Nuclear power has been the topic of controversy over the years, despite its current contribution of nearly 20% of the electricity generated in the United States. Jacopo Buongiorno, a nuclear scientist at MIT, argues that you can't get to a robust clean energy portfolio without nuclear and we have learned a lot more about making nuclear power safer. He provides a run-down of the benefits and risks associated with nuclear and the role it plays in achieving a clean energy mix.

What if it works? is a production of the MIT Energy Initiative. This episode was hosted by Rob Stoner and Kara Miller.

Transcript and show notes at energy.mit.edu/podcasts