WATCH: Arizona Students Reconsider Nuclear After Seeing Data

WATCH NOW: CFACT Student Quizzes AZ Students on Nuclear Energy

College students hear constant calls for clean energy via solar panels and wind turbines, but far fewer have ever been challenged to consider where nuclear energy fits into the conversation. At the University of Arizona, CFACT Collegian Elliott Taylor set out to test students’ assumptions with a simple question and a surprising piece of data.

Elliott began by asking students what they believed was the most reliable low-carbon source of energy. The answers came quickly and confidently. Nearly two-thirds of the students interviewed selected solar power as their top choice. Others suggested wind, hydropower, and even wastewater treatment may also be the best option. Only one student suggested nuclear energy, though he added that it may be controversial.

Like many young Americans, the students’ responses reflected the energy narrative they have heard most often. Renewable sources such as solar and wind are frequently presented as the clean energy technologies of the future, while nuclear power is often discussed negatively, through the lens of accidents, radiation, and waste disposal.

Then Elliott introduced a graph from the U.S. Department of Energy comparing the capacity factor of major energy sources. The chart revealed that nuclear energy operates at a capacity factor of more than 92 percent, making it by far the most reliable source of electricity generation. Surprising to many students, solar and wind ranked near the bottom because they depend solely on weather conditions and time of day. The data also challenged assumptions about emissions, showing that nuclear energy remains one of the lowest-carbon sources of power available.

The reactions were immediate.

Several students expressed genuine shock that nuclear energy topped the list. Others were less surprised by nuclear’s performance but voiced concerns about the potential for radiation leaks and accidents, despite the industry’s strong safety record.

By the end of the conversations, several students said the information had changed their perspective.

These interviews reveal an important reality: many students are not opposed to examining new evidence—they simply have not been presented with it. When given data and the opportunity to think critically, preconceived notions can quickly give way to curiosity and a more nuanced understanding of complex energy issues.