by Nadia Cook-Loshilov

            While driving along the fenced-in perimeter of the Indian Point Energy Center, it is easy to crack jokes about the mysteries that lie behind the chain link. Pop culture has helped to brand nuclear power as the source of apocalyptic fables where green monsters emerge from radioactive waste puddles shooting lasers from their eyes while superheroes (who have also had encounters with radioactivity, naturally) fly about as buildings crash all around them. One may believe that, deep within the confines of the facility, splitting atoms are radiating poison so toxic that any scientist who gets within fifty feet drops dead. Or perhaps there is a room dedicated entirely to testing explosions with enough power to desolate nations. Or perhaps the plant workers walk about in heavy protective lead suits while Imagine Dragons’ hit song “Radioactive” plays on constant loop, reminding every soul on site that they are only one minor error away from the end days.

Or perhaps not.

Truth be told, there is an exorbitant amount of misinformation out there in the world regarding nuclear power—and an exorbitant amount of fear that grows from that misinformation. In every argument against becoming more reliant on nuclear power, fear-inducing words inevitably come up: Chernobyl, Fukushima, Hiroshima, Nagasaki. Understandably, these tragedies have resonated with the public over the decades since nuclear capabilities were introduced and tend to take precedent over nuclear power’s triumphs. Before visiting Indian Point, I, myself, had my concerns about nuclear energy. I was never entirely against it, but I felt that anything that could cause damage to human life at a molecular level was something that probably should not be a first choice for energy dependence. I was also quite susceptible to the cultural image of nuclear activity (yes, radioactive spider bites and all). However, I knew that many pieces were missing in my mental puzzle of nuclear power—after all, there must be more to this story than casualty counts and spidey senses. So as we pulled into the front gate of Indian Point, I opened the car door and my mind to the possibilities that existed beyond the chain-link fence.

One of the most common fears that surround nuclear facilities is security. People naturally fear that with such great power comes—no, not great responsibility—but great probability of a threat. However, within about ten minutes of being on the facility campus, it is clear that an extensive security system exists to keep even the most paranoid people’s worries at bay. Although the plant began operating in 1962, it has undergone numerous structural and security updates over the past five decades. Security was tightened further after the terrorist attacks of September 11^th following rumor that it was considered a possible target for the attack. Just to get past the first building, our names had to be on a preapproved list and we had to present documented proof of our US citizenship. We then had to wait in a second building (where workers would scan their IDs and press their hands down on a kind of scanner/pressure reader before being able to access the area beyond that point) for two security guards to run pat-downs on all of us. Then we were able to gain access to the main hub where our lecture took place. In order to actually enter the area where the machines were at work, we had to go through a metal detector and puffer machine (like what you would see at an airport).

Later on in our day, we learned that there are actually three total levels of security (one to get passed the gates, one to have access to the facility itself and one to have access to the “vital area”—where only specific, approved workers were permitted), with each level tighter than the previous. Cell phones are not permitted once you enter the generator areas and once you enter the vital area, there is no Internet, which thwarts any possibility of hacking the system. The workers also go to great lengths to ensure that the facility is protected 24/7. There are numerous armed guards stationed throughout and a motion sensitive fence surrounding the buildings containing the generators called Unit 2 and Unit 3 (Unit 1 has not been in operation for some time) that, if touched, will immediately bring said armed guard into your personal space (luckily no one touched the fence during our trip!). Perhaps the most unique and exciting development into Indian Point’s security system is an event that takes place once a year where specially skilled soldiers create plans to infiltrate the plant and stage an “attack” that lasts several days. To this day, these soldiers have yet to gain access to the vital area, which means that no kind of facility hijack is likely to ever occur.

While the rumor persists among anti-nuclear advocates that security is somehow lax in the facility, I saw no such indication If anything, I felt like the security was a bit over the top, but Indian Point runs on a very smart “better safe than sorry” policy. True, to an outside eye, this intense amount of security could come off as intimidating. But once again, thankfully, Indian Point has never had to deal with any major security threats and while some may argue that this is somehow to its detriment (that is, that because they have never had to deal with a major security lapse, they somehow will not be able to adequately protect themselves from an attempted hack) any critic who argues that security needs to be tightened needs but to spend an hour on site to see that this is simply not the case.

Sitting through the lecture was a two-and-a-half-hour eye opener for me. The details of how nuclear fission occurs is fascinating but surprisingly similar to how any other kind of electricity is created with one simple difference: splitting atoms. Without getting into the intricate scientific details (after all, Google is our friend), electricity is generated using a coil and a magnet and spinning one around the other. In order to spin the magnet, water is heated into steam, which spin fan blades that in turn spin the magnet, generating electricity. At an oil or coal refinery, these items are burned to heat the water. At a nuclear plant the water is heated by the energy that is released when atoms are split. For nuclear power, these atoms are primarily uranium, which split when they are hit by neutrons. In order for this to occur in a contained fashion, uranium pellets are placed into fuel assemblies, which are heated by the fission that occurs within the pellets, which then heat the aforementioned water. Along with heat, radiation is also emitted, which is a particular issue where public opinion really begins to take hold in the scientific debate on nuclear power.

What really challenged me in this lecture was not the science behind nuclear power, but having to reexamine my own outdated and biased views on the effects of nuclear energy. After all, it is often much easier to hold one’s ground on ill-informed but powerful beliefs than to admit one’s ignorance in complex matters. After security, my (and many people’s) major—and often loudest—fear is safety. This has less to do with the security of a facility from outside attack as it does from the dangers of working with nuclear power. So let us play everyone’s favorite game, “But what about…?”. Here we can look at five major concerns and how the plant would respond to each possible emergency. It is important to note that in almost all these cases, the facility is capable of shutting itself down and will do so in the event of these issues.

“But what about a terrorist attack?” This is probably the most pressing concern in today’s society, especially for a facility that is located only a few dozen miles from the site of one of the most devastating events in United States’ history. Most people worry that because the facility is facing openly to the Hudson River, it would be very easy to fly a plane into the plant and cause some kind of catastrophic explosion. However, each containment building (which houses the reactors) was built with layers of concrete and metal so strong that when scientists flew a plane into a block of this material, the plane almost completely disintegrated on contact (If you would like to see it in video format, see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25vlt7swhCM). Here, we simply have a case of fear tending to trump facts. When one looks at the devastation caused by the 9/11 attacks, one may assume that that kind of meltdown could be even more harmful if staged at a nuclear facility. But the absolute fact of the matter is that the reactors are extremely well protected. Interestingly, the actual nuclear waste facility has a less protective exterior, but because it held in an underground container, it is virtually impossible for an airplane to strike the waste. A bomb, while more detrimental to the nuclear facility is almost a moot point, seeing as the bomb itself would destroy the area and would distribute plenty of its own radioactivity.

“But what about a nuclear explosion?” Once again, misinformation has led many to believe that, because nuclear fission is occurring on the premises, there are explosive capabilities. This is actually untrue. The only kind of explosion that could occur is if the reactor overheats and there is a steam explosion. The steam explosion gained notoriety after the meltdown that occurred in Chernobyl. However, the primary reason why nuclear waste made its way outside the facility in that explosion was because of a lack of properly efficient and strong containment buildings. As stated above, this is absolutely not the case with Indian Point. As such, a steam explosion, while being a powerful blast that would likely cause damage to the machinery, would not cause any problematic leaks into the residential areas surrounding the facility.

“But what about an earthquake/hurricane/natural disaster/etc.?” With Indian Point being located right on the Hudson River and on a fault line, many people worry that with rising water levels and the possibility of earthquakes, Indian Point will become compromised by natural disaster. However, the facility already has several protective measures against just that. The buildings that house all the machinery are able to withstand a 6.1 earthquake, which is a little less than double the strongest earthquake New York has ever faced. Obviously, there is always a chance that something bigger could hit, which is something the facility must consider preparing for. With regards to rising waters (especially considering the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy), the waters would have to rise about a dozen or so feet before any vital equipment would risk being flooded. The plant is currently working on plans to ensure the safety of the entire area should such flooding occur.

“But what about its age? It is old/outdated/useless.” Yes, it is true that the facility is over fifty years old. However, contrary to critics claiming the equipment must be very run down, there is actually no original equipment still in use on the site. Everything has been updated and as a result the plant runs just as well as any brand new one. There are also people who claim that New York could easily go on without the power from Indian Point. However, considering New York depends on nuclear energy for 30.6% of its overall power (second only to natural gas at 35.7%) that statement seems to be a bit of a conundrum. So where exactly would we almost one third of our power from instead? Your guess is as good as mine.

“But what about the waste?” Now this is a huge concern that is often shouted from the rooftops by nuclear power critics. And for good reason. The effects of radiation sickness are numerous and damaging at a genetic level that can persist for generations (assuming it is not immediately fatal). However, it is important to note that we all are exposed to small amounts of radioactivity that exist in everything from our food to the cosmos. There are two major misconceptions about the nuclear waste that accumulates as a result of nuclear fission. One is the belief that tons upon tons of nuclear waste is produced to the point where it might as well be bursting from the walls of the buildings. The reality is 36 years’ worth of waste is stored just one pool (see image below) roughly the size of a backyard swimming pool. The pool itself was originally only meant to be a temporary storage unit and as such in recent years the nuclear waste is being stored in a handful of large sealed canisters on site. The second inaccurate concern is that the waste will be powerfully radioactive for billions upon billions of years. In reality, the most dangerous element in the waste has a half-life of 30 years. Scientists have deduced that radioactive elements reach tolerable (i.e. cease to have negative biological effects on humans) levels after seven half lives. This means that the small amount of waste they do have is already over half way through its “danger” period. Furthermore, if the United States government reconsiders their stance against reprocessing and it is permitted once again, this waste will literally disappear.

Walking into Indian Point, these were all concerns that I personally held, which helped to fuel (no pun intended) my less-than-positive view on relying on nuclear power. And in a matter of hours, these were all scientifically proven as inaccurate. It was a lot to handle for a Friday afternoon, but it was something that I had to come to terms with if I wanted to hold well-educated views on energy. And I believe that should be everyone’s goal. The problem with a lot of the energy arguments that are filling up news headlines and political debate is that they are not always factual (yes, there is falsified news out there on the world wide web—try not to be alarmed). And, truth be told, it is much easier to sit back and reiterate a sound bite you heard from a politician or pundit than to actually delve into research, particularly when you may look at news articles that manipulate data—either for or against nuclear power—in order to support a biased view.

It is important to remember that the workers of Indian Point are naturally going to be biased towards pro-nuclear power. They believe in the work that they do and they want to help power the human race for the next hundred years. I kept all this in mind while listening to slightly glossed-over negative facts (like that the plant may be responsible for up to a million marine life deaths, “if you count the eggs”). The way I see it, all power comes at a price. But in order to make an informed decision about what we should pay to have it, it is important to examine all arguments and bring them all together to form a personalized opinion. To bastardize a quote from Joni Mitchell, I’ve looked at nuclear power from both sides now, and I feel that it is something we are going to have to get more comfortable with in the years to come. When it comes to energy that reduces our carbon footprint while still being extensive and strong enough to power a large nation, nuclear power is next to none. And many of the concerns that are raised (as you can see above) are often misguided. My recommendation for everyone who lives near Indian Point, whether you are currently opposed to nuclear power or not, is to look into taking a tour of the facility. Fear comes from the unknown. Allow yourself to walk a mile in a world you do not quite understand and see what can be seen.

Walking about the facility was neither as spectacular nor as terrifying as I had built it up in my head. It was a loud. A bit warm. But no green monsters. No deathly explosions. Just power. Not superpower. Power. It is absolutely fantastically ordinary. But that is not the way we have been taught to see nuclear power. It does not match up to the words of the powers in charge. But these entities also tend to be the ones who have their money and hands in industries that are not necessarily conducive to the rise of nuclear energy. So they tell us terrifying stories about how nuclear energy will destroy the world and we believe them because the stories affect us. After all, we only get a short amount of time on this planet—why introduce anything that might bring down the curtain sooner than we hoped? But, believe it or not, nuclear power is not going to kill us. Want to know why? Because it is already here! Nuclear energy is not the enemy of the Earth. It is the thing that charges your cell phone and turns on your lights. In fact, many people are unaware of how much we actually already rely on nuclear energy as a significant chunk of our worldwide power. More and more countries are beginning to explore nuclear energy. France relies on it for three quarters of their power. Here in the United States, it accounts for almost twenty percent of our overall electricity. However, public opinion (particularly in the U.S.) has remained stalely opposed to nuclear power. This, I believe, comes from a combination of extreme misinformation and propagation of fear. It is a dangerous and powerful combination that holds us back and could seriously hurt us as the clock runs down on our current energy source.

No matter how you look at it, all the scientific predictions point to oil running out in the next few decades. If we want to avoid a massive energy crisis, we must begin looking more seriously at alternative forms of energy. And everything, including nuclear power, must stay on the table. As I mentioned before, all power comes at a price. It is up to us as a society to decide what we are willing to pay for it. The moral of my story is one that permeates throughout life itself. Let’s go out there and learn. Educating ourselves is not an easy undertaking—it means being comfortable with saying “I don’t know” and venturing into uncertain and conflicting territory. And it means challenging the way we see the world by not only understanding the opposing arguments, but also recognizing their validity. When we step over what we perceive as “the other side”, we may be amazed to learn how complex and interesting it is over there. We may not agree with what is being said—and no one is saying we have to—but perhaps we will be able to see a bigger picture. One that shows us that world is not as black and white as we once thought it was. It is not gray either. There is an amazingly beautiful technicolor world out there. As human beings, we owe it to our planet and to each other to understand as much as we can about the colorful place we inhabit and adapt our behavior so that we may walk together into a sustainable future.

And who knows? We might just save the world.