We interviewed four students from the West Coast, hailing from Washington and California.
Do you have any prior knowledge of nuclear energy? If so, where did it come from?
“I know that there are nuclear plants in Washington and that the towns nearby are being put at higher risk for just about everything but I just know that from driving through areas and seeing things.”
Do you think that nuclear energy is a feasible direction for sustainable energy development? Is it possible to meet the 2040 carbon-free emission energy standards through nuclear energy?
“I feel like I don’t know enough about it. I’ve heard things that if it’s used in small amounts it can still be sustainable and safe but when it’s like those big power plants that it’s not a safe way to manage nuclear energy.”
– Rory (20), Seattle, WA
Do you have any prior knowledge of nuclear energy? So where did it come from?
“I don’t have prior knowledge. At all.”
Do you think that nuclear energy is a feasible direction for sustainable energy development? Is it possible to meet the 2040 carbon-free emission energy standards through nuclear energy?
“I think if I knew more about nuclear energy I would have a better opinion on this but I don’t.”
– Adi (19), Seattle, WA
Do you think that nuclear energy is a feasible direction for sustainable energy development? Is it possible to meet the 2040 carbon-free emission energy standards through nuclear energy?
“I think nuclear is a feasible thing and we should be using that for renewable energy. I’m not sure about the carbon neutral [aspect] cause I don’t know the specifics of the agreement and how much nuclear would help. Like I know it would, but I don’t know how many plants we need and how feasible it would be to put them up.”
Do you have any prior knowledge of nuclear energy? If so, where did it come from?
“Some, sure. the internet and TikTok. The news probably or just like articles and stuff I don’t know specifically. I absorb random information I come across. I haven’t done heavy research I just know some stuff I’d say.”
– Sam (20), San Jose, CA
Before I had asked you to look into the Monticello and Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plants, had you ever heard about them? If so, what did you learn about them?
“Yes, in my environmental justice class. The, kind of disparities in like the locations of the plants, but we did not get in too deep about that specifically, so I don’t know exactly like the dynamics and things like that.”
So, when you were looking for information on the two plants, was it easier to find information on Prairie Island versus Monticello? Or vice versa?
“Um, it was easier to find information about Monticello because when I searched up Prairie Island, um it came up more about the people living there than the nuclear power plant.”
Lastly, would you want to live next to a nuclear power plant?
“I would not. I think that, you know, there’s always the chance of something going wrong and I think that’s a risk that I don’t want to take.”
– Anonymous (18), Los Angeles, CA