Prof. James Coleman Interviewed by Star Tribune About Perception Changes of Nuclear Energy

Professor James Coleman was interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune about changing attitudes about nuclear energy. In Minnesota, lawmakers are now considering lifting the state’s 32-year ban on new nuclear power plants. While many major environmental groups still oppose it, some organizations have started to warm to the idea of revisiting nuclear power, in part to address climate change. Prof. Coleman said he has seen a change in the perception of nuclear energy from the students he teaches. He said, “I have students coming to class excited about nuclear energy. In the early 2000s, that was not a thing.” Among the reasons the perception change is that while nuclear energy comes with serious environmental risks, it also emits zero greenhouse gases, serving as an option for states that have passed laws to reduce their carbon emissions. Prof. Coleman said technological limitations in clean energy are also driving interest in nuclear. He said that while wind and solar energy are generally cheaper than nuclear power, they’re far more expensive when paired with battery storage.