Spinning Nukes

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Hill & Knowlton (H&K) has won a $8 million account with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) to promote "broad policymaker and decision-maker support for nuclear energy broadly and specifically for the Yucca Mountain project." (Yucca Mountain in Nevada has been designated by the U.S. government as the national nuclear waste dump). The Holmes Report states that H&K "will work alongside WPP sister company Penn Schoen & Berland, which will handle research and polling for the NEI, which represents utilities and nuclear technology companies." The NEI contract will include developing "a national coalition that would 'activate and expand on' existing nuclear energy supporters, engaging employees, shareholders, academics, health experts, and environmental organizations; 'pre-empting and offsetting' criticism from opponents." Hill & Knowlton declined to comment on their NEI work. Unsucessful bidders for the account were Burson-Marsteller and Dittus Communications.