Energy Switch

Nuclear proponents say we can’t meet climate goals without expanding the fleet and pursuing new nuclear technologies, while opponents say cost and time are the main issues. Will nuclear power play a role in decarbonizing the electricity sector? Dr. Arjun Makhijani, the president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, and Michael Shellenberger, a best- selling author, discuss.
To meet decarbonization targets, each nuclear plant could take over a decade to permit and construct, while alternatives could be deployed in a few years. The conversation continues between Dr. Arjun Makhijani and Michael Shellenberger about whether or not expanding nuclear power will significantly decarbonize the electricity sector in the U.S. and globally.
Energy sustainability can be grouped into three areas: Environmental: can an energy resource operate in equilibrium with the environment? Sociopolitical: do its benefits enrich broad society? Economic: can it operate profitably to support itself? Dr. Bridget Scanlon, senior research scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, and Sean O’Donnell, partner at Quantum Energy, discuss.
Carbon-based fuels provide more than 80% of global energy. Reducing emissions will take time and money. What are the benefits of a carbon tax? Or would it be more effective to encourage carbon-reducing technologies? Dr. Billy Pizer, the vice president of research and policy engagement at Resources for the Future, and Sasha Mackler, the executive director of the Bipartisan Policy Center, discuss.