Mike isn't having a bad day. From what I have seen the principle photographer in this "project" is doing nothing more than trespassing. His photographs are interesting, but gained illegally. That makes the rest of us photographers who follow the rules get less and less access to these sites.
I think he would find that if he followed the rules and asked for permission (most companies have a corporate office), he would find that although he would be turned down more often than not, there would still be those jewels that would flesh out his portfolio.
I know....I got into Big Rock and Parr to photograph them before they were demolished, but I have been turned down a whole lot more than I have been let in. I once had a Security Truck full of officers come out of the Owner Controlled Area, down the road, and into a field where I was shooting a Cooling Tower at night. They weren't happy about me being there, but I had called ahead and gotten PERMISSION. Try a little harder, you might be surprised.