July-August 2019 NPJ

Nuclear Plant Journal, July-August 2019 NuclearPlantJournal.com 51 whether it be at the state capitol or the grocery store. Web-based training modules keep new and existing members updated on key issues, and “action alerts” are distributed to members when their engagement is required. Talking points are also provided to help employees engage state and federal elected officials and policymakers. Clear Success In less than a year, the more than 5,000 Generation Nation members across the Exelon fleet have helped plan and support more than 150 plant tours, many of which offered key elected officials a clear understanding of the benefits nuclear offers. Our members organized rallies, marched in parades, hosted more than 125 community events and ran social media campaigns, especially around our fleet’s media mentions in local, regional and national publications, including the Wall Street Journal. The group has reached millions of neighbors, stakeholders, elected officials and state policymakers through community outreach, tours, traditional media, social media and events. Here’s a brief sampling of the hundreds of outreach activities performed in 2018.  Dozens of TMI employees and family members participated in a local St. Patrick’s Day parade, reaching more than 10,000 people.  Generation Nation members promoted a recent Brattle Report, which emphasized the consequences of closing nuclear plants prematurely, on social networks and achieved more than 1 million impressions on the impact of early closures of Ohio and Pennsylvania nuclear plants.  In support of the Nuclear Powers America Act, Generation Nation members mobilized to send more than 3,000 emails to more than 60 US House members.  Generation Nation members hosted rallies at minor league baseball games and professional soccer events and engaged fans before Penn State football games, reaching tens of thousands of attendees.  Generation Nation members staffed booths at state and county fairs in five states and marched in holiday parades to build goodwill and share positive messages about the benefits that nuclear plants provide in their host communities. Given its success, Exelon Generation is expanding to more Exelon employees in 2019. The group will be mobilized to advocate for legislative reforms in Pennsylvania and any other states where nuclear’s clean-energy benefits are not fully valued. Generation Nation was a brand-new concept, for Exelon and the industry. Innovation was key to recruiting, educating and deploying an informed and confident advocacy army. The team stood up a web portal to drive recruiting and share updated information with Generation Nation members and made use of our new mobile app for employees to disseminate daily news clips, action alerts, talking points and infographics for sharing on social media. The team also designed online training modules to keep new and existing members updated on key topics, and a new, automated Phone2Action legislative outreach tool makes member outreach to policymakers just a mouse-click away. Safety When nuclear employees are engaged in their work, they are less likely to experience accidents or human performance errors, according to guidance from the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. In addition, the Gallup Organization found in 2017 that an engaged workforce equals 70 percent fewer safety incidents. Generation Nation engages the workforce and keeps them focused on the importance of safe, reliable, zero-carbon operations. Generation Nation members are passionate about safety culture and make it a key part of their communications with family and friends. Cost-Savings Impact While Generation Nation wasn’t designed to be a cost-saving initiative, it is a key component of Exelon’s Building Enduring Value business imperative, which aims to help the company stay competitive and better position its nuclear fleet for the long term. While Generation Nation cost very little to set up and operate, its benefits to the company have been substantial. It has already proven effective at driving advocacy in support of campaigns to preserve five Exelon nuclear plants and thousands of jobs Members of Three Mile Island's Generation Nation advocacy group marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Harrisburg and shared information about nuclear energy. (Continued on page 52)