Educational Media Reviews Online

Indian Point explores both sides of the debate on nuclear energy. Six percent (6%) of the United States population lives within 50 miles of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant that sits just 35 miles from New York City. The director, Ivy Meeropol, presents a balanced view of nuclear power by interviewing Indian Point workers, surrounding community members, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) members.

The events in the film take place after the 2011 Fukashima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster. That event sent ripples through the public’s willingness to accept nuclear power as a safe and viable option for power generation in the United States. Indian Point provides unbiased opinions on nuclear power through the lens of the various people affected by the plant. Equal time and attention is given to those that support and those that oppose nuclear power. Roger Witherspoon, science journalist, sums up the conflicting viewpoints eloquently. He uses the analogy that if you are shot at but the bullet misses you and you are a solider, this is a good day, but if you are a civilian, it is a very bad day. This relates to the nuclear power industry because those that work at Indian Point may not see the inherent dangers that are clearly evident to those that live in the shadow of the plant.

Additionally an overview of the bureaucracy of the NRC, is shown through the political witch-hunt of former NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko. He faced opposition with his fellow commissioners and was forced to resign after he attempted to implement new safety compliance measures on an aggressive timeline. This infighting caused the proposed safety regulations to be abandoned, much to the disdain of those living in the shadow of Indian Point.

Indian Point is highly recommended. It is a useful resource to support classroom instruction and contribute to public education by providing an unbiased overview of the nuclear power debate.