David E. Pesonen: the Battle for Bodega Head Stacey Olson
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David E. Pesonen: The Battle for Bodega Head Stacey Olson Individual Exhibit Senior Division (Exhibit: 477 student composed words) (Process Paper: 496 words) I decided to research David E. Pesonen and the battle for Bodega Head when I learned that PG&E had intended to build a nuclear power plant on Bodega Head in the 1960s. Initially, I was uncertain about choosing a local history topic, but after some research I decided that Pesonen’s leadership had a significant legacy far beyond Sonoma County. Pesonen’s leadership style enabled a grassroots protest to defeat the largest power company in the country. Through my research I’ve discovered that the legacy of this victory extended beyond the issue of nuclear power, influenced the modern environmental movement, and became a model for participatory democracy. I started my research by visiting the Sonoma State University Regional History Collection and looking at documents and photographs. I accessed special reports and oral histories at the Bancroft Library and the National Archives and Records Administration. My best secondary source was Critical Masses by Thomas Wellock. I also found useful documents at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Interviews were an integral source of information. I interviewed David Pesonen, Doris Sloan, and journalists who covered the battle. My interview with David Pesonen was key to understanding his leadership style and why he was significant. Beyond my interviews, my best primary source was A Visit to Atomic Park by David Pesonen. I balanced my research in several ways. For PG&E’s perspective, I researched the demands for energy, the Atoms for Peace initiative, and interviewed a local citizen who wanted the power plant. I also interviewed Thomas Wellock, the historian of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to get another perspective. I sought out information about the Sierra Club’s position and interviewed an executive director with the Sierra Club. 2 I decided to create an exhibit for my project because I had access to photos, documents, and maps that would tell a visual story. I used a digital program to design my panels. I analyze Pesonen’s leadership on the left panel, provide context and the turning point in the middle panel, and show significance on the right panel. The base of my exhibit has a video clip from an interview with David Pesonen as well as photos of the hole in Bodega Head as it is today. I also included a song and a poem that protestors used to spread the word about their cause as examples of how Pesonen’s creative leadership led to an improbable victory over PG&E. David Pesonen’s leadership in the Battle for Bodega Head led to an improbable victory over PG&E in 1963 that changed the course of nuclear power on the California coast. Although victory at Bodega did not prevent all nuclear projects in California, Pesonen’s battle became the model for grassroots protest against government agencies and utilities. Ultimately, Pesonen’s leadership established an important foundation for participatory democracy in California, as it profoundly shaped the emerging environmental movement, exposed issues of earthquake safety in the nuclear industry, and reflected the changing role of citizens in governmental decisions. 3 Annotated Bibliography Primary Sources Interviews "Albert Tesconi." E-mail interview. 25 Mar. 2015. Mr. Tesconi was pro PG&E and the nuclear plant during the protest. He was in favor of the business it would bring to Sonoma County and the increased tax dollars that would help the county. I learned that most people who were in favor of the plant were focused on the growth that they thought would make Sonoma County a better place to live. It is interesting that this is exactly opposite what makes Sonoma County desirable to people today. This interview provided important balance to my research. "David Byrne." E-mail interview. 9 Apr. 2015. Mr. Byrne shared with me his experience working with PG&E at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. He provided balance to my research with his representation of how PG&E operated. He talked about the protesters as well as the safety issues they had at Diablo. According to Mr. Byrne, PG&E was expert at building traditional steam and coal power plants, but they never were able to get nuclear power plants right. Mr. Byrne’s experience added an important perspective to my research. “David Pesonen.” E-mail interview. 20 Jan 2015. My first contact with David Pesonen was through email. He shared with me the significance of the victory over PG&E and how the victory impacted the environmental movement. Mr. Pesonen also gave me background information on how he became involved and some of the highlights of the battle. I used the information from this email for the foundation of most of my research. "David Pesonen." Personal interview. 3 Apr. 2015. I met with David Pesonen at his home in Sixes, Oregon. He shared with me his experiences leading the NCAPBBH against PG&E, his thoughts on nuclear power, and how the victory at Bodega impacted his life. I learned that he was more opposed to the way PG&E was stepping on the rights of citizens than he opposed nuclear power. Mr. Pesonen also shared with me how Pierre St. Amand discovered the fault line running through the hole and how that was the beginning of the end for PG&E. I was most struck by his thoughts on how to lead people. He told me that a good leader has to be flexible and take advantages of the opportunities that arise. After my interview I was struck by how humble, yet savvy Mr. Pesonen is. He shares the legacy of the victory with 4 all of the people in the protest and acknowledges that the victory changed his life. "Doris Sloan." E-mail interview. 15 Feb. 2015. Dr. Sloan provided information on the battle at Bodega and the environmental legacy of the victory. During the protest, Dr. Sloan was designated to attend the meetings of all officials in Sonoma County. She told me how members of the public were not expected or welcome to participate in meetings back then. She feels that the victory over PG&E marks a turning point in how people thought about their role in decision making. Dr. Sloan went on to start the first environmental studies program in the country at U.C. Berkeley. “Doris Sloan.” E-mail interview. 20 Apr. 2015. In this second interview Dr. Sloan talked about how Pesonen’s style of leadership brought an identity to the many people who were protesting against PG&E. She shared how his ability to value and use the talents of others without trying to protect his image as a leader was significant. She expanded on this by describing the balloon launch and the concerts by Lu Watters as creative opportunities to use the talents and ideas of the entire group of protesters. "Eric Stanley." E-mail interview. 15 Nov. 2015. Eric Stanley is the curator of the Sonoma County Museum. He told me about how he saw Mr. Pesonen's leadership as a key to the victor over Bodega. According to Mr. Stanley, that Pesonen added a determination and organizational skills that enabled the group to bring the issue to San Francisco. Mr. Stanley also shared photos from the collection at the museum. After this interview, I knew that David Pesonen had a unique set of leadership skills that set him apart from many other leaders. "Gaye LeBaron." E-mail interview. 16 Apr. 2015. Gaye LeBaron is a journalist who covered the event for the Press Democrat as well as a land owner in Bodega Bay. She told me about how the Press Democrat editorial staff was pro PG&E while the reporters were against PG&E and that the newspaper reflected both sides of the issue. Mrs. LeBaron recounted her memories and told me about how the energy shifted once David Pesonen became involved. She also talked about the broader significance of the environmental legacy in Sonoma County and in California. 5 “Interview of Joel W. Hedgpeth.” Berkeley: Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, 1992. PDF. Joel Hedgpeth was one of the first protesters against PG&E. His significant contribution was in the area of science. Because he was a professor, he was allowed to appear at the hearings and speak. Hedgpeth also published poems about PG&E. I used information from this oral history to better understand the people involved and how they felt about Pesonen. "Julie Shearer." E-mail interview. 15 Apr. 2015. Ms. Shearer was a journalist for the Marin Independent Journal during the battle against PG&E. During the protest, she married David Pesonen. She told me about the sacrifice Pesonen made by quitting his job at the Sierra Club. He received no income while leading the protest at Bodega and he gave up a job working in Africa to stay with the protest. "Karen Gaffney." Telephone interview. 18 Apr. 2015. Ms. Gaffney works with the Sonoma County Agricultural Open Space District as a watershed expert and a conservationist. She is a primary source to the legacy of Bodega Head because she works in a field that was created as a result of the protest at Bodega. This organization is funded through tax dollars. By securing agricultural land and open space, Sonoma County has been able to limit growth. Expected population in 2010 was 1.2 million people. Today, Sonoma County's population is approximately 500,000. Ms. Gaffney attributes this to the environmental approach adopted by people in Sonoma County as a result of the experience at Bodega.