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.
35:40
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer 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.
insights 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.
insights 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.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Washington: A Life', Ron Chernow provides a richly detailed and engaging portrait of George Washington. The book covers his adventurous early years, his heroic exploits during the Revolutionary War, his role in the Constitutional Convention, and his significant contributions as the first president of the United States. Chernow challenges the stereotype of Washington as a stolid, unemotional figure, instead revealing a man of fiery opinions, many moods, and a fiercely guarded emotional life. The biography delves into Washington's personal relationships, his complex feelings about slavery, and his meticulous management of Mount Vernon. It also highlights his political genius and his role in shaping the new federal government and the office of the presidency[2][3][4].
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
Bill Gates
In 'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,' Bill Gates presents a detailed plan for eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, drawing from over a decade of his research and investment in climate change solutions. The book is organized into five parts, starting with the necessity of achieving zero emissions rather than just reducing them. Gates discusses the challenges in achieving this goal, provides practical questions to evaluate climate change conversations, and analyzes current and future technologies that can help mitigate climate change. He advocates for increased innovation in clean energy, including nuclear power, and emphasizes the importance of reducing the 'green premium' – the additional cost of green energy. The book also outlines specific steps for governments, market participants, and individuals to take in order to collectively avoid a climate disaster[2][3][4].
Team of Rivals
The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Doris Kearns Goodwin
This book is a multiple biography centered on Abraham Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history. It explores how Lincoln, despite being a one-term congressman and prairie lawyer, rose to become president by incorporating his rivals—William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates—into his cabinet. The book details Lincoln's extraordinary ability to understand and empathize with others, which enabled him to create an unusual but effective cabinet. It also delves into the challenges Lincoln faced, including incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and the internal dynamics of his cabinet, highlighting his political genius and managerial skills[1][3][5].
In this week’s episode, host Kristin Hayes talks with Daniel Poneman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Energy, about the role of nuclear energy in meeting increasing demands for electricity. As the use of artificial intelligence grows, so does demand for electricity, raising questions about which energy sources can provide reliable, clean, consistent power. Poneman discusses whether nuclear energy is a viable option, how the safety and performance of nuclear technology have evolved, and why some retired nuclear power plants are being revived—including the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, where a reactor meltdown caused by equipment malfunctions occurred 46 years ago as of last Friday. Poneman also describes what challenges the nuclear energy industry is facing, barriers to wider adoption of nuclear energy, and how public perception of nuclear energy has shifted over time.
References and recommendations:
“Double Jeopardy: Combating Nuclear Terror and Climate Change” by Daniel Poneman; https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262546669/double-jeopardy/
“Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow; https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/ron-chernow
“Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin; https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Team-of-Rivals/Doris-Kearns-Goodwin/9780743270755
“Speed of Heat” album by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter; https://open.spotify.com/album/6t5FAhdwvsYFRejUTRAzVZ
Henry M. Paulson Jr.’s writings about biodiversity; https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/opinion/animal-extinction.html
Resources Radio 
