Oyster Creek Fights Back

In an Aug. 10 article, Asbury Park Press described New Jersey's Oyster Creek Generating Station as "embattled" while reporting on Sen. Jon Corzine's (D-N.J.) comments about the plant:

The Democratic gubernatorial nominee spoke about the embattled plant during a discussion with the Asbury Park Press editorial board.

Corzine, who is running for governor of New Jersey, said Aug. 9 that, if elected governor, he would keep the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant open.

In a letter to the editor published today, Pete Resler, a communications manager at Amergen (a subsidiary of Exelon), admonished the paper for its "use of the pejorative and unattributed term 'embattled'" to describe Oyster Creek:

We are in no way, shape or form "embattled." Oyster Creek is an outstanding example of the 103 U.S. commercial nuclear energy stations, both in terms of safety and reliability, and is widely recognized for it. The majority of residents in Ocean County, in New Jersey and those who live closest to the plant support Oyster Creek continuing to provide safe, clean electricity as long as the station continues to meet all regulatory and safety standards.

The plant brings tremendous environmental and economic benefits to the region, in addition to being a safe source of energy and a significant contributor to U.S. energy independence. Because of a very progressive and transparent regulatory system, our operational data and programs are largely an open book, so there is no mystery about Oyster Creek's day-to-day operations. Few, if any, private industrial facilities can make that statement.

Furthermore, Resler definitely states that the plant is well aware of its priorities:

Asbury Park Press has openly stated it will not cease attacking Oyster Creek until it is permanently shut down. That is your right. But despite broad public support for the station, your newspaper declared war against Oyster Creek, not the other way around. Our efforts are squarely focused on the safe, efficient operation of Oyster Creek. Your newspaper may feel embattled, but we certainly do not.

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