In the News

Nuclear Waste Isn’t a Technical Problem—It’s a Political One

John Cornwell

July 30, 2025

The future of nuclear energy depends on moving past the politics of nuclear waste and implementing long-overdue reforms to funding, regulation, and community engagement.

Explore the report in full

Download PDF

Related Resources

In the News

Why the Nuclear Energy Renaissance Is Real—and Necessary

The technologies, economics and motivations driving the modern nuclear revival differ fundamentally from what came before.

In the News

AI’s Energy Demand Needs Guardrails, Not Just Gigawatts

The artificial intelligence boom’s energy demand requires guardrails instead of only power to create a sustainable future.

In the News

The Cost of Nuclear

Jessica explains why nuclear reactor construction is seemingly so much cheaper in South Korea than in the U.S.

In the News

Lessons from NuScale’s Terminated Project will Help Pave the Way for Advanced Nuclear Energy

In an op-ed for Utility Dive, Jessica, alongside co-authors Judi Greenwald of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance and Jeremy Harrell of ClearPath, delves into takeaways from NuScale’s recent project halt with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems.

In the News

Investments in Nuclear Energy Could Help Solve the Economic and Climate Crises

In this op-ed piece, Suzanne Baker and Todd Allen outline the value of nuclear energy for decarbonizing the economy and how we can center communities in the process.

In the News

Congress Wants to Solve Nuclear Waste. The Solutions Are Known.

"Policymakers are increasingly recognizing that in order to realize a strong domestic nuclear economy, the country will need to show real progress in moving, storing, disposing of, and perhaps recycling nuclear waste."

In the News

Can Nuclear Power Go Local?

The environmental movement has expanded its focus to addressing issues of equity and justice. Jessica Lovering & Suzanne Hobbs Baker wonder if nuclear power can become part of the egalitarian future they envision?

In the News

Clean Energy is Not an Excuse for Unjust Mining Practices

Cleo Schroer argues that U.S. uranium mines should operate only after impacted tribes and communities have had a meaningful chance to weigh in on a project.

In the News

A Hole in the Ground Could be the Future of Fusion Power

We provide some realism on the timelines for commercial nuclear fusion but says it could still prove important as energy consumption continues to increase after 2050.

In the News

As U.S. Nuclear Exports Decline, Experts Fear International Safeguards Will Too

Jessica co-authors an article on her research into how the U.S. can best strengthen global nuclear security—and what role microreactors could play.

Support Our Work

Good Energy Collective boasts a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and was spotlighted by Vox as a top climate change nonprofit for 2023 and 2024. Plus, Giving Green named Good Energy as a Giving Green Fund awardee.