"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg cover image

"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg

E33: The Untold History of Nuclear Energy with Packy McCormick and Julia DeWahl

Nov 17, 2023
The Untold History of Nuclear Energy explores the rise and fall of nuclear power in the 20th century. With guests Packy McCormick and Julia DeWahl, the podcast discusses the complexities of nuclear energy, the shift from military to commercial use, the development and growth of nuclear energy, the conflicting dual mandate of the Atomic Energy Commission, the impact of regulation and economics, and the challenges faced by the nuclear energy industry.
01:05:10
Creator website

Episode guests

Packy McCormick
Julia DeWahl

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Economic and regulatory challenges, including conflict of interest and environmental regulations, contributed to the decline of nuclear power.
  • The anti-nuclear movement gained momentum, fueled by concerns about nuclear weapons and perceptions of industry dangers.

Deep dives

The Rise and Fall of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power experienced a rise and fall throughout the 20th century, with significant factors contributing to its decline. Initially, nuclear power was seen as a solution for clean and abundant energy. However, economic and regulatory challenges began to emerge, including the Atomic Energy Commission's conflict of interest between promoting and regulating nuclear power. Increasing environmental regulations and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) further complicated the construction of nuclear power plants. Additionally, the anti-nuclear movement gained momentum, fueled by concerns about nuclear weapons and perceptions of the industry's potential dangers. The Three Mile Island disaster in 1979 exacerbated public fears. These various factors led to the plateauing of nuclear power growth, despite its initial promising trajectory.

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