HOST: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE DYING JUST TRYING TO HAVE BABIES.

HOST: BUT THE STATISTICS TELL A FRIGHTENING STORY.

BLACK WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO DIE DURING CHILDBIRTH THAN WHITE WOMEN.

>> THERE IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT COMES UP THAT BLACK PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL THE SAME PAIN AS WHITE FOLKS, WHICH JUST IS ABSURD AND COMPLETELY NOT TRUE.

>> GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAYS A BREAKDOWN AT AN ATOMIC POWER PROBABLY THE WORST NUCLEAR REACTOR ACCIDENT TO DATE.

HOST: AS THE PLANET CONTINUES TO HEAT UP, MANY ARE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT A CONTROVERSIAL SOURCE OF ENERGY.

>> RIGHT AFTER THREE MILE ISLAND AND CHERNOBYL KIND OF THE WORLD TOOK A PAUSE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

MORE RECENTLY, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID NUCLEAR HAS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BECAUSE THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ARE FORWARD TO GREAT.

-- ARE FAR TOO GREAT.

♪ HOST: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

PAMELA WATTS IS OFF THIS WEEK.

OF LIFE'S MOST MEANINGFUL MOMENTS.

BUT IT CAN ALSO HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, CONSEQUENCES, AND SOMETIMES, EVEN DEATH.

THE PROBLEMS AFFECT SOME GROUPS MORE THAN OTHERS, WITH RACIAL MINORITIES FACING DISPROPORTIONATE RISK.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT TAKES A LOOK AT A MOVEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND, WORKING TO HELP EXPECTING WOMEN WITH THE AID OF JULIA'S.

-- THEY ARE NON-MEDICAL BERTHING PROFESSIONALS WHO OFFER SUPPORT TO WOMEN BEFORE DURING AND AFTER BIRTH.

MANY BELIEVE THEY CAN HELP IMPROVE THE OUTCOME FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN APRIL, THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ACCESS THEIR SERVICES.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE CARED FOR.

YOU ARE GROWING LIFE INSIDE OF YOU AND BRINGING NEW LIFE ON THIS EARTH.

AND SO I REALLY WANTED TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND WITH CARE.

>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE THOSE FEET.

HOST: CARMEN PIERRE CANAL HAS ALWAYS KNOWN THAT SHE WANTED TO BE A MOM.

WHEN SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT LAST YEAR, SHE DECIDED TO GIVE BIRTH AT HOME.

SHE SAYS SHE WAS SCARED TO HAVE HER BABY GIRL AT A HOSPITAL.

>> I DID NOT HAVE FAITH IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, THAT I WOULD RECEIVE THAT KIND OF CARE THROUGHOUT MY PREGNANCY AND DURING MY BIRTH.

I LOVE YOU.

HOST: WHILE PIERRE WAS PREGNANT WITH HER DAUGHTER LEAH SHE HIRED A WOMAN WHO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH HER ANXIETY DURING PREGNANCY AND LABOR.

>> DURING THE ACTUAL BIRTH, THE COMFORT MEASURES THAT SHE PROVIDED FROM THE MOMENT SHE WALKED INTO THE HOME, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TIME THE BABY ARRIVED, I JUST IT WAS QUITE AMAZING.

>> IT IS VERY EMOTIONAL WORK.

IT IS A VULNERABLE TIME IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT THIS WORK WITH EVERY FAMILY THAT I COME TO RID HOST: FELICIA LOVE WAS THE WOMAN THAT PIERRE HIRED.

IN FACT, SHE IS THE COPRESIDENT OF DOULAS OF RHODE ISLAND AND KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF HER PROFESSION.

>> IS A NONMEDICAL SUPPORT PERSON, SO THEY ARE NOT A MIDWIFE, NOT A NURSE -- NURSE.

THEY ARE A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL THAT WILL SERVE A BERTHING PERSON THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY, LABOR, POSTPARTUM.

WHAT THEY DO IS THEY WILL GIVE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, THEY WILL GIVE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

HELP PROVIDE EVIDENCE, HELP TO WORK THROUGH ANY FEARS THE PERSON MIGHT BE HAVING.

HOST: FELICIA LOVE WAS INSPIRED TO BECOME A DOULA AFTER HAVING HER FIRST CHILD AT 17 YEARS OLD.

AT THE TIME, SHE WAS IN FOSTER CARE.

>> I WENT TO THE APPOINTMENTS BY MYSELF.

AND I WHEN I HAD QUESTIONS I DID NOT HAVE ANYONE TO TURN TO, SO WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR ME TO GO INTO LABOR, I HAD TO HAVE MY LABOR INDUCED.

IT WAS KIND OF DRAMATIC.

I WENT THROUGH A SURGERY, AND EMERGENCY SURGERY AFTERWARDS.

OH AND I HAD TO LEAVE MY SON IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WEEK LONG NICU STATE.

HOST: SHE SAYS THAT EXPERIENCE AFFECTED HER SELF-ESTEEM AS A NEW MOM.

WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT AGAIN, 16 YEARS LATER, SHE KNEW SHE WANTED TO HAVE A DOULA BUT SHE COULD NOT AFFORD ONE.

THEN, SHE MET A DOULA WHO AGREED TO WORK WITH HER FOR FREE.

>> HELPS TO CLEAR ANY FEARS THAT I HAD FROM THE LAST PREGNANCY, WHEN I WENT INTO LABOR, SHE WAS THERE.

AND I FELT SO CONFIDENT.

I WAS ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH TO THIS BEAUTIFUL, NINE AND A HALF POUND BABY NO EPIDURAL AND I WAS SO PROUD.

I JUST FELT SO FULFILLED AND SO HAPPY, AND I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO GIVE THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

HOST: IN HER FIVE YEARS WORKING AS A DOULA, LOVE HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT NOT ALL EXPECTED MOTHERS ARE TREATED THE SAME.

>> OFTEN TIMES, PEOPLE'S PAIN IS NOT RECOGNIZED.

THERE IS THE COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT COMES UP THAT BLACK PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL THE SAME TYPE OF PAIN AS WHITE FOLKS.

WHICH JUST IS ABSURD AND COMPLETE WE NOT TRUE, BUT WE DO SEE THAT OFTEN, THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING LISTENED TO.

HOST: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HISTORICALLY, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TEND TO DISMISS THE PAIN OF WOMEN IN GENERAL MORE THAN THEY DO MEN BECAUSE OF GENDER BIAS.

LEADING TO PATIENTS BEING MISDIAGNOSED.

THE SITUATION IS WORSE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.

ACCORDING TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BLACK WOMEN ARE 42% MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A SEVERE COMPLICATION DURING DELIVERY THEN WHITE WOMEN.

>> WE KNOW THAT OVERALL, THE UNITED STATES IS FAILING HORRIBLY AT ADDRESSING MATERNAL MORTALITY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

HOST: AND DIDI IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY AND SPECIALIZES IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD A DOULA ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A C-SECTION.

THEY REPORT GREATER SATISFACTION WITH LABOR AND DELIVERY.

REPORT FEWER PUBLICATIONS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO INITIATE.

SO WE KNOW THE ROLE OF DOULAS AS MEMBERS OF THE CARE TEAM FOR THE WOMAN ARE TREMENDOUSLY BENEFICIAL.

HOST: SHE SAYS MANY TIMES, BLACK WOMEN DID NOT HAVE THE SOCIAL SUPPORT THEY NEED IN THE HOSPITAL.

WHICH CAN LEAD TO UNNECESSARY SURGERIES.

>> AND SO, IF A PROVIDER SHIFT IS CHANGING OR IF THE PROVIDER IS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE LABOR IS NOT PROGRESSING, WE OFTEN TIMES SEE MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY C-SECTION AS A WAY TO GET THE JOB DONE.

AND A DOULA CAN INTERVENE AND QUESTION WHETHER THIS DECISION IS BEING MADE ON BEHALF OF THE WOMAN WHO IS IN ACTIVE LABOR.

HOST: FOUR RHODE ISLAND STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARSIA VASSAL, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

HER LIFE DRASTICALLY CHANGED WHEN HE FIVE YEARS AGO, AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER TWIN BOYS.

>> FIVE DAYS AFTER THE TWINS WERE BORN, I HAD WHAT I LATER FOUND OUT TO BE A HEMORRHAGE.

ON THE RIGHT AREA OF MY BRAIN.

I REMEMBER HAVING THE MOST GIGANTIC HEADACHE THAT ANYONE COULD EVER HAVE.

IN FACT, IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING THAT I REMEMBER OPENING THE FREEZER DOOR AND STICKING MY HEAD IN IT.

JUST TO RELIEVE THE PAIN.

HOST: SHE HAD A HEADACHE FOR FIVE DAYS BEFORE THEY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.

SHE WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN HEMORRHAGE THAT COULD HAVE KILLED HER.

HER SURVIVAL PROMPTED HER TO BEGIN DOING RESEARCH ON BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH.

AND SHE QUICKLY FOUND THAT HER EXPERIENCE WAS NOT AN ANOMALY.

SHE BELIEVED IF SHE HAD A DUAL LOVE, THEY WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL SOONER.

THEY INTRODUCED A DOULA BILL IN 2019 A FEW YEARS AFTER SHE TOOK OFFICE.

THE CURRENT LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE THAT PRIVATE INSURANCE PROVIDERS AND MEDICAID REQUIRED TO PAY AT LEAST $800 OF SERVICES DURING PREGNANCY AND UP TO ONE YEAR POSTPARTUM.

>> WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE DYING, JUST TRYING TO HAVE BABIES.

NO ONE SHOULD BE DYING FROM A BERTHING EXPERIENCE.

HOST: BUT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THEY AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL HAVE HIT ROADBLOCKS, LARGELY FROM THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY WHICH HAS ARGUED THAT THE BILL WOULD BE TO HIGHER PREMIUMS.

EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROLE OF A DOULA HAS TAKEN TIME.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO BE A BIG EXPENSE FOR THE STATE.

>> ANOTHER BARRIER FROM MY VANTAGE POINT IS THE STATEMENT WANTING TO PONY UP, FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD OR PHRASE, THE 34 HUNDRED DOLLARS.

TO PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET.

HOST: WHEN PIERRE CALLED HER INSURANCE PROVIDER TO FIND OUT IF DOULA SERVICES WERE COVERED, SHE WAS SURPRISED BY WHAT SHE HEARD.

>> I'M SORRY A WHAT?

I WAS LIKE A DOULA.

AND SHE WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW THAT IS.

HOST: ONCE SHE EXPLAINED WHAT THAT IS, SHE WAS TOLD EXPENSE WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED.

WHAT PUSHBACK DO YOU HEAR ABOUT THE DOULA BILL AND HOW YOU RESPOND?

>> THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS A PROFIT SYSTEM AND I THINK PROVIDERS, NURSES, THE SYSTEM OVERALL, SEES DOULAS AS ANCILLARY.

HOST: CORTINA HAS BEEN A DOULA FOR SIX YEARS AND HAS HELPED WITH THE BIRTHS OF MORE THAN 30 BABIES.

SHE HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW BLACK CLIENTS ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM WHITE CLIENTS IN THE MATERNITY WARD.

>> IT IS NOT JUST BLACK WOMEN GOING TO BE HOSPITAL AND TREATED LIKE TRASH.

THAT IS NOT WHAT IT IS.

YOU KNOW, IT IS PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE, IT IS MICRO AGGRESSIONS.

IT IS ALWAYS -- OH IS THAT THE BABY DADDY?

INSTEAD OF YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR PARTNER.

.

SMALL NUANCES.

REPEATED QUESTIONS ABOUT DRUG USE.

A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS SOMETIMES.

HOST: AND SHE SAYS WHILE HER WHITE CLIENTS WORRY ABOUT HAVING DIM LIGHTS AND AROMATHERAPY, HER BLACK CLIENTS ALL TOO OFTEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SURVIVAL.

>> MY CLIENT DOES NOT WANT TO DIE.

THAT'S IT.

SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DIE.

SHE WANTS TO COME HOME WITH HER BABY.

THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR A LOT.

HOST: THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF SOCIOECONOMICS.

THE MORTALITY RATE FOR BLACK WOMEN WITH AT LEAST A COLLEGE DEGREE WAS FIVE TIMES AS HIGH AS WHITE WOMEN WITH A SIMILAR EDUCATION.

BLACK WOMEN ALSO SUFFER MORE COMPLICATIONS DURING DELIVERY.

SHE SAYS HAVING A DOULA HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE THOSE COMPLICATIONS.

BUT SHE POINTS OUT, THE RESEARCH IS ONGOING ABOUT WHETHER DOULAS GO SO FAR AS TO LOWER THE MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES.

>> I WILL SAY THAT OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STUDYING THAT RELATIONSHIP, SO I WAS JUST RECENTLY FUNDED BY NIH, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, ON A FIVE-YEAR MULTI MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO LOOK AT THE ROLE OF DOULAS IN ADDRESSING MATERNAL MORTALITY.

HOST: THE CDC FINDS ABOUT 60% OF PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE.

TAKE A LOOK AT CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAS BEEN LAUDED AS A SUCCESS STORY.

IT SAW ITS MORTALITY DECLINED BY 55% BETWEEN 2006 TO 2013, WHILE THE NATIONAL MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE CONTINUED TO RISE.

A STATEWIDE COLLABORATIVE INVESTIGATED THE COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH, LIKE PREECLAMPSIA, HEMORRHAGES AND SEPSIS.

HOSPITALS ADOPTED NEW PROTOCOLS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT SPOTTING AND TREATING THESE COMPLICATIONS.

PIERRE DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING HER DELIVERY.

STILL, SHE IS GLAD SHE SPENT ABOUT ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE A DOULA AND THAT SHE COULD AFFORD ONE.

>> CAN YOU GRAB MOMMY'S FINGER?

YOU'RE GRABBING MY THUMB.

HOST: SHE IS SOAKING IN THE MANY FIRSTS THAT COME WITH BEING A NEW MOM.

IT IS NOT LOST ON HER HOW MANY OTHER BLACK WOMEN WERE NOT ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT JOY.

>> I LOOK AT MY CHILD EVERY DAY AND I JUST FEEL SO BLESSED AND SO GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO BE A PART OF HER LIFE.

SO, I JUST FEEL REALLY, REALLY BLESSED.

HOST: REPRESENTATIVE WRANGLING SAYS SHE IS GRATEFUL THAT SHE SURVIVED, BUT OFTEN THINGS ABOUT THOSE WHO DID NOT.

>> SO, THIS BILL IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

IT IS PERSONAL BECAUSE I GET TO SEE MY TWINS RIGHT NOW AND THEY ARE 25.

I GET TO HOLD MY GRANDSON, ALLIANCE.

I CALL HIM MY SWEET LITTLE BROWN FACED BOY.

AND I KEEP THINKING, OH MY GOD, I ALMOST MISSED THIS.

I ALMOST MISSED ELIAS.

AND SO THIS BILL IS FOR ALL OF THE MOMS WHO DID NOT GET TO SEE THEIR BABIES.

HOST: LAST AUGUST, THE STATE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT MAKES DOULA SERVICES ELIGIBLE THROUGH REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS.

THE STATE EXTENDED MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR THOSE SERVICES.

NEXT, WE TURN TO A NEW UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT.

SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE THAT IF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE NOT REDUCED QUICKLY, THEY COULD SOON OVERWHELM THE ABILITY OF BOTH HUMANS AND NATURE TO ADAPT.

EVEN IF THE EARTH'S TEMPERATURES RISE JUST A FEW MORE TENTHS OF A DEGREE THAN THEY ARE NOW, THE STUDY WARNS THAT TODAY'S CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM WILL STILL BE ALIVE IN THE YEAR 2100, WILL EXPERIENCE FOUR TIMES MORE FLOODS, STORMS, DROUGHTSAND HEAT WAVES.

IF THE EARTH GETS EVEN WARMER, IT WILL BE MUCH WORSE.

HARROWING PROJECTIONS LIKE THIS ARE HAUNTING MANY, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTALISTS, TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT AN ENERGY SOURCE THAT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH CATASTROPHE AND DISASTER.

AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING GREEN SEEKERS SERIES, CONTRIBUTE IN REPORTER JOHN SMITH EXPLAINS.

>> SO THE WORD NUCLEAR TENDS TO MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, SO THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN MAKES PEOPLE UNEASY.

JOHN: KAITLYN IS A SENIOR STAFF COUNSEL AT THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE.

BACK IN 2013, FRESH OUT OF ROGER WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL, SHE MOVED TO WASHINGTON DC BEGAN SEARCHING FORWARD.

>> I ENDED UP CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AT THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE AND WE JUST KIND OF HIT IT OFF.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SERENDIPITOUS THINGS.

AND I THOUGHT LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.

FROM THERE, I LEARNED A TON ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY, THE COMMERCIAL POWER SECTOR, CLEAN ENERGY.

JOHN: THAT EDUCATION, SHE SAYS, HAS HELPED HER BECOME AN ADVOCATE, JOINING SEVERAL GROUPS WHO PROMOTE THE USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS WOMEN IN NUCLEAR.

>> ONE OF THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY ARE GOING INTO SCHOOLS AND PROVIDING LESSONS ON NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY.

JOHN: SHE IS ALSO PART OF MOTHERS FOR NUCLEAR, A GROUP OF MOTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT IF I GET THE CLOSURES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS.

FOR CAITLIN, AN ISSUE LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE IS PERSONAL.

>> I HAVE TWO KIDS.

EMMA IS GOING TO BE THREE YEARS OLD IN DECEMBER AND I DO SAY FOUR-MONTH OLD ENGINE.

HIS NAME IS WYATT.

-- A FOUR MONTH OLD IN JUNE.

A REPORT HAD COME OUT FROM THE U.N. ABOUT THAT WE HAD JUST REACHED A NEW TROUBLING MILESTONE IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND I STARTED TO GET REALLY ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT MY CHILDREN'S FUTURE IS GOING TO BE.

THAT ANXIETY BECAME A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

IT IS WHY I BECAME MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVOCATED FOR NUCLEAR.

JOHN: BUT GETTING MOST PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA THAT NUCLEAR ENERGY MIGHT BE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE.

MAINLY BECAUSE OF TWO DEFINING NUCLEAR INCIDENTS.

THE FIRST BEGAN AT 4 AM.

ON MARCH 28 1979.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST STEP IN A NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE, AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

NO WORSE THAN THAT.

GREAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT A BREAKDOWN AT AN ATOMIC POWER PLANT IN PENNSYLVANIA TODAY IS PROBABLY THE WORST NUCLEAR REACTOR ACCIDENT TODAY.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED HERE AT THE THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR POWER PLANT A DOZEN MILES SOUTH OF HARRISBURG.

JOHN: ULTIMATELY, HALF THE CORE OF ONE OF THREE MILE ISLAND'S REACTORS MELTED DOWN.

LESS THAN 10 YEARS LATER, IN APRIL OF 1986, DISASTER STRUCK AGAIN.

AT A NUCLEAR PLANT NEARLY 5000 MILES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

>> THE DANGER MAY BE ESCALATING.

IT IS AN ATOMIC FIRE AT THE SOVIETS CAN'T CONTAIN -- THAT THE SOVIETS CANNOT CONTAIN.

MANY HAVE DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY CONTAMINATED.

JOHN: BOTH ACCIDENTS FED TO THE RISE OF THE ANTI-NUCLEAR MOVEMENT, BUT IN RECENT YEARS, AS THIS UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS VIDEO ILLUSTRATES, THE PLANET IS HEATING UP AT A FASTER RATE THAN MANY THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

>> AS IF 2020 WASN'T ALREADY ONE OF THE DARKEST YEARS IN RECENT HISTORY, IT WAS ALSO THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD.

ACTUALLY, THE 10 WARMEST YEARS EVER HAVE ALL OCCURRED SINCE 2005.

THIS TREND IS NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE ANYTIME SOON.

MORE FREQUENT HEAT EXTREMES ARE ALREADY HAVING REAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK.

>> RIGHT AFTER THREE MILE ISLAND AND CHERNOBYL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE WORLD TOOK A PAUSE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

MORE RECENTLY, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THAT NUCLEAR HAS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ARE FAR TOO GREAT.

>> OUR POSITION IS VERY NEUTRAL.

JOHN: DR. ED LYMAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF NEW THEIR POWER SAFETY AT THE UNION FOR CONCERNED SCIENTISTS IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

>> WE'VE NEVER TAKEN A POSITION PRO-OR ANTI-NUCLEAR.

BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT NUCLEAR POWER HAS UNIQUE SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS.

AND THAT THOSE HAVE TO BE GIVEN AT THE FULLEST AND ATTENTION -- ATTENTION IF NUCLEAR POWER IS GOING TO PLAY A ROLE IN MIDI GETTING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

JOHN: MANY OF THOSE RISKS RELATE TO THE AGING FLEET OF PLANTS.

ORIGINALLY LESSONS FOR 40 YEARS, MANY HAVE RECEIVED THE 20 YEAR LICENSE EXTENSION, WITH SOME BEGINNING TO APPLY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS.

>> THAT RAISES THE POSSIBILITY THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS, THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, THEY REALLY NEED VERY HIGH ASSURANCE TO THOSE KINDS OF SYSTEMS ARE GOING TO FUNCTION, EVEN AS THEY AGE AND DETERIORATE.

JOHN: LAST SUMMER WE VISITED THE MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IT IS HERE IN THE SMALL CONTROL ROOM THAT OFFERS -- OPERATORS CONTROL -- TRAIN TO WORK A REAL POWERPLANT.

>> WE TRAIN DOWN TO THE MILLIMETER TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS IN THE CONTROL ROOM ARE IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AS THEY ARE IN HERE.

JOHN: 10 WORKS FOR THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE PLANT, DOMINION ENERGY.

THERE IS NO SURPRISE HE LANDS ON THE SIDE OF NUCLEAR POWER BEING THE KEY TO A CARBON FREE SOURCE OF ENERGY.

>> MILLSTONE REPRESENTS 95% OF THE CARBON FREE ENERGY GENERATED IN CONECTICUT.

JOHN: THAT IS NEARLY HALF OF THE STATE OF ELECTRICITY NEED COMING FROM ONE SOURCE.

BUT AS NUCLEAR PLANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY GET OLDER AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD NEW ONES, THE FUTURE HE SAYS, IS GRIM.

>> IS MILLSTONE GOES AWAY, IT IS NOT A SOLAR FARM THAT IS GOING TO BE BUILT TO REPLACE IT.

IT IS NOT WIND POWER THAT IS GOING TO REPLACE IT.

IT IS GOING TO BE NATURAL GAS.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A ZERO CARBON RESOURCE OFF THE GRID AND REPLACE IT WITH A CARBON RESOURCE.

AND THAT JUST MAKES YOUR JOB THAT MUCH HARDER IN REDUCING CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

JOHN: STILL, CAN SAYS HIS COMPANY'S GOAL IS TO BE NET CARBON ZERO BY 2050.

>> SO WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REDUCE OUR CARBON IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

OR HOW WE CAN MITIGATE IT.

JOHN: BECAUSE OF HOW DEPENDENT THE AREA IS ON MILLSTONE TO GENERATE A TRUE MENACE AMOUNT OF ENERGY, DO YOU FIND THAT IT IS OFTEN EASIER IN THAT PROCESS, BECAUSE OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO REPLACE IT?

>> SO THE PROCESS DOES NOT LOOK AT NEED AT ALL.

THE NRC PROCESS IS FOCUSED SOLELY ON SAFETY.

IF THE NRC DOES NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO OPERATE THE UNIT FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE LESSONS.

JOHN: CREATED IN 1974, THE NRC OR NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IS IN -- IS AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT REGULATES USE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS.

IS THE NRC DOING ENOUGH IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE TO REGULATE THE OPERATIONS OF AGING NUCLEAR PLANTS?

>> WE DO NOT THINK SO.

ONE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING NOW IS THIS AGING POPULATION OF PLANTS IS FACING DIRE ECONOMIC PRESSURE IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRICES OF THE ALTERNATIVES.

NATURAL GAS, PLANTS ARE SHUTTING DOWN.

THERE IS ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON PLANTS TO CUT COSTS.

AND WHERE YOU CUT COSTS IN THINGS LIKE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS AND REPAIRS AND ALL OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLANT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

JOHN: HE SAYS THE NRC IS NOT IMMUNE TO INDUSTRY INFLUENCE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT KIND OF PRESSURE.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE AGENCY HAS DONE ENOUGH TO SAFEGUARD THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THESE PLANTS AS THEY AGE.

JOHN: SO WHAT ABOUT LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF GROWTH, SPECIFICALLY THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INDUSTRY?

ARE YOU SEEING THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH?

OR HAS IT SEEMED TO HAVE STAGNATED?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THE POTENTIAL FOR UNITS LIKE MILLSTONE, A NEW MEDICAL BIG -- THAT MAY GO BIG GENERATING STATION ARE PROBABLY SLIM.

THERE IS NOT MANY CHANCES OF SOMETHING THAT BIG BEING BUILT AGAIN.

BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SMALL MODULE REACTORS.

THESE ARE REACTORS THAT PRODUCE ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE POWER, BUT ARE A 10 THE SIZE.

JOHN: A RECENT STARTUP COFOUNDED BY BILL GATES CALLED TERRA POWER IS PLANNING TO DO JUST THAT.

BY BUILDING A SMALLER 340 FIVE MEGAWATT PLANT IN WYOMING BY 2028.

THE PLANT WILL USE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY TO DRASTICALLY MITIGATE THE ISSUES OF THE PAST.

BUT DR. LYMAN SAYS WHILE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY IS MORE BROADLY LOOKING TO NUCLEAR ENERGY AS ONE OF THE ANSWERS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE INDUSTRY ITSELF HAS BEEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO CHANGE THEIR IMAGE FOR DECADES.

>> THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IS MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO, REALIZED THAT ONE SELLING POINT WE HAD IS THAT IT IS A LOW-POWER SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING THAT MESSAGE FOR DECADES.

BUT IT HAS ONLY BECOME RESIDENT IN RECENT YEARS.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THERE WAS MERIT TO THAT, BUT AGAIN, YOU CANNOT -- YOU KNOW, IT IS A QUALIFIED ARGUMENT.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO NUCLEAR POWER TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT IS NOT -- THERE IS NO IMPERATIVE IF THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT CAN DO THINGS BETTER.

AND MORE SAFELY.

>> LET'S BUILD.

JOHN: ASK SUMMA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INCORPORATE NUCLEAR ENERGY INTO ITS CARBON FREE FUTURE, THERE IS ONE FUTURE ON CAITLIN'S MIND.

>> IT HAS LEGITIMATELY CROSSED MY MIND ON WHETHER I AM BEING RESPONSIBLE HAVING CHILDREN.

AND HAVING MORE CHILDREN.

AND SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FUTURE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE, BUT I FEEL LIKE ALL I CAN DO AS A MOM NOW IS DO MY VERY BEST TO TRY TO HELP SET THAT FUTURE UP.

BUT I THINK EVERY PARENT IN OUR GENERATION IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE IT CROSS THEIR MIND, WHAT AM I BRINGING MY CHILDREN INTO?

MICHELLE: FINALLY TONIGHT, WE ASK GUEST COMMENTATOR MYRA ALPHONSE TO GIVE US HER THOUGHTS ON NUCLEAR ENERGY.

MYRA: AS WE WRESTLE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK WITH NUCLEAR POWER AND WONDERING WHETHER IT CAN ACHIEVE GREEN ENERGY GOALS.

THERE ARE 55 POWER PLANTS OFFERING IN THE U.S.

RIGHT NOW.

-- OPERATING RIGHT NOW.

THEY PROVIDE 25% OF THE COUNTRY'S ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, MORE THAN HALF OF ITS LOW CARBON ELECTRICITY.

RELYING MORE ON NUCLEAR POWER COULD BE ONE WAY TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY WE GENERATE WITHOUT ADDING A LOT TO OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

THERE IS ONE NUCLEAR REACTOR IN THE OCEAN STATE, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

IT IS TINY, JUST TO MEGAWATTS AND USED FOR RESEARCH.

COMPARE THAT TO THE MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN CONNECTICUT, WHICH WE JUST SAW IN THE REPORT.

IT HAS A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN TWO GIGAWATTS, MORE THAN A THOUSAND TIMES AS MUCH AS THE TINY RHODE ISLAND REACTOR.

BUT HOW GREEN IS IT?

THAT DEPENDS ON WHICH ASPECTS WANT TO CONSIDER AND WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO IGNORE.

WHILE NUCLEAR POWER DOES NOT GENERATE POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE GASES LIKE FOSSIL FUELS DO, MINING URANIUM, WHICH THE REACTORS USE AS FUEL, RELEASES HUGE AMOUNTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

IT HAS A SIMILAR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO MINING FOR ALL.

WHILE IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE WIRED -- WATER SUPPLY THE WAY THAT FRACKING CAN, NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS USE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE WING SYSTEMS.

ACCORDING TO LOCAL NEWS REPORTS, MILLSTONE USES ABOUT TWO BILLION GALLONS OF SEA WATER DAILY, PULLING COLD WATER IN AND THEN DISCHARGING THE HEATED WATER INTO THE LONG ISLAND SOUND.

THAT IS ABOUT AS MUCH WATER AS THE ENTIRE CITY OF WARWICK USES IN A DAY.

BESIDES AIR POLLUTION, BURNING FOSSIL FUELS CREATES SOLID WASTE, AND COULDN'T ASH, SLAGGED AND OTHER PARTICULAR MATTER.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE CAN BECOME A MAJOR DISASTER IS NOT PROPERLY CONTAINED.

AND WHEN A PLANT IS DECOMMISSIONED, THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION, ACCIDENTS AND LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH DAMAGE INCREASES.

WHETHER RHODE ISLANDERS ARE FOR NUCLEAR POWER OR AGAINST IT, IT IS KIND OF A MOOT POINT.

RIGHT NOW, RHODE ISLAND HAS NO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND GETS 0% OF ITS ELECTRICITY FROM NUCLEAR POWER SOURCES.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO MINIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF GENERATING THE ENERGY WE ALL USE.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO LILA ALPHONSE.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT OUR EYE.ORG/WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, AVAILABLE ON YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAM PLATFORMS.

-- RIPBS.ORG GOOD NIGHT.

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