Going Nuclear: How Atomic Energy Will Save the World

Gregory (Meteorite), a nuclear chemist at the U.K.’s main site for processing and storing nuclear waste, offers an impassioned and convincing defense of nuclear power. He describes how, in the face of climate change, governments are searching for an emissions-free form of energy that can allow standards of living to improve. Nuclear power, he argues, is the golden ticket. He explains that renewables including wind and solar, while helpful, are incapable of meeting society’s needs because their power fluctuates with the weather and there is no easy way to store their output if it’s generated at times when it isn’t needed. Nuclear, on the other hand, can immediately be ramped up or down to meet demand. Gregory argues that deaths attributed to nuclear power are orders of magnitude fewer than those caused by coal and oil, but notes that nuclear “feels far more deadly” because of “radiophobia.” He also makes a case that the process of dealing with nuclear waste can be made even safer by recycling spent fuel rods for additional fuel. Gregory’s conversational tone is a boon, and he balances it with solid data. The result is an evenhanded defense of a much-vilified industry. Agent: Matthew Cole, North Bank Talent. (Aug.)