• Oil, Natural Gas, and Electric Deregulation



• Stopping the Nuclear Relapse



• Interactive Map of Proposed New Reactors



• The Case Against Nuclear Power



• The Case for Renewables and Efficiency



• Energy Legislation



• Press Room



• Congressional Voting Records



• Take Action!

Meeting with Public Officials

• Be Prepared
  
  Be open, be honest, and have confidence that your voice is important. Your public official should WANT your opinion and thoughts. After all, she/he has been elected to work for you, the public. Many public officials appreciate information about environmental issues because they don’t have time to do research themselves. Leave your public official with ample literature about nuclear power to support your argument (see below for some key materials).
  
  
• Know thy Ally (or enemy)
  
  A meeting with a public official is most productive if you engage her/him in conversation that forces her/him to disclose her/his point of view. You will need to listen as well as talk during this meeting. Ask her/him what they think of nuclear power and also what she/he would do if a nuclear plant was proposed for her/his district. Ask for clarifications if your public official is ambiguous in any way.
  
  
• Get Informed. Stay Informed

Before your meeting

• Gather friends, supporters and educate them.
  
  
• Invite them to the meeting or to sign a letter of support.
  
  
• Request information from Public Citizen or use our website.
  
  
• Research the state of your local utility.

During your meeting

• Ask your public official how to stay informed.
  
  
• Ask for specific steps you can take and what steps your public official will take to keep open lines of communication.
  
  
• Be clear about when you will contact the office again for further information.

After your meeting

• Send your public official a follow-up note/phone call.
  
  
• Educate other interested citizens about your meeting.
  
  
• Alert Public Citizen’s Energy Program about your actions.

more resources

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.