Episode 51 | Meltdown Melodrama | A Bright Future

My guest's book, available now.

My guest says nuclear power holds the greatest potential for solving climate change.  This is Three Mile Island, which continues to run.  Can you spot which reactor had the infamous accident?

1979's The China Syndrome, coupled with the Three Mile Island incident a few weeks later, created an indelible impression on the public regarding nuclear power.

I thought it would be fun to watch some scenes from The China Syndrome with an actual former  Operations Shift Supervisor, James Proctor.

Me catching up on my guest's book at McGuire Nuclear Station.

My guest this week, A Bright Future co-author Joshua Goldstein.

I've never considered this a "Climate Change" show. It's much more interesting to focus on energy solutions and energy policy.

But when I was sent a copy of my guest's new book, A Bright Future, I couldn't resist the compelling angle by which they tackle both greenhouse gas emissions and energy policy. The book is unapologetically pro-nuclear, skeptical of renewables, and takes environmentalists to task for years of anti-nuclear activism.

I think it's ironic that many environmental groups, who have for years fought against nuclear power, have sidelined the only proven technology for getting the world carbon-free power before many scientists say it is too late.

My guest, co-author and American University professor Joshua Goldstein, compares two countries, German and Sweden. Whereas Sweden has embraced nuclear power (which they call kernkraft), German has shuttered most of its fleet, switched to nuclear, and experienced higher carbon emissions when renewables must be supplanted by coal and gas.

Though Joshua is supportive of hydropower and even carbon capture, he insists nuclear is the only way to not only address the developed world but also the developing world. He cites an example of a village in India that protested for "real power" after they were outfitted with solar panels and batteries. It turns out developing countries' citizens like air conditioners too.

We also discussed the concept that energy is a human right, and just because the developed world has been using fossil fuels does not mean the world's 1 billion people remaining people without electricity do not deserve power.

Joshua's book also discusses the Three Mile Island incident and The China Syndrome, which both occurred in March 1979. For the 40^th anniversary, I felt it might be fun to have a real nuclear expert comment over the film.

Luckily I didn't have to look far. James Proctor, a co-worker of mine, is a former Operations Shift Supervisor--the same role Jack Lemmon famously played in the film. We watched two key scenes in The China Syndrome, and while I was surprised to find that James found some parts to be accurate (like the Control Room), other parts, namely the "meltdown to China" assertion was "a little off the rails."

Useful Links:

• A Bright Future - Official Website