45-year Rebuke for Nukes: Three Mile Island Disaster has Hammered U.S. Energy

Doug McIntyre reflects on the impact of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown, which significantly diminished the growth of nuclear energy in the U.S. Following the partial reactor meltdown, public fear has persisted, driven by concerns over cancer risks, catastrophic accidents and radiation leaks. As a result, the number of nuclear reactors in the country fell from 111 in 1980 to 92, with nuclear power providing only 18% of the nation’s electricity. In contrast, some European countries derive over 40% of their power from nuclear fission.