Hadron Energy says its micro modular reactors will produce power at 15 cents/kWh. How will the company make that possible?

Do small modular reactors create more radioactive waste than conventional nuclear reactors?

Which states have a moratorium on nuclear energy deployment?

These are some of the questions my guests addressed in this podcast.

Advanced nuclear reactors are seen as key to meeting soaring data center, AI and electrification demand because they provide baseload power and are carbon-free. But the advanced nuclear reactor industry faces a number of challenges, including regulatory delays, state bans on nuclear, high costs and waste-disposal issues.

Guests:

Samuel Gibson, founder and CEO at Hadron Energy

Woody Hastings, program director at The Climate Center

Tom Bailey, vice president of energy at Flexential

Background reading:’

Google Announces Tennessee Site for Small Nuclear Reactor

Small Modular Reactors Produce High Levels of Nuclear Waste

How Geothermal Energy Can Fill in Solar and Wind Energy Gaps in Clean Microgrids

In rural Oregon, electricity prices are low compared to those of gasoline and diesel fuel, as low as 6 cents/kWh. EVmath is a nonprofit that aims to help rural drivers crunch the numbers on buying EVs--beginning with Oregon and Washington. The nonprofit organization wants to show rural drivers that, whatever their politics, it might make sense economically to drive EVs.

Here's an example: A gasoline-fueled car that gets 25 miles per gallon costs about 20 cents per mile at current gas prices. An EV that goes 4 miles/kWh charged at a rate of 6 cents/kWh costs 1.5 cents per mile.

Economics aside, EVs offer a number of benefits to rural residents and businesses. People are using bidirectional EVs, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, to power pizza ovens, water pumps, power tools and other electric vehicles.

Guests:

Robert Wallace, EV convert who works with rural small businesses in Oregon at Wy'East.

Steve Gutmann, co-founder, EV Math, along with Mark Jacobs

Background information:

Crunch the EV numbers with this EVmath calculator.

Email host Lisa Cohn with podcast episode ideas or comments at Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com

Visit her at CleanEnergyWriters

The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Georgia plans to build 18 resilience hubs--and eventually up to 482. Five are moving forward right now. Churches are being offered a menu of options, with the highest level of resilience including solar, storage, bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy efficiency.

Since this interview was recorded, the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" law phased out investment tax credits for solar, wind and EVs, which is expected to undermine the church's ambitious efforts. But the first five hubs are set to be completed, providing sanctuaries for church members and their larger communities.

Some Black community members may see the resilience hubs as "science fiction," so it's important to use the first hubs to educate people about their benefits, said James Gaymon, director of operations for social justice for the Sixth District AME Church in Georgia. He describes the numerous hurricane-sparked outages these communities face in Georgia--at least one a year, with a recent power loss lasting 18 days.

Background reading:

Where Black Communities Fit into the Energy Transition

Low-Income Communities are the First to Lose Power. How RMI is Helping Deploy Resilience Hubs

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Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com to learn more about host Lisa Cohn