Nuclear Power’s Reboot

Key takeaways

Nuclear power is experiencing a resurgence due to technological advancements, AI's energy demands, and a renewed political push.
Historical accidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl significantly impacted public opinion and industry growth, highlighting ongoing safety concerns.
Innovations in nuclear technology, including small modular reactors and fusion, could reshape the future of energy if they overcome economic and technical challenges.
Government policies, corporate investments, and technological breakthroughs are critical factors determining whether nuclear energy can achieve its potential as a clean, reliable energy source.
Public support for nuclear energy has increased recently, but whether this will sustain depends on safety, economics, and the successful development of new technologies.

Summary

The revival of nuclear power and its recent resurgence

This section discusses the renewed interest in nuclear energy in the United States as a response to growing energy demands driven by advancements in AI and data centers. It highlights the shift in perception and industry investment, with companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta investing in nuclear plants to satisfy their energy needs. The episode examines the costs and efforts involved in restarting existing plants like Three Mile Island, now called the Crane Clean Energy Center, and the ambitions of startups developing next-generation nuclear reactors and fusion technology. The broader context of governmental initiatives and policies, such as those under the Trump administration, are also explored, emphasizing a national push to accelerate nuclear energy development.

Historical perspective: The science and politics of nuclear energy

This section offers a historical overview of nuclear technology, from its inception during the Manhattan Project and its use in atomic bombs, to its peaceful applications in electricity generation. It discusses the optimistic post-war vision of nuclear power as 'too cheap to meter,' and the subsequent expansion of nuclear plants in the 1950s and 60s. The episode also covers the safety concerns that emerged after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which led to a significant decline in nuclear energy's growth and public support. The narrative underscores how accidents and safety concerns shaped nuclear policy and public opinion.

Current challenges and future potential of nuclear energy

This section addresses the current state of nuclear power, including recent regulatory rollbacks, the economic cost of restarting old reactors, and the hype surrounding new projects. It discusses the involvement of major tech corporations and government efforts to revive nuclear energy, including ambitious targets set during the Trump administration. The potential of nuclear fusion and advanced reactor designs is examined as the next frontier in nuclear science. The episode questions whether AI and technological innovation can provide the staying power needed to establish a sustainable, clean energy future and whether the renewed interest will translate into a lasting nuclear renaissance.

Show notes

The U.S. pioneered early nuclear technologies—not only for war, but also for peacetime, in the form of abundant nuclear energy. After a surge in new reactor construction, the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island precipitated the end of nuclear energy’s expansion in America. But recent calls for reliable, clean energy to fuel AI data centers have shifted attitudes and increased investment and innovation in the industry. Will the AI race be enough to reboot nuclear energy in the U.S.?

This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy, a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved.

Listen to previous installments of our USA250 podcast:

The Struggle To Keep America’s Workers Safe

An Economy Built on Speculation

America’s Road to a DIY Retirement

Further Reading:

Why Fusion Is Considered Energy’s Elusive Holy Grail

America’s First Commercial Nuclear-Power Projects in a Decade Just Broke Ground

‘Three New York Cities’ Worth of Power: AI Is Stressing the Grid

Inside the Audacious Plan to Reopen Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Plant

Five Things to Know About AI’s Thirst for Energy

‘It’s Time for Nuclear’ to Meet Growing U.S. Power Needs, Trump Declares

Nuclear Power Is Making a Comeback