When Isabelle Boemeke started sharing videos about nuclear energy on TikTok in 2020, her friends were confused. One of her associates warned her that she could harm her career by endorsing such a controversial topic.
Isabelle Boemeke, in the persona of “Isodope,” demonstrates how a reactor functions in one of her initial videos.
She subsequently assisted in arranging demonstrations to support the continued operation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant in California and presented a talk at TED about nuclear energy that garnered over 1.8 million views. Isabelle Boemeke’s TikTok video discussing a natural nuclear reactor in an African uranium deposit received 38,000 likes.
Most widely used form of nuclear power
What was somewhat unusual in 2020 gained popularity.
Nuclear energy is gaining attention in popular culture and politics after a long period, partly due to new activists like Boemeke.
Bill Gates, Sam Altman, and various politicians from different parties, including President Trump and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, endorse nuclear energy and back companies focused on constructing new reactors.
They are riding a wave of enhanced public perception.
About 60% of Americans are in favor of building additional nuclear power plants, which marks a notable shift from 2020 when only 43% expressed support for increasing energy production from nuclear sources, as reported by the Pew Research Center.
Boemeke, 35, acknowledged the satisfaction of being correct, attributing his curiosity about nuclear energy to a tweet by planetary scientist Carolyn Porco on thorium reactors utilizing molten salt.
Boemeke’s recent book, “Rad Future: The Unknown History of Nuclear Power and Its Potential to Save the World,” was released this month. On her website, she offers various products for sale, such as hats featuring the phrase “Get in loser. We’re going nuclear.” Her friends now playfully comment, “I can’t believe you weren’t talking about this five years ago.”
Artificial intelligence’s development
Nuclear power plants supply around 20% of electricity in the United States, yet the focus in the energy sector has been on maintaining outdated assets rather than constructing new reactors.
The demand for a more dependable and clean energy production has brought nuclear energy into the climate conversation in recent years.
The technological industry’s use of nuclear energy has led to a rise in volume, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence. Developing sophisticated AI systems will require electricity on a scale comparable to that of entire cities. Microsoft and Meta Platforms have entered into extended energy procurement agreements with nuclear power facilities.
Gabriel Ivory, a nuclear engineering student, expressed his support for nuclear energy in August 2024 while attending ESPN’s College GameDay at Texas A&M University alongside thousands of American football fans.
Ivory carried a handmade sign that read “I [Love] Nuclear Energy” and attended the event eager to engage in conversations about nuclear energy with fellow attendees.
Ivory gained a prominent position and went viral, with his photos and poster being shared by nuclear energy groups, a former American nuclear engineer, and companies like Constellation Energy, the largest nuclear power plant operator in the country. The Department of Energy also created a video featuring him.
Atomic energy that is not popular
Atomic energy was widely used in the past, influencing mid-century design and being viewed as futuristic. Yet, concerns about weapon proliferation overshadowed its popularity.
After the accidents at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986, the United States became less interested in building nuclear power plants.
In the early 2000s, he started discussing a revival of nuclear power, but the availability of shale gas decreased the cost of producing energy from natural gas. Wind and solar power were also more cost-effective.
Only two new reactors have been finished following significant budget increases, leading to the closure of some plants.
Heather Hoff, co-founder of Mothers for Nuclear in 2016, mentioned feeling isolated when they established the group and were searching for supporters of nuclear energy while working at Diablo Canyon.
Nuclear policies at the state and federal levels have been undergoing rapid changes.
New legislation enacted during the Biden administration provided financial assistance and tax incentives for nuclear initiatives. President Trump further bolstered his backing through executive orders that targeted restructuring the U.S. nuclear regulatory agency, expediting approvals for new endeavors, and enhancing domestic fuel resources.
Some states in the U.S., like Virginia and Montana, have lifted bans on constructing new developments. Tennessee established a $70 million fund for nuclear energy, while Texas lawmakers allocated a $350 million fund to draw in projects this year.
Critics of atomic energy argue that their worries about expenses and safety remain.
“There are individuals with significant wealth and influential voices,” stated Tim Judson, Executive Director of the Information and Nuclear Resources Service, a non-profit organization that opposes the establishment of new nuclear power plants and transportation of nuclear waste. “The core concerns regarding nuclear energy remain unchanged. The reactors continue to be highly costly and pose significant financial and other risks.”
Gene Stilp assisted in coordinating a protest in Washington, D.C. in May 1979 against the Three Mile Island incident, noting the substantial increase in public relations efforts by the energy sector regarding nuclear power in recent times.
“They are utilizing AI advancements effectively by determining their needs, which Stilp views as a significant educational initiative, while still expressing worries about security, particularly in relation to the challenges of an evacuation.”
Three Mile Island was rebranded as the Crane Clean Energy Center. The undamaged reactor, in operation until 2019, has the potential to produce electricity once more through a 20-year power agreement between Constellation and Microsoft.
Jacob DeWitte, the co-founder and CEO of Oklo nuclear technology firm, stated that the focus has shifted from debating nuclear energy’s place in the energy mix to maximizing its prominence.
Translated by InvestNews
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