CFACT Collegian Kaeli McIntyre brought a new kind of energy debate to Clovis Community College this semester, giving students a side-by-side look at nuclear, solar, and wind power.

On February 26, Kaeli set up her “Clean Energy Face-Off” board on campus with several friends who helped draw students toward the display. The handmade board compared nuclear, solar, and wind across several key categories: whether each source is carbon emissions-free, works at night, has strong energy density, uses land efficiently, and provides reliable power around the clock. Nuclear checked off all five categories.

California’s last nuclear plant still does heavy lifting. Diablo Canyon supplies roughly 9–10% of California’s electricity, despite years of political pressure to shut it down.

The simple visual proved to be an effective conversation starter. As students and faculty walked by to see the stickers, flyers, and comparison chart spread across the CFACT table, Kaeli used the opportunity to explain how nuclear energy outperforms wind and solar in several major ways. While the media and green activists often portray wind and solar as the future of energy production, the face-off board helped students see the tradeoffs that are usually left out of the conversation.

Over the course of the event, Kaeli reported that the booth sparked useful discussions about how society perceives different energy sources based on media narratives, and how those narratives often fail to match reality. Students left with informational flyers on solar, wind, and exploitative practices associated with the renewable energy supply chain, giving them a new balanced perspective they aren’t likely to hear in a classroom.

Conservationists warn that utility-scale solar projects in the Mojave Desert have already replaced more than 18,000 acres of desert tortoise habitat.

“It was a delight to see the wheels start spinning in student and faculty’s minds about the helpfulness of nuclear energy,” Kaeli said. “I think our future is bright and full of critical thinkers who can see the truth for what it is.”

Thanks to Kaeli’s work, Clovis Community College students were given a clear reminder that sound energy policy is not about trendy slogans and cost free. It is about reliability, affordability, efficiency, and the balance between tradeoffs. On all four counts, nuclear energy came out on top.