This is the 12th in a series.

The battle over whether Southern Ocean County would become a center for the nation’s nuclear power industry and a test site for the new technology of floating power plants took a turn during the summer of 1974. Up to that point it had been a battle of experts, but when the Atlantic County Freeholders approved a non-binding referendum to be held in November, the will of the people would have to be considered.

On July 30, the three power companies involved launched a public relations campaign with an ad in the Asbury Park Press.