Catchfence

Charlotte, NC (May 22, 2012) - Lotus HVM Racing and the Nuclear Clean Air Energy sponsor group are announcing today that the Nuclear Energy Institute has joined the educational campaign that utilizes IZOD IndyCar driver Simona De Silvestro effective immediately.

“The nuclear industry and IndyCar racing have much in common as they deal with highly sophisticated technologies for which safety is the highest priority. There is a natural synergy to both industries that lends itself to our partnership to promote awareness of the benefits of nuclear industry,” said Scott Peterson, NEI senior vice president of communications.

“Both industries understand that it takes a team approach with each member checking and rechecking operating systems of the nuclear plant and an Indy car to make sure they’re working at peak efficiency and reliability. Neither industry rests upon its laurels and is constantly looking to raise the bar on safety to ensure the maximum protection for those working in these fields and the public.”

NEI kicks off its support at the Nuclear Energy Assembly, the annual nuclear industry conference and nuclear supplier expo, in Charlotte. This year’s conference will feature the #78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy IndyCar and the campaign it supports.

“I’m very excited to have NEI on board with the Nuclear Clean Air Energy campaign,” said Simona De Silvestro. “It’s great to have all of these partners in the nuclear industry joining our program. I’m really happy to be part of the Nuclear Clean Air Energy campaign and to be able to bring education about nuclear to people. I’m proud to have been chosen to represent the industry with my #78 IZOD IndyCar.”

John Herron, chief executive officer of Entergy Nuclear, is pleased to have NEI join the campaign. “Our partnership with NEI and the Lotus HVM racing team with driver Simona De Silvestro gives us an opportunity to educate people in this country that nuclear power is critical to provide the safe, clean, affordable and dependable baseload electricity for our country’s increasing energy needs,” he said. “I’m pleased that NEI is joining us in this exciting Nuclear Clean Air Energy outreach campaign.”

De Silvestro will next drive the #78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy IndyCar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 27. To watch the 96th running of the Indy 500, the world’s most prestigious auto race, tune into ABC beginning at 11 a.m. ET.

About NEI

The Nuclear Energy Institute is the policy organization for the nuclear technologies industry. NEI’s members include all utilities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect/engineering firms, fuel fabrication facilities, nuclear material licensees, and other organizations and individuals involved in the nuclear energy industry. More information is available on NEI’s Social Media Platforms , which include various twitter feeds, NEI Network on Facebook, NEI Nuclear Notes Blog and NEI Network on YouTube.

About Lotus HVM Racing

HVM Racing was founded by Keith Wiggins and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2012 season marks its eleventh year of competition since forming in 2001. Since its inception, HVM Racing has earned six victories, two pole positions, 22 podiums, 40 top-five finishes and 97 top-tens. The team also earned “Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year” honors with current driver Simona De Silvestro in 2010. HVM finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car World Series in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Lotus HVM Racing can be found online at www.hvmracing.com. Follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/HVMRacing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing.

About Lotus

Group Lotus plc, is based in Norfolk, UK, and has three operating divisions: Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering and Lotus Racing.

Lotus Racing (formerly Lotus Motorsport) operates the motorsports activities of Lotus and includes the strategy to return the Lotus name to a great number of series including endurance racing with GT2, GT4 and LMP2, single seater racing with GP2, GP3 and IndyCar. Lotus also competes in Formula 1 with the Lotus F1 Team, racing in the iconic Black and Gold livery.

About Entergy

Entergy is the second largest owner and operator of U.S. nuclear energy plants. They operate or provide management services to 12 reactors at 10 sites. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity and delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas , Louisiana , Mississippi and Texas . Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and more than 15,000 employees. For more information: www.entergy-nuclear.com and www.NuclearCleanAirEnergy.com; on Twitter at @NuclearCleanAir, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/NuclearCleanAirEnergy.

Source: Lotus HVM Racing, Press Release