Directed by award-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Evan Mascagni, the film follows young advocates and business leaders in their push to expand nuclear power in America, where energy demand is surging due to factors including the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The added demand has raised questions about the reliability of America’s existing electric grid to support such increases. Advocates must overcome the controversial past of nuclear power as they tackle policy and financial challenges to unlock its transformative potential as a clean energy source.
The public is invited to attend the free screening Sept. 18 in the Encova Auditorium of Marshall’s Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation in Huntington.
Events will begin at 4 p.m. with a reception, followed by a screening of the film at 4:30 p.m. The event will conclude with a panel discussion by industry experts, Marshall faculty members, state officials and business leaders about the future of nuclear power and how it safely can meet the growing energy demand. The event is free, but attendees are asked to register for the event at www.mfg.marshall.edu/nuclear.
Marshall is part of a nine-state tour with screenings of the film on 14 college campuses, where cutting-edge research is underway and future scientists and engineers are studying. Filmmakers hope the tour will spark a national conversation about the potential of nuclear power and the role of the next generation in embracing and building it.
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More about the film: The Nuclear Frontier offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how industry, technology and policy are converging to shape America’s next energy chapter, particularly as the country competes against China for leadership in nuclear’s zero-carbon technology. The United States has built just two nuclear reactors in the past 30 years, while China has built 37 in just 10 years and has another 30 under construction. The documentary was filmed at locations including California’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which had been slated for closure before employee efforts and broader pro-nuclear advocacy influenced the decision to extend its operation.