Mary Fran Reed's Blog
May 25, 2025
TRUMP’S NUCLEAR EXECUTIVE ORDERS: A Speedy Revival—But at What Cost to Safety?
In a dramatic policy pivot, former President Donald Trump’s executive orders sought to fast-track the deployment of new nuclear reactors and reignite domestic uranium production. Touted as a bold leap toward energy independence and technological leadership, these moves also lit up fierce debate among experts, particularly around one core question: Are we sacrificing nuclear safety on the altar of speed?
As someone who’s spent a career inside the reactor of nuclear science—from research labs to regulatory planning—I believe it’s critical we look at these changes not just through the lens of political theater, but through the prism of public safety, long-term sustainability, and the promise of a truly green nuclear future.
________________________________________
What Changed—and Why It Matters
Trump’s executive orders introduced sweeping shifts to how nuclear energy is licensed, built, and overseen in the United States. On paper, these actions are designed to supercharge innovation and reduce red tape. But let’s take a closer look at what they entail:
• Faster Licensing: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) now faces an 18-month deadline to approve new reactor licenses—a massive cut from what used to be a careful, multi-year process grounded in safety reviews.
• Weakened Environmental Oversight: Environmental assessments were narrowed, and the NRC was instructed to reevaluate radiation exposure standards—possibly lowering them, and with them, public protections.
• Political Control over Safety: The executive orders increased White House influence over the NRC, eroding a tradition of regulatory independence that has historically safeguarded nuclear integrity.
• Accelerated Construction: Reactors for military use and AI data centers can now be fast-tracked on federal land through a streamlined process—with less scrutiny and fewer safety guardrails.
• Domestic Uranium Push: A clear objective is boosting uranium mining and enrichment in the U.S., limiting reliance on foreign sources but reopening debates over environmental risks tied to mining.
________________________________________
Potential Upside: Innovation and Security
Proponents of these orders argue that such deregulation could energize the industry:
• Speed to Market: Technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors could get to deployment faster, potentially cutting emissions more quickly and cheaply.
• National Security: Onsite power for military installations and secure AI hubs aligns with evolving defense needs and growing data infrastructure demands.
• Economic Growth: Eased restrictions may attract private investment, drive job creation, and restore American leadership in nuclear innovation—a mantle we’ve ceded to Russia and China for too long.
This is a vision many of us in the field have dreamed of: nuclear rising from dormancy, positioned as a climate solution and an economic driver. But dreams without discipline can quickly become nightmares.
________________________________________
But at What Price? Safety Experts Raise the Alarm
While these changes might seem like progress, several seasoned nuclear experts and former NRC officials have voiced deep concerns:
• Undermined Oversight: Compressing the NRC’s timeline—and stripping it of independence—introduces unacceptable risks. As one former NRC Chair, Allison Macfarlane, put it bluntly: “If you aren't independent of political and industry influence, then you are at risk of an accident.”
• Rushed Reviews = Higher Risk: We learned hard lessons from Three Mile Island and Fukushima. Rushing reactor approvals without robust safety analysis is not progress—it’s peril.
• Stripped Resources: The executive orders also call for NRC staff cuts and internal reorganization. That’s fewer inspectors, less expertise, and weaker enforcement—right when we need it most.
• Long-Term Fallout: As former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz warned, one serious accident could derail nuclear progress for a generation. We simply cannot afford that setback—not when the climate clock is ticking.
________________________________________
KEY CHANGES and THEIR CONSEQUENCES
Licensing in 18 months:
Insufficient safety and environmental
vetting
Reduced NRC independence:
Greater risk of politicized decisions
Looser radiation exposure limits:
Potential threats to worker and public
health
NRC staff cuts:
Fewer experts for inspections and
enforcement
Fast-tracked reactor construction:
Less oversight on novel reactor designs
________________________________________
The Verdict: Progress or Pandora’s Box?
Yes, we urgently need nuclear power to combat global warming. We must innovate, expand, and build. But that does not mean we can bulldoze safety protocols in the name of expediency. Trust in nuclear energy—our best hope for large-scale carbon-free power—hinges on rigorous, independent oversight. Strip that away, and we don’t just risk a reactor failure—we risk the entire clean energy movement.
The truth is, nuclear power can be both fast and safe, if we let science—not politics—lead the way. But when experts are dismissed and regulatory bodies are hollowed out, we edge closer to a future where public trust is shattered, and progress is halted by the very shortcuts meant to accelerate it.
The next two to three years will be pivotal. Pilot projects and regulatory shifts are underway. We must remain vigilant, informed, and vocal—because the decisions made now will shape whether this “nuclear renaissance” delivers on its promise or collapses under the weight of avoidable risk.
If we want a clean, green, and safe nuclear future, we must demand nothing less than excellence—built not just on urgency, but on integrity.
As someone who’s spent a career inside the reactor of nuclear science—from research labs to regulatory planning—I believe it’s critical we look at these changes not just through the lens of political theater, but through the prism of public safety, long-term sustainability, and the promise of a truly green nuclear future.
________________________________________
What Changed—and Why It Matters
Trump’s executive orders introduced sweeping shifts to how nuclear energy is licensed, built, and overseen in the United States. On paper, these actions are designed to supercharge innovation and reduce red tape. But let’s take a closer look at what they entail:
• Faster Licensing: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) now faces an 18-month deadline to approve new reactor licenses—a massive cut from what used to be a careful, multi-year process grounded in safety reviews.
• Weakened Environmental Oversight: Environmental assessments were narrowed, and the NRC was instructed to reevaluate radiation exposure standards—possibly lowering them, and with them, public protections.
• Political Control over Safety: The executive orders increased White House influence over the NRC, eroding a tradition of regulatory independence that has historically safeguarded nuclear integrity.
• Accelerated Construction: Reactors for military use and AI data centers can now be fast-tracked on federal land through a streamlined process—with less scrutiny and fewer safety guardrails.
• Domestic Uranium Push: A clear objective is boosting uranium mining and enrichment in the U.S., limiting reliance on foreign sources but reopening debates over environmental risks tied to mining.
________________________________________
Potential Upside: Innovation and Security
Proponents of these orders argue that such deregulation could energize the industry:
• Speed to Market: Technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors could get to deployment faster, potentially cutting emissions more quickly and cheaply.
• National Security: Onsite power for military installations and secure AI hubs aligns with evolving defense needs and growing data infrastructure demands.
• Economic Growth: Eased restrictions may attract private investment, drive job creation, and restore American leadership in nuclear innovation—a mantle we’ve ceded to Russia and China for too long.
This is a vision many of us in the field have dreamed of: nuclear rising from dormancy, positioned as a climate solution and an economic driver. But dreams without discipline can quickly become nightmares.
________________________________________
But at What Price? Safety Experts Raise the Alarm
While these changes might seem like progress, several seasoned nuclear experts and former NRC officials have voiced deep concerns:
• Undermined Oversight: Compressing the NRC’s timeline—and stripping it of independence—introduces unacceptable risks. As one former NRC Chair, Allison Macfarlane, put it bluntly: “If you aren't independent of political and industry influence, then you are at risk of an accident.”
• Rushed Reviews = Higher Risk: We learned hard lessons from Three Mile Island and Fukushima. Rushing reactor approvals without robust safety analysis is not progress—it’s peril.
• Stripped Resources: The executive orders also call for NRC staff cuts and internal reorganization. That’s fewer inspectors, less expertise, and weaker enforcement—right when we need it most.
• Long-Term Fallout: As former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz warned, one serious accident could derail nuclear progress for a generation. We simply cannot afford that setback—not when the climate clock is ticking.
________________________________________
KEY CHANGES and THEIR CONSEQUENCES
Licensing in 18 months:
Insufficient safety and environmental
vetting
Reduced NRC independence:
Greater risk of politicized decisions
Looser radiation exposure limits:
Potential threats to worker and public
health
NRC staff cuts:
Fewer experts for inspections and
enforcement
Fast-tracked reactor construction:
Less oversight on novel reactor designs
________________________________________
The Verdict: Progress or Pandora’s Box?
Yes, we urgently need nuclear power to combat global warming. We must innovate, expand, and build. But that does not mean we can bulldoze safety protocols in the name of expediency. Trust in nuclear energy—our best hope for large-scale carbon-free power—hinges on rigorous, independent oversight. Strip that away, and we don’t just risk a reactor failure—we risk the entire clean energy movement.
The truth is, nuclear power can be both fast and safe, if we let science—not politics—lead the way. But when experts are dismissed and regulatory bodies are hollowed out, we edge closer to a future where public trust is shattered, and progress is halted by the very shortcuts meant to accelerate it.
The next two to three years will be pivotal. Pilot projects and regulatory shifts are underway. We must remain vigilant, informed, and vocal—because the decisions made now will shape whether this “nuclear renaissance” delivers on its promise or collapses under the weight of avoidable risk.
If we want a clean, green, and safe nuclear future, we must demand nothing less than excellence—built not just on urgency, but on integrity.
April 29, 2025
Trump’s First 100 Days: A Road to Climate Disaster?
At the beginning of his second term, President Trump has taken a wrecking ball to U.S. climate action.
He pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, slashed clean energy funding, and opened the floodgates for more oil, gas, and coal drilling-while rolling back protections for our air, water, and public health.
His administration is trying to block states from setting their own climate rules and even wants to eliminate disaster relief agencies as climate disasters get worse.
Scientists warn these policies will mean more pollution, more extreme weather, and higher costs for families-while fossil fuel CEOs cash in.
The only bright spot? Trump is pushing for new nuclear energy technology, but even that’s uncertain with clean energy funding on hold.
America should be leading the world in clean energy and climate solutions-not falling behind while the planet burns. Our future depends on bold action, not climate denial.
He pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, slashed clean energy funding, and opened the floodgates for more oil, gas, and coal drilling-while rolling back protections for our air, water, and public health.
His administration is trying to block states from setting their own climate rules and even wants to eliminate disaster relief agencies as climate disasters get worse.
Scientists warn these policies will mean more pollution, more extreme weather, and higher costs for families-while fossil fuel CEOs cash in.
The only bright spot? Trump is pushing for new nuclear energy technology, but even that’s uncertain with clean energy funding on hold.
America should be leading the world in clean energy and climate solutions-not falling behind while the planet burns. Our future depends on bold action, not climate denial.
April 19, 2025
🌍 ARCTIC MELTDOWN: Why It Matters for Everyone
The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world, and the impacts are global:
• Rising Sea Levels: Melting ice and thawing permafrost could raise sea levels by up to 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) by 2100, threatening coastal cities everywhere.
• Extreme Weather: Disrupted jet streams are leading to more frequent and severe weather events—heatwaves, storms, and floods—impacting agriculture, infrastructure, and public health.
• Climate Feedback Loops: Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases, accelerating global warming even further.
What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. Its rapid changes are a stark warning for us all. Urgent action to reduce emissions and invest in climate solutions is essential to protect our future.
• Rising Sea Levels: Melting ice and thawing permafrost could raise sea levels by up to 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) by 2100, threatening coastal cities everywhere.
• Extreme Weather: Disrupted jet streams are leading to more frequent and severe weather events—heatwaves, storms, and floods—impacting agriculture, infrastructure, and public health.
• Climate Feedback Loops: Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases, accelerating global warming even further.
What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. Its rapid changes are a stark warning for us all. Urgent action to reduce emissions and invest in climate solutions is essential to protect our future.
April 10, 2025
Global Warming: A Critical Juncture and the Race to Avoid Climate Tipping Points
The world has reached a critical juncture in the fight against global warming. In 2024, global average temperatures officially exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the entire calendar year—the hottest year on record. This milestone is a stark warning of how close we are to triggering irreversible climate impacts. However, it’s important to understand that this does not mean the Paris Agreement’s long-term goal has been breached.
What Does Exceeding 1.5°C Mean?
{book:Atomic Green: Nuclear Power Can Stop Climate Change|222662716}
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to keep it below 1.5°C. This target is based on long-term averages spanning decades, rather than individual years. The record-breaking temperatures in 2024 were driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, alongside natural factors like the El Niño phenomenon.
While exceeding 1.5°C for one year doesn’t constitute a permanent breach, it signals how dangerously close we are to crossing this threshold permanently. Scientists warn that if emissions continue at current rates, the long-term average could exceed 1.5°C by the early 2030s—making this decade pivotal for climate action.
The Risk of Climate Tipping Points
As global temperatures rise, we are approaching critical climate tipping points—thresholds where small increases in temperature can trigger abrupt and irreversible changes in Earth’s systems. These tipping points challenge the notion of climate change as a gradual process; once crossed, their impacts are catastrophic and often unstoppable.
Here are the most urgent tipping points we face:
1. Melting Ice Sheets: The Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets are destabilizing, threatening up to 10 meters of sea-level rise over centuries. These tipping points may be triggered at around 1.5°C warming, which we are dangerously close to breaching.
2. Atlantic Ocean Circulation (AMOC): This vital ocean current system is weakening and could collapse within decades, disrupting global weather patterns, cooling Europe by up to 10°C, and intensifying hurricanes.
3. Amazon Rainforest Dieback: Deforestation and warming could transform the Amazon into a savanna by 2070, releasing vast amounts of stored carbon and destabilizing rainfall patterns across South America and beyond.
4. Permafrost Thaw: Arctic Permafrost contains twice the carbon currently in the atmosphere. As it thaws, it releases methane and CO₂, creating a dangerous feedback loop that accelerates warming.
5. Coral Reef Collapse: Tropical coral reefs face near-total collapse by 2030–2040 due to marine heatwaves caused by warming oceans, threatening biodiversity and coastal communities.
Each fraction of a degree of warming increases the likelihood of crossing multiple tipping points, which could cascade into further destabilizations—leading to what scientists call a "hothouse Earth."
What Needs to Be Done?
The next decade is pivotal for mitigating these risks and avoiding irreversible damage:
• Aggressive Emission Reductions: Rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are essential to limit warming to 1.5°C or below. Every fraction of a degree avoided reduces the risk of triggering tipping points.
• Scaling Renewable Energy: Accelerating clean energy adoption and nuclear power while phasing out fossil fuels globally is crucial for decarbonizing economies and stabilizing temperatures.
• Global Collaboration: Strengthening international agreements and adaptation plans can help address sea-level rise, food security challenges, and climate migration.
A Wake-Up Call for Action
Exceeding 1.5°C for one year doesn’t mean humanity has failed—but it does mean time is running out to prevent long-term breaches of this critical threshold. The record-breaking temperatures in 2024 highlight how urgent it is to act decisively on climate change.
This decade will define humanity’s ability to avert irreversible damage to our planet’s life-support systems. While some impacts may already be unavoidable, every action taken now reduces the risk of triggering catastrophic events.
The time for bold action is now—our future depends on it.
What Does Exceeding 1.5°C Mean?
{book:Atomic Green: Nuclear Power Can Stop Climate Change|222662716}
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to keep it below 1.5°C. This target is based on long-term averages spanning decades, rather than individual years. The record-breaking temperatures in 2024 were driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, alongside natural factors like the El Niño phenomenon.
While exceeding 1.5°C for one year doesn’t constitute a permanent breach, it signals how dangerously close we are to crossing this threshold permanently. Scientists warn that if emissions continue at current rates, the long-term average could exceed 1.5°C by the early 2030s—making this decade pivotal for climate action.
The Risk of Climate Tipping Points
As global temperatures rise, we are approaching critical climate tipping points—thresholds where small increases in temperature can trigger abrupt and irreversible changes in Earth’s systems. These tipping points challenge the notion of climate change as a gradual process; once crossed, their impacts are catastrophic and often unstoppable.
Here are the most urgent tipping points we face:
1. Melting Ice Sheets: The Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets are destabilizing, threatening up to 10 meters of sea-level rise over centuries. These tipping points may be triggered at around 1.5°C warming, which we are dangerously close to breaching.
2. Atlantic Ocean Circulation (AMOC): This vital ocean current system is weakening and could collapse within decades, disrupting global weather patterns, cooling Europe by up to 10°C, and intensifying hurricanes.
3. Amazon Rainforest Dieback: Deforestation and warming could transform the Amazon into a savanna by 2070, releasing vast amounts of stored carbon and destabilizing rainfall patterns across South America and beyond.
4. Permafrost Thaw: Arctic Permafrost contains twice the carbon currently in the atmosphere. As it thaws, it releases methane and CO₂, creating a dangerous feedback loop that accelerates warming.
5. Coral Reef Collapse: Tropical coral reefs face near-total collapse by 2030–2040 due to marine heatwaves caused by warming oceans, threatening biodiversity and coastal communities.
Each fraction of a degree of warming increases the likelihood of crossing multiple tipping points, which could cascade into further destabilizations—leading to what scientists call a "hothouse Earth."
What Needs to Be Done?
The next decade is pivotal for mitigating these risks and avoiding irreversible damage:
• Aggressive Emission Reductions: Rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are essential to limit warming to 1.5°C or below. Every fraction of a degree avoided reduces the risk of triggering tipping points.
• Scaling Renewable Energy: Accelerating clean energy adoption and nuclear power while phasing out fossil fuels globally is crucial for decarbonizing economies and stabilizing temperatures.
• Global Collaboration: Strengthening international agreements and adaptation plans can help address sea-level rise, food security challenges, and climate migration.
A Wake-Up Call for Action
Exceeding 1.5°C for one year doesn’t mean humanity has failed—but it does mean time is running out to prevent long-term breaches of this critical threshold. The record-breaking temperatures in 2024 highlight how urgent it is to act decisively on climate change.
This decade will define humanity’s ability to avert irreversible damage to our planet’s life-support systems. While some impacts may already be unavoidable, every action taken now reduces the risk of triggering catastrophic events.
The time for bold action is now—our future depends on it.
April 5, 2025
Would It Even Be Possible for Us to Stop Using Fossil Fuels?
Can humanity completely phase out fossil fuels? It’s one of the defining questions of our time. Coal, oil, and natural gas still supply about 80% of the world’s energy, but their environmental and economic costs are no longer sustainable. With coordinated strategies, this transformation is not only possible—it’s imperative.
Why We Must Move On
Fossil fuels are the primary driver of global warming. The IPCC warns that to limit warming and avoid its worst effects, we must halve emissions within a decade. Inaction risks escalating disasters: extreme weather, biodiversity loss, rising seas, and food insecurity. Moreover, these fuels are finite—formed over millions of years but rapidly depleting.
Technology Makes It Possible
Thanks to rapid innovation, cleaner options are outpacing fossil fuels:
• Solar and Wind: Over the past decade, solar prices have dropped 82% and wind by 39%, becoming some of the cheapest power sources globally.
• Battery Storage: Storage advances are solving reliability challenges for intermittent renewables.
• Emerging Tech: Breakthroughs like bifacial solar panels, AI-optimized wind farms, and green hydrogen are enhancing performance and scalability.
In March 2025, U.S. renewables surpassed fossil fuels for the first time—producing 50.8% of the country’s electricity.
Nuclear: A Critical Piece of the Puzzle
While renewables lead the way, nuclear power offers unmatched reliability and scalability for a carbon-free future:
• Zero-Emission Energy: Nuclear already avoids 1.5 gigatons of emissions per year globally.
• Always-On Reliability: Unlike weather-dependent renewables, nuclear runs 24/7.
• Efficient Footprint: A single large reactor can replace several coal plants.
• Industrial Decarbonization: Advanced reactors can safely supply heat for industry and produce clean hydrogen.
New designs expand its potential; for instance, small modular reactors (SMRs) offer flexible options, ideal for replacing coal plants using existing infrastructure. Surplus nuclear electricity can also power hydrogen production for transportation and manufacturing.
Overcoming Challenges
Yes, nuclear faces barriers: high upfront costs, safety concerns, and Atomic Green: Nuclear Power Can Stop Climate Change regulatory delays. But with smart policies and public engagement, these can be addressed.
And it’s not just nuclear. To truly phase out fossil fuels, we must also confront:
• Infrastructure Gaps: Our transmission grid is outdated and overloaded.
• Local Opposition: Community resistance has stalled many clean energy projects.
• Supply Chain Delays: Critical shortages, like transformers, slow deployments.
• Fossil Fuel Influence: Despite climate goals, over $1 trillion was spent on fossil fuel projects in 2024 alone.
Governments must stop subsidizing fossil fuel expansion and instead invest in renewables, nuclear, and grid modernization.
Progress Is Underway
Some countries and companies are showing what’s possible:
• Portugal, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden have eliminated coal.
• China added 250 GW of solar and wind in 2025.
• U.S. utilities like PacifiCorp are planning SMR deployment at retired coal sites.
Yet hurdles remain, especially in long-distance transport and heavy industry, where solutions are still evolving.
A Just Transition
Ending fossil fuel use must also protect people and communities:
• Workers in fossil fuel sectors need retraining and job placement in clean energy.
• Developing nations need affordable, accessible clean power to avoid widening global inequality.
Germany offers a model: it has turned former coal sites into wind farms, demonstrating how equitable transformation can succeed.
The Path Forward
Eliminating fossil fuels is a formidable challenge—but not an impossible one. We have the tools: renewable energy, next-generation nuclear, and the momentum of innovation. Now we need political will, public support, and global cooperation.
Our future depends on how quickly and decisively we act.
Why We Must Move On
Fossil fuels are the primary driver of global warming. The IPCC warns that to limit warming and avoid its worst effects, we must halve emissions within a decade. Inaction risks escalating disasters: extreme weather, biodiversity loss, rising seas, and food insecurity. Moreover, these fuels are finite—formed over millions of years but rapidly depleting.
Technology Makes It Possible
Thanks to rapid innovation, cleaner options are outpacing fossil fuels:
• Solar and Wind: Over the past decade, solar prices have dropped 82% and wind by 39%, becoming some of the cheapest power sources globally.
• Battery Storage: Storage advances are solving reliability challenges for intermittent renewables.
• Emerging Tech: Breakthroughs like bifacial solar panels, AI-optimized wind farms, and green hydrogen are enhancing performance and scalability.
In March 2025, U.S. renewables surpassed fossil fuels for the first time—producing 50.8% of the country’s electricity.
Nuclear: A Critical Piece of the Puzzle
While renewables lead the way, nuclear power offers unmatched reliability and scalability for a carbon-free future:
• Zero-Emission Energy: Nuclear already avoids 1.5 gigatons of emissions per year globally.
• Always-On Reliability: Unlike weather-dependent renewables, nuclear runs 24/7.
• Efficient Footprint: A single large reactor can replace several coal plants.
• Industrial Decarbonization: Advanced reactors can safely supply heat for industry and produce clean hydrogen.
New designs expand its potential; for instance, small modular reactors (SMRs) offer flexible options, ideal for replacing coal plants using existing infrastructure. Surplus nuclear electricity can also power hydrogen production for transportation and manufacturing.
Overcoming Challenges
Yes, nuclear faces barriers: high upfront costs, safety concerns, and Atomic Green: Nuclear Power Can Stop Climate Change regulatory delays. But with smart policies and public engagement, these can be addressed.
And it’s not just nuclear. To truly phase out fossil fuels, we must also confront:
• Infrastructure Gaps: Our transmission grid is outdated and overloaded.
• Local Opposition: Community resistance has stalled many clean energy projects.
• Supply Chain Delays: Critical shortages, like transformers, slow deployments.
• Fossil Fuel Influence: Despite climate goals, over $1 trillion was spent on fossil fuel projects in 2024 alone.
Governments must stop subsidizing fossil fuel expansion and instead invest in renewables, nuclear, and grid modernization.
Progress Is Underway
Some countries and companies are showing what’s possible:
• Portugal, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden have eliminated coal.
• China added 250 GW of solar and wind in 2025.
• U.S. utilities like PacifiCorp are planning SMR deployment at retired coal sites.
Yet hurdles remain, especially in long-distance transport and heavy industry, where solutions are still evolving.
A Just Transition
Ending fossil fuel use must also protect people and communities:
• Workers in fossil fuel sectors need retraining and job placement in clean energy.
• Developing nations need affordable, accessible clean power to avoid widening global inequality.
Germany offers a model: it has turned former coal sites into wind farms, demonstrating how equitable transformation can succeed.
The Path Forward
Eliminating fossil fuels is a formidable challenge—but not an impossible one. We have the tools: renewable energy, next-generation nuclear, and the momentum of innovation. Now we need political will, public support, and global cooperation.
Our future depends on how quickly and decisively we act.
March 29, 2025
Why I Wrote ATOMIC GREEN: Nuclear Power Can Stop Climate Change
Atomic Green: Nuclear Power Can Stop Climate Change
The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it’s unfolding all around us, in rising seas, record-breaking heatwaves, and extreme weather events that dominate the headlines. For decades, we've talked about cutting carbon emissions, transitioning to renewables, and saving the planet. And yet, we’re still dangerously behind. I wrote ATOMIC GREEN because I believe we need to stop tiptoeing around one of the most powerful tools we have to fight global warming: nuclear energy.
As a nuclear chemist, medical nuclear physicist, and former emergency planner for California’s nuclear power plants, I’ve spent my professional life immersed in the science and safety of nuclear technology. I’ve also seen how fear and misinformation have sidelined one of the cleanest, most reliable sources of energy available. That needs to change—and fast.
ATOMIC GREEN is both a wake-up call and a guide. It’s for environmentalists seeking real climate solutions, for policymakers weighing energy options, and for anyone who wants to protect the future of our civilization. I dig into the facts, confront the myths, and make the case that modern nuclear power is not only safe but absolutely essential to meeting global carbon reduction goals. This isn’t just a technical argument—it’s a moral one. If we care about our planet and future generations, we have to be willing to look at every viable solution with clear eyes and open minds.
This book is my contribution to that conversation. I hope it informs, challenges, and ultimately empowers you and many others to take action—because time is running out, and the planet won’t wait.
Mary Fran Reed, PhD
The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it’s unfolding all around us, in rising seas, record-breaking heatwaves, and extreme weather events that dominate the headlines. For decades, we've talked about cutting carbon emissions, transitioning to renewables, and saving the planet. And yet, we’re still dangerously behind. I wrote ATOMIC GREEN because I believe we need to stop tiptoeing around one of the most powerful tools we have to fight global warming: nuclear energy.
As a nuclear chemist, medical nuclear physicist, and former emergency planner for California’s nuclear power plants, I’ve spent my professional life immersed in the science and safety of nuclear technology. I’ve also seen how fear and misinformation have sidelined one of the cleanest, most reliable sources of energy available. That needs to change—and fast.
ATOMIC GREEN is both a wake-up call and a guide. It’s for environmentalists seeking real climate solutions, for policymakers weighing energy options, and for anyone who wants to protect the future of our civilization. I dig into the facts, confront the myths, and make the case that modern nuclear power is not only safe but absolutely essential to meeting global carbon reduction goals. This isn’t just a technical argument—it’s a moral one. If we care about our planet and future generations, we have to be willing to look at every viable solution with clear eyes and open minds.
This book is my contribution to that conversation. I hope it informs, challenges, and ultimately empowers you and many others to take action—because time is running out, and the planet won’t wait.
Mary Fran Reed, PhD
