Three Mile Island seeks a new chapter in nuclear energy

Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island plant, site of the 1979 nuclear meltdown, is set to resume operation as Constellation Energy partners with Microsoft to meet rising electricity demands.

Rebecca F. Elliott reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Constellation Energy plans to restart the undamaged reactor at Three Mile Island by 2028 with Microsoft committed to purchasing its electricity for 20 years.
This revival signals a shift as tech giants back nuclear energy to meet increasing power needs while aiming to decarbonize.
Financial and logistical challenges remain, as the nuclear industry faces high costs, past delays, and regulatory complexities.

Key quote:

“It’s an industry with a really substantial burden of proof based on all of the disappointments — all of the very expensive disappointments.”

— Peter A. Bradford, former Nuclear Regulatory Commission member

Why this matters:

With U.S. energy demands on the rise, nuclear power presents a low-carbon option amid growing climate concerns. However, its success depends on overcoming historical setbacks, addressing waste storage challenges and ensuring projects meet budget, safety and timeline goals.

www.nytimes.com

Three Mile Island seeks a new chapter in nuclear energy

Opinion: Adaptation policies must be built around the local communities facing climate change

Factory workers in Pakistan endure extreme heat as brands fail on safety pledges

Deadly New Mexico flood exposes failures to protect residents from climate-driven disasters

At the Wall of Wind, engineers blow homes apart to learn how to save them

Climate change increases gun violence incidents in the United States

Britain rethinks its nature protections to unlock nuclear development

Emissions gap report identifies US as outlier among G20 nations

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.