Spinning the atom: "environmentalists" are key to the industry's PR push

Mother Jones, May-June, 2008 by Justine Sharrock

Moore and Whitman also hook up with legislators such as New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici, a Republican sponsor of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. (See "Fossil Fools," page 73.) Moore claims they needn't register as lobbyists because they don't lobby; they educate.

Regarding their close ties, Hill & Knowlton, CASEnergy, and the NEI are unapologetic. Scott Peterson, the trade group's spokesman, says, "We've been transparent from the start." But only if asked directly: From April 2006 through March 2007, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, just 12 percent of the 302 news stories that mentioned Moore in relation to nuclear power noted his NEI connection. Peterson says it's not the industry's fault that reporters are lazy, but the NEI'S website identifies Moore and Whitman simply as "environmentalists," and they introduce themselves in public as Greenpeace cofounder and former EPA chief. Moore's presentations even include a slide show about his Greenpeace days. At a Progressive Policy Institute forum in February, Moore sounded irked when asked about his industryties. "I don't see how being a successful environmentalist working for the things you believe in can diminish your credibility," he later said.

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Moore's credibility among environmentalists, however, could hardly be worse. "How can a bunch of seemingly smart, reasonable people be saying this stuff that's scientifically and politically unfounded? It boggles my mind," says Julia Bovey of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Moore and Whitman say they've seen the light," adds Jim Riccio, Greenpeace's nuclear-policy analyst. "Unfortunately, I think they're not interested in the green of the movement but of the dollar."