gas – can paint a vision for a future of their energy market dominance, so can we.

Update (Posted on November 12, 2009 at 0208) Someone pointed me to a well-produced graphic from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) that does a fine job of telling a short, important message about nuclear energy. Here is the text of the graphic you can find if you click the link.

Nuclear Energy Fuels Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Here is the more detailed text that is in smaller, but still quite visible lettering:

Nuclear energy is the low-cost producer of baseload electricity – power that is available 24/7. By providing reliable and affordable electricity, nuclear energy keeps American business competitive and powers job growth.

The ad goes on to list an important constituency – American labor unions who have made support for nuclear energy growth a part of their platform.

  • International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers
  • International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers
  • International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  • International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
  • International Union of Elevator Constructors
  • International Union of Painters & Allied Trades
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America
  • Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association of the United States & Canada
  • Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association
  • United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry of the United States & Canada
  • United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers

Now what needs to happen is for a group with more money and more vested interest that I have to plaster that message in places where regular people and decision makers see it several times per week until it sinks in.

One more thought – According to the NEI Nuclear Notes blog that describes the ad, it ran in the Washington Times’ 111th Congress special section. Just to see if anyone is still following this post and the associated discussion – please tell me why you think there might be something that is poorly planned about that particular choice of venue for this particular ad. End Update posted on November 12

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