During the 1980s, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station was the target of criticisms around negative news stories and political attacks charging Mississippi Power & Light with cost overruns, rate increases, and mismanagement. As it turned out, the decision to build the nuclear plant was a very good one with customers eventually enjoying some of the lowest rates in the nation as prices for other fuel sources soared. Yet, 25 years later, pockets of the utility’s customer base still referred to the plant as Grand Goof. Grand Gulf Nuclear Station’s 25th anniversarycelebration provided the perfect opportunity to share the good news of the plant’s positive impact. Orchestrated by communications, the event featured employees, local and state elected officials, public service commissioners, Entergy executives and other special guests to recognize the plant’s accomplishments and contributions to the community. As a special memento for the anniversary celebration, Entergy commissioned Miriam Weems, Mississippi artist and daughter of former MP&L President Baxter Wilson, to produce a watercolor painting incorporating Grand Gulf and other landmarks associated with Port Gibson and Claiborne County. Grand Gulf’s 25th Anniversary campaign received an honorable mention in the Digital PR Campaign category of the 2010 PR News Digital Awards. The Grand Gulf video series won a Gold Award in the video/film/educational category of the 2010 Marcom Awards and a Platinum Award in the video/public relations category of the 2010 Hermes Creative Awards.
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