China Syndrome Averted – 30 Years Later

Fonda and Douglas

Nearly thirty years ago, the movie “The China Syndrome” debuted to decent reviews. With a cast of popular stars Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas and Jack Lemmon, the movie had a hook with a ‘David’ whistle-blower Lemmon taking on the bad corporate ‘Goliath’ who rushed a nuclear powerplant despite structural failures. Fonda and Douglas played the TV anchor and her cameraman.

12 days after the release of the movie, a nuclear plant had a little meltdown…talk about Hollywood Hype!

Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear plant near Harrisburg PA had a partial meltdown of their #2 reactor exactly 1 year to the day after it was powered-up. With the coincidental debut of the movie, there was an anti-nuclear onslaught that has remained almost to this day. “The China Syndrome” went on to become the fourth highest grossing film of 1979, and received 4 Academy Award nominations. Hollywood and real life – perfect together.

With the world focus on nuclear energy, any attempt to build a new reactor was virtually impossible. Despite the fact that the fail-safe systems did contain the majority of the accident, people were wary (to say the least) of EVER allowing new reactor. It didn’t help that in 1986, a nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet Union was the worst nuclear accident in history.

The nuclear industry has worked ever since to further secure existing reactors and plan new plants with higher degrees of protection. All the safety and PR work may have borne fruit. In a recent survey of the immediate vicinity of Three Mile Island, 74% of respondants said they were in favor of allowing TMI to operate and possibly expand for another twenty years. (Reactor #2 was de-fueled and decommissioned in the 15 years following the accident.) The eight-county surrounding area residents are the best judges, having thirty years to watch the events unfold.

In our energy landscape, no single energy source should dominate the needs of American households unless it is done responsibly. The nuclear industry seems to be working to make sure it does its part.

Poll shows midstate supports nuclear power – PennLive.com