Labor and the Green New Deal

In a recent guest post, friends of the collective River Bennett and Alex Gilbert examine what it would take for nuclear energy to earn a spot in a vision for a Green New Deal—and how inclusion of advanced nuclear technology in the GND could increase support for the resolution among trade unions. 

Read: Can Nuclear Energy Jobs Power a Just Transition?

Op-Ed: Climate Change Merits Nuclear Energy

GEC Executive Director Jessica coauthored a think piece for Bloomberg Law this week detailing what makes nuclear energy an important energy source to consider in the context of our worsening climate crisis. 

Read: Nuclear Power Is Critical for the World’s Climate Crisis

West Virginia Gives Nuclear a Second Look
 

Things moved really quickly in West Virginia over the last few weeks, as lawmakers discussed, considered, and passed legislation to remove state restrictions on the construction of nuclear energy. As we flagged in our last newsletter, Jessica provided some information about nuclear energy at a Jan. 18 event that explored the feasibility of advanced nuclear for West Virginia and featured three West Virginia House delegates who were considering revisiting the restrictions. Jessica highlighted the collective’s report on the potential benefits of nuclear energy for communities with retired or retiring coal plants, which we released in December. 

Since then, West Virginia’s governor has signed off on legislation to remove those restrictions. Here’s a sampling of some earlier coverage of the action that featured GEC:

• Charleston Gazette-Mail: WV lawmakers eye advanced nuclear technology, lifting state's restrictions on building reactors
• Charleston Gazette-Mail: Senate committee advances bill lifting restrictions on nuclear power plant construction
• The Dominion Post: Experts, legislators explore allowing advanced nuclear plants to come to West Virginia

In Other News

Jessica joined a segment on KPCC public radio in January for a discussion, opposite Union of Concerned Scientists’ Edwin Lyman, about whether and how nuclear energy is one of the viable solutions available to us to address climate change. Give it a listen here.

And for readers who’d enjoy a quick education (or refresher) on how nuclear energy works, Jessica also gave a primer on nuclear last month as part of her conversation with the host of the podcast “Changing the Climate.” Watch the video of the exchange here.

• Jessica spoke with Christian Science Monitor about new community ownership models for nuclear and how advanced nuclear could help reduce emissions in the tricky-to-decarbonize manufacturing sector. 
• Jessica discussed Germany’s motivations for phasing out its nuclear power plants and the impacts of that decision with The Dispatch.
• Deputy Director Jackie Toth, at the 14th U.S.–Japan Roundtable’s Annual Washington Conference held Feb. 1, discussed ways that the nuclear industry can earn the public’s trust in their technology and recounted key actions that the Biden-Harris administration has taken to date in support of advanced nuclear energy. 

Good Energy Collective is making the progressive case for nuclear energy in a just, climate-friendly future. We invite you to chip in if you are able and share broadly with your networks.