Engineers and scientists share the benefits of nuclear power with LSU students.

St. Francisville, La. — Engineers and scientists from River Bend Station helped celebrate National Nuclear Science Week by sharing with Louisiana State University physics and engineering students the benefits of the clean, affordable energy they work to help produce every day.

National Nuclear Science Week is a new broadly observed week-long celebration January 25-29 intended to advance public and industry awareness of nuclear power’s key benefits and to recognize the professionals who lead and manage nuclear organizations. Celebrations highlight how human knowledge has directed the energy of our most fundamental component, the atom, to the service and progress of our communities and world.

“River Bend is an important source of safe, clean and economical power for our customers,” said Renae Conley, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. “We’re proud of the part River Bend plays to keep electricity rates low and preserve our environment.”

Nuclear power production uses small amounts of domestic fuel and is virtually emission free. River Bend is one of two nuclear power plants operated by Entergy’s nuclear organization in Louisiana, and provides electricity to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana customers.

During presentations to several classes, the River Bend employees explained plant operations and how Entergy Gulf States Louisiana customers benefit from lower costs.

“Our students were fascinated to learn how electricity is made at a nuclear plant,” said Michael Cherry, chair of LSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, “To know more about the way our community helps provide clean power to so many people and the opportunities in the nuclear industry, was very exciting.”

River Bend produces 967 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 480,000 homes. In addition, the plant avoids enough greenhouse gas emissions annually to have the same positive effect on the environment of removing virtually all the automobiles from Louisiana’s roadways.

“With public interest in the nuclear industry growing, National Nuclear Science Week provides us another opportunity to tell our story,” said Natalie Wood, a design engineer for River Bend Station in St. Francisville, La. “Through these presentations, we are helping increase public understanding of our industry and how nuclear energy helps power our world.”

National Nuclear Science Week is initiated by the National Museum for Nuclear Science and History located in Albuquerque, N.M., and national and professional organizations in the fields of medicine, energy, research and education. For additional information visit NuclearScienceWeek.com.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,700 employees.

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Entergy Nuclear’s address is entergy-nuclear.com.