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A New Age for Nuclear Energy, with Daniel Poneman

4 snips
Mar 31, 2025
Daniel Poneman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Energy, dives into the evolving landscape of nuclear energy. He discusses the rising demand for electricity driven by artificial intelligence and the increased viability of nuclear power as a clean energy source. Poneman highlights the revival of historical projects like Three Mile Island, examines modern safety advancements, and addresses public perception shifts. The economic factors influencing the nuclear sector's future are also explored.
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ANECDOTE

Early Passion from Internship

  • Daniel Poneman discovered his passion for nuclear energy through a summer internship researching the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 1975.
  • This early experience without internet resources sparked a lifelong enthusiasm for nuclear issues.
INSIGHT

AI Sparks Electricity Surge

  • AI-driven data centers are driving electricity demand to unprecedented growth globally.
  • In the US, data center power use is expected to more than triple from 21 GW to over 70 GW by 2030.
INSIGHT

Nuclear's Carbon-Free Role

  • Nuclear power provides nearly 20% of US electricity and about half of its carbon-free power.
  • Its importance is growing with electrification and rising demand from AI and industrial applications.
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