This item of Austinabilia (copyright 1981 by the artist, Micael Priest) is yet more proof, if any at all is needed, that the more things change in Austin, the more they remain the same.

“Sell the Lemon,” it says; “Get Austin out of the South Texas Nuclear Project.” Despite all efforts and controversies over the decades, Austin still owns 16% of the Nuke, as the South Texas Nuclear Plant has long been unaffectionately known.

Friday’s local daily (Metro section, page B1, reported by Stephen Scheibal; log-in may be required) carried a feature recounting the history of Austin’s investment in the STNP.

The reporter attempted without success to elicit any comment on the subject from Austin Energy (“more than electricity” is now the slogan). Apparently a substantial share in the plant recently changed hands again, but there’s no press release about it on the utility website. Austin Energy, when listing its generating plants, elects to omit the “Nuclear” from “South Texas Nuclear Project” these days.