The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant: Nuclear Racism or Business as Usual?
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
27-4-2009 10:00 AM
End Date
27-4-2009 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Anthropology
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Ronald Schirmer
Mentor's Department
Anthropology
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP) is the only nuclear power plant in the nation adjacent to a Native American reservation. The history of the power plant up to the present has been fraught with controversy, particularly between Xcel Energy (formerly NSP) and the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC). Historical and cultural factors complicate the relationship between the PIIC and Xcel and have led to allegations of racism. This study compared the PINGP to five other power plants in the United States with nearby populations and geographic features similar to the PINGP. The relationship of the power plant to nearby communities was assessed by reviewing public comments to CON and EIS applications, notices of intent, newspaper articles, and lawsuits and by comparing the size of exclusion zones surrounding the power plants. The null hypothesis was that there is no significant difference between the PINGP and power plants adjacent to non-native commimities. Differences were measured by size of the exclusion zone, the degree to which the communities are kept informed about the power plant, concerns expressed by the community about the presence of the power plant, and how these concerns are expressed.
The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant: Nuclear Racism or Business as Usual?
CSU Ballroom
The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP) is the only nuclear power plant in the nation adjacent to a Native American reservation. The history of the power plant up to the present has been fraught with controversy, particularly between Xcel Energy (formerly NSP) and the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC). Historical and cultural factors complicate the relationship between the PIIC and Xcel and have led to allegations of racism. This study compared the PINGP to five other power plants in the United States with nearby populations and geographic features similar to the PINGP. The relationship of the power plant to nearby communities was assessed by reviewing public comments to CON and EIS applications, notices of intent, newspaper articles, and lawsuits and by comparing the size of exclusion zones surrounding the power plants. The null hypothesis was that there is no significant difference between the PINGP and power plants adjacent to non-native commimities. Differences were measured by size of the exclusion zone, the degree to which the communities are kept informed about the power plant, concerns expressed by the community about the presence of the power plant, and how these concerns are expressed.
Recommended Citation
Lorentz, Melissa. "The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant: Nuclear Racism or Business as Usual?." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 27, 2009.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2009/poster-session-A/1
