Nuclear Energy: Should it Power Our Cities?

Nuclear energy is hot again. After decades of activism to close nuclear reactors and shift to other forms of energy, a growing number of political leaders and environmentalists support a renewed investment in nuclear power. Concerns around energy security and the growing need for decarbonization are also giving many nuclear plants life extensions.

Why have opinions shifted, are there new solutions to managing nuclear waste, and what sort of technologies have emerged since its peak in the 1970s? Can nuclear energy be part of the clean energy strategy?

Featuring:
- Jennifer M. Bernstein, visiting scholar, Spatial Sciences Institute, USC Dornsife; editor-in-chief, Case Studies in the Environment

- Najmedin Meshkati, professor of engineering, USC Viterbi and international relations, USC Dornsife

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Thank you for hosting this discussion. Indeed, now is the time to lead with courage and honesty surrounding this crucial technology for the planet.