Author: Mary Kloser
We are proud to honor Alyssa Hayes as our May Volunteer of the Month! Her dedication to energy policy is both inspiring and vital to our work at Generation Atomic. Continue reading below to learn more about Alyssa and how she got interested in the world of nuclear.
Q: When did you first get into nuclear advocacy and why?
“In 2016, Clinton and Quad Cities NPPs were on the chopping block in Illinois, so I wanted to use my voice as a lifelong Illinois resident to help save them by advocating for the successful passage of FEJA. In 2021, Byron and Dresden NPPs faced the same fate and I kept the momentum going by pushing for the passage of CEJA as well. I’ve always wanted to be politically active and since gaining academic expertise in nuclear engineering, I now plan to pursue a lengthy career in energy policy.”
Q: What has been one of your favorite moments while being a nuclear advocate?
“Saving Byron and Dresden Nuclear Power Plants represented a long-term success for nuclear in my home state of Illinois and hope for public perception of nuclear as a clean energy source by progressives.”
Q: What hopes do you have for the future of nuclear energy?
“In my lifetime, I hope to see the consensual global adoption of new nuclear facilities to serve many energy sectors, and in a way that is equitable and anti-colonial. I hope to see nations like Niger gain ownership over their uranium exports and for nations like South Korea to independently decide if they want to peacefully pyroprocess without onerous repercussions from American overlords. I hope to see nuclear power used to decarbonize beyond the electric grid and for industrial manufacture and district heating. I have high hopes for small modular reactor global exports and for a sustainable future.”
Thank you to Alyssa and all our volunteers who continue to fight for a cleaner future!
