Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: St. Francisville, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1977

Duration: 00:29:26

Subjects: 1970s energy crisis | River Bend Nuclear Station | NUCLEAR ENERGY | NATURAL GAS | NUCLEAR WASTE | Salt domes | Gulf States Utilities | Nuclear power plants

Contributors:

• George, Beth Host
• Godoy, Al Photographer
• Herrod, Doug Photographer
• Womack, Ellison Photographer
• Mitchell, Gene Producer
• George, Beth Producer
• Mitchell, Gene Director
• Benedetto, Bill Interviewee
• Selbin, Joel Interviewee

An episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from 1977 focused on the proposed building of the River Bend Nuclear Station by Gulf States Utilities in St. Francisville, Louisiana. This episode features: interviews with residents in St. Francisville on their opinions both in favor of and against the nuclear power plant and the effect it will have on their community; an interview with Bill Benedetto from Gulf States Utilities, where he discusses the concerns over the shortage of natural gas leading the company to pursue nuclear energy as an alternative fuel, why the specific site for the River Bend Station was chosen, an investigative trip taken by St. Francisville residents to the nuclear power plant in Russellville, Arkansas, and nuclear waste management, including storing nuclear waste in salt domes; and an interview with Dr. Joel Selbin, an LSU Chemistry professor opposed to the River Bend Station, discussing why he is opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants, the questions raised at hearings about the plant, including the supply of uranium and the lack of testing of the emergency core cooling system, and his concerns over nuclear waste. Host: Beth George