A Navy Veteran’s Case for Bringing Nuclear Power to Maine, with Sarah Lemonick @ Atomic Canyon

Sarah Lemonick is a U.S. Navy veteran and now a product manager at Atomic Canyon, where she’s helping shape the future of nuclear energy with AI. In this episode, she joins Jonathan Bush to talk about what Maine — and the country — can learn from her experience operating nuclear reactors aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

Together, they explore:

– What small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) actually are– How nuclear stacks up against solar, wind, coal, and natural gas– The safety lessons we’ve learned since Three Mile Island and Fukushima– Why nuclear waste is more compact (and less terrifying) than people think– How AI can help cut costs and regulatory bloat across the nuclear sector– The surprising role tech giants like Microsoft and Google are playing in nuclear’s comeback– What it would really take to bring small-scale nuclear to Maine—and why it’s worth considering

Sarah also shares how a background in literature led to a career in nuclear ops, how the Navy shaped her leadership style, and why she believes the biggest energy opportunity for Maine isn’t wind or solar — but fission.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about energy independence, climate policy, and the real future of clean power.