VIDEO — Nuclear Power: Why It’s Still a Bad Idea
Published Jul 13, 2026
Hear from experts about the past, present, and future risks and failures of nuclear energy, and how we’re fighting for a better, safer future.
You might be hearing about nuclear energy more than ever, even touted as a safe climate solution by some environmental organizations. But our research tells a completely different story.
Despite decades of failures and cost overruns, as well as terrible public health and environmental risks, nuclear power is back in the headlines. New York state serves as a cautionary tale for the nuclear industry nationwide.
After passing a $33 billion ratepayer bailout for the failing nuclear industry, Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced plans to support 5 GW of nuclear power in New York — “That’s more nuclear power than the entire U.S. has built in decades,” said Laura Shindell, Food & Water Watch New York State Director.
Advancing a nuclear buildout is nothing short of disastrous. As Tim Judson, Executive Director of the Nuclear Information and Research Service, put it:
This industry is too dirty, too dangerous, too expensive, and too slow to be a climate solution. And it’s rooted in environmental justice and human rights violations throughout its operation.
Tim and Laura joined us at our June Livable Future LIVE!, our monthly virtual education series. With Food & Water Watch Research Director Amanda Starbuck, they spoke about the failures and dangers of nuclear energy and what we need instead.
Watch the Full Event Below
What you’ll learn in this video: (click to expand)
- The long history of cost overruns, failures, and taxpayer bailouts in the nuclear industry;
- The dangerous reality of living beside a nuclear power plant;
- The harms and environmental injustices nuclear energy creates at every step in its life cycle, from uranium mining to the storage of radioactive spent fuel;
- The scam of so-called “advanced” nuclear reactors like small modular reactors;
- How the Trump administration is spending big to prop up this expensive, dangerous industry;
- How our regulatory environment is failing to meet the outsized risks of nuclear power and waste storage;
- How Food & Water Watch is protecting our water and health from nuclear power in New York;
- The connection between data centers and the nuclear energy buildout;
- and more.
Read More and Take Action!
Learn more from Food & Water Watch:
- “Big Tech Wants to Bring Back Nuclear. It’s (Still) an Awful Idea” (article)
- “Going Nuclear in the Neighborhood: The Dangers of Small Nuclear Reactors” (fact sheet)
- “5 Reasons Why Expanding Nuclear is a Terrible Idea” (article)
Recommended reading from Tim:
- Nuclear Power and Climate Action (report)
- “Nuclear Reactor Closures: Practical, Cost-Effective Solutions for Communities and the Climate”
- IEEFA: Small Modular Reactors: Still too expensive, too slow and too risky (report)
- Georgians for Affordable Energy: Plant Vogtle: the True Cost of Nuclear Power in the United States (report)
- “Plant Vogtle by the Numbers” (fact sheet)
- NIRS and Beyond Nuclear: New Nuclear Risks: Unaffordable Power and Inherently Dangerous (video)
- Nuclear is no Solution (short video)
- Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (short video)
Take action!
- Wherever you live, text NUCLEAR to 23321 to receive updates on ways to fight for a renewable energy future!
- Our work is fueled by your generosity! Make a gift to Food & Water Watch.
- Check out our volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.
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