♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> IT IS NOT JUST A PUNCH IN THE FACE.

HIS IS NOT JUST A BRUISE, NOT JUST A SCAR.

IT IS MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT.

>> I GOT THE PASSIONATE COOK FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WATCHING MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY MOTHER AND EVERYBODY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF COOKING GOING ON IN MY HOUSEHOLD.

I WOULD BE INVOLVED IN IT.

IT JUST CONTINUED ON FROM THERE.

IT NEVER REALLY STOPPED.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

DAVID: AS THE WORLD SLOWLY EMERGES FROM THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE ARE NOW FACED WITH SOME DRAMATIC ISSUES THAT HAD GONE QUIET DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PAMELA: THE VIRTUAL SHUTDOWN LEFT MANY VULNERABLE PEOPLE WITH LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A STORY ABOUT VICTIMS WHO SAY EVEN IN NORMAL TIMES, THEY ARE FEARFUL ABOUT COMING FORWARD TO GET HELP.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DOROTHY DICKEY RECENTLY TACKLED THIS ISSUE AND HAS THIS REPORT.

>> IN THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, HE WAS GENTLE, KIND, CARING.

CONSTANTLY TOLD ME HOW BEAUTIFUL I AM.

WE GOT MARRIED PROBABLY ABOUT TWO YEARS INTO DATING AND WE HAD A CHILD, A DAUGHTER.

WE WERE VERY YOUNG.

I HAD JUST TURNED 21 AND HE WAS ONLY A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME.

♪ THROUGHOUT US DATING, I WOULD NOTICE THAT HE WOULD MAKE JOKES THAT REALLY WERE NOT THAT FUNNY.

I REMEMBER SAYING TO HIM, HEY, THAT JOKE WASN'T FUNNY.

IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

IT MADE ME FEEL, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN WAY.

"OH, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY."

HE WOULD CONSTANTLY APOLOGIZE.

IT WENT FROM THE NOT SO FUNNY JOKES TO ACTUAL NAME-CALLING, AND THEN IT GRADUALLY PROGRESSED UNTIL IT WAS PHYSICAL AND THEN FROM PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, AND THEN EVENTUALLY I WAS ISOLATED.

DOROTHY: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ROOTED IN POWER AND CONTROL WHEN ONE PERSON IN A RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN POWER AND CONTROL OVER AN INTIMATE PARTNER OR FAMILY MEMBER AND IT TAKES MANY FORMS.

IT IS NOT JUST A PUNCH IN THE FACE, NOT JUST A BRUISE, NOT JUST A SCAR.

IT IS MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT.

IT IS FINANCIAL.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE ISOLATION.

NOT BEING ALLOWED TO GO TO WORK.

SOCIAL.

NOT BEING ALLOWED TO HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS OR PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE BEING AROUND, AND USING THE CHILD FOR MANIPULATION.

USING THE SYSTEMS.

YOU NAME IT.

I CAN ACTUALLY SAY THAT IT WAS PHYSICAL IN THE BEGINNING.

I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY CHILD.

I GOT NERVOUS BECAUSE HE WAS DRIVING RECKLESS, AND I REMEMBER HOLDING MY STOMACH AND THE SEATBELT TIGHTENING UP AROUND MY NECK AND MY BELLY, AND I ASKED HIM TO STOP DRIVING RECKLESS, AND HE JUST PUT HIS HAND OVER MY MOUTH AND SQUEEZE MY FACE.

THAT WAS A SIGN THAT I DID NOT RECOGNIZE.

I ALWAYS HAD TO BE CAREFUL WITH MY REACTIONS TO HIM.

♪ >> NOT EVERYBODY IS SAFE AT HOME.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT SEEMS TO BE DOUBLY TRUE NOW.

IF YOU ARE HEARING ME SAY THIS AND YOU FEEL UNSAFE, I WANT YOU TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE SEEN A SURGE IN CALLS FOR HELP.

OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE RECEIVED 17,000 CALLS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC.

TYPICALLY, OUR HELPLINE SEES 10,000 TO 13,000 CALLS A YEAR.

UNEMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS ARE ALL LINKED TO INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMEONE MAY USE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

YOU DO IN THE PANDEMIC THAT EXACERBATED ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE KNEW THAT IT WAS A DANGEROUS TIME FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT HOME.

>> IT WASN'T EASY BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, WITH THE GRADUAL ESCALATION OF THE ABUSE, I DID NOT IDENTIFY AT FIRST WHAT IT WAS, SO I REALLY DID NOT KNOW THE STEPS.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR HOW I WOULD LEAVE, BUT IT WAS MANY ATTEMPTS.

YOU CAN KIND OF GET BETTER AT IT, AT TRYING TO LEAVE.

THIS PARTICULAR TIME WHEN I LEFT FOR GOOD, I MADE SURE I HAD RESOURCES.

I MADE SURE I HAD A VEHICLE.

I MADE SURE I HAD FOLKS THAT BELIEVE ME.

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES TO HIS ACTIONS TOWARDS ME WHEN IT WAS PHYSICAL, VERBAL, YOU KNOW, GRADUALLY -- IT BECAME NORMAL.

A FRIEND OF MINE NOTICED THERE WAS A CHANGE IN MY BEHAVIOR.

I WASN'T AS OPEN AND I WAS NOT SMILING AS MUCH, AND SHE WOULD ASK ME THINGS LIKE, HOW ARE YOU?

I WOULD BE LIKE, I'M FINE, AND SHE TOLD ME, SHE'S LIKE, YOU'RE NOT OK.

I SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU'RE NOT THE SAME CALLIE.

SHE JUST SAW A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ME.

I HAD TO PUT A RESTRAINING ORDER ON HIM FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND THE CHILDREN.

AT THE TIME, IT WAS FOR CHILDREN AND I WAS PREGNANT, BUT ONCE THE FIFTH CHILD WAS BORN, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN OPTION.

I DID NOT WANT TO RAISE ANOTHER CHILD WITNESSING DOMESTIC ABUSE.

I THINK, LIKE, THE THIRD ARREST, I HAD HAD ENOUGH.

>> WAS HE PHYSICAL TOWARDS HIS CHILDREN?

>> YES.

BECAUSE WE LIVED ON HIS FAMILY'S PROPERTY, ONE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS SAID I NEEDED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

THE KIDS COULD STAY.

I JUST WAS NOT WELCOME ANYMORE.

THE FIRST CALL I MADE, THE SHELTER TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR ME AND MY FOUR CHILDREN, SO I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND GRAB, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

-- BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND FIGURE OUT, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

I WASN'T GOING TO LEAVE THE CHILDREN WITH HIM.

THE ONE I DECIDED TO BRING WITH ME WAS THE ONE THAT DEPENDED ON ME THE MOST, WHICH WAS THE INFANT.

THE OTHER CHILDREN WORK ANYWHERE BETWEEN FOUR AND 10 YEARS OLD.

THEY WERE IN SCHOOL.

THEY WERE SCHOOL-AGED TOOK ON AND I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE THEM ABSENT FROM SCHOOL.

>> CHILDREN OF THE SILENT VICTIMS IN THESE SITUATIONS.

28% TO 30% OF THE TIMES POLICE RESPONDED CALLS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THERE ARE CHILDREN PRESENT, AND WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN BE NEGATIVE.

>> MOST OF THE TIME, THE KIDS ARE THERE.

THEY ARE WITNESSING THIS VIOLENCE, AND IN MANY INSTANCES, THEY DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

>> TYPICALLY, IF IT IS A MALE CHILD WHO IS WITNESSING THEIR FATHER BEING ABUSIVE TOWARD THEIR MOTHER, THEY INCREASE THE VIOLENCE THAT THEY WOULD USE VIOLENCE -- THEY WOULD INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WOULD USE VIOLENCE IN THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIPS.

IF IT IS A FEMALE CHILD WITNESSING VIOLENCE, IT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD SHE WILL EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE IN THE FUTURE.

MANY TIMES, THE POLICE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS.

[SIRENS] VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFTEN HAVE VERY FEW OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF CALLING THE POLICE.

>> OFTEN GROUPS AND -- GROUPS NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON THE CONSEQUENCES THAT COME ALONG WITH A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.

WE'VE COME TO REALIZE WE SHOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, SO THAT IS WHERE OUR FOCUS IS NOW, NOT ON WHY A VICTIM DOES OR DOES NOT DO SOMETHING BUT WHITE OFFENDERS ACT.

>> THERE ARE VICTIMS THAT NEVER CALL FOR HELP, SO WE HAVE TO INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT IT COULD BE THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

IT COULD BE THEY FACE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.

THOSE ARE REAL BARRIERS.

THAT'S A MOVEMENT WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH.

>> IF WE ENCOUNTER SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT READY TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION, THEN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HELPING US OUT AND WORKING WITH US, SO WE WILL BE DEALING WITH AN OFFENDER WHO HAS AN AGENDA.

WE MIGHT BE DEALING WITH A SURVIVOR WHO HAS AN AGENDA, AND THEN THERE IS THE POLICE AGENDA.

IT MIGHT BE CONTRARY TO WHAT THE SURVIVOR WANTS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE SURVIVORS WHO WILL CALL, AND THEY SIMPLY WANT WHATEVER IS GOING ON TO STOP.

THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A MANDATED ARREST THAT GOES INTO THIS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT RESULTS FROM IT.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT FINDING SOME COMMON GROUND.

♪ >> THIS IS CALLIE FROM THE STORE.

I'M CALLING TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE THAT ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO JOIN US.

>> IF WE CAN MAKE THE SURVIVOR FEEL EMPOWERED, LIKE THEY HAVE SOME SAY, THEN WE GO AND LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING THEM TO A HEALTHIER SITUATION.

>> SISTERS OVERCOMING ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

WE APPRECIATE THEM FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES IN COMMITTEE AND ELSEWHERE.

I KNOW MANY OF THE ADVOCATES AND MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY WITH THIS VOTE.

>> I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, YOU DON'T REALIZE YOU ARE IN IT.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT KNOWLEDGE.

KNOWLEDGE IS REALLY HOW YOU KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.

WE WERE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY BILL TO ENSURE VICTIMS OF SEMESTER VIOLENCE, THAT THEIR ADDRESS WOULD BE SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL FROM ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE ABUSER.

>> THE ACT PREVAILS.

[APPLAUSE] >> AND JUST THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT I'VE LEARNED, ALL THAT I HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT MYSELF.

I'VE LEARNED THAT I AM RESILIENT.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES THAT I WANTED TO GIVE UP.

I DIDN'T.

I CAN NOW IDENTIFY WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS, AND I WANT TO TURN MY TRAUMA INTO PURPOSE, AND MY CRISIS AND ANYONE'S CRISIS INTO PREVENTION.

I AM VERY PROUD OF MYSELF.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT ALL OF THAT UNFORTUNATE STUFF HAPPENED TO ME.

I'VE COME A LONG WAY THE PAST 10 YEARS.

EVERY DAY IS SURVIVAL SKILL.

-- STILL.

PAMELA: OUR THANKS TO DOROTHY DICKEY.

IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE, YOU CAN CALL THE 24-HOUR STATE HELPLINE.

NEXT, A RECENT UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT REVEALS SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE IF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE NOT REDUCED QUICKLY, THEY COULD SOON OVERWHELM THE ABILITY OF BOTH HUMANS AND NATURE TO ADAPT.

>> EVEN IF THE ARTH'S TEMPERATURES RISE JUST A FEW MORE TENSE OF A DEGREE, TODAY'S CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE FOUR TIMES MORE STORMS, DROUGHTS, AND HEAT WAVES.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED LAST MARCH, HARROWING PROJECTIONS LIKE THAT ARE PROMPTING MANY, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTALISTS, TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT AN ENERGY SOURCE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH CATASTROPHE AND DISASTER.

CONTRIBUTING REPORTER JOHN SWIFT EXPLAINS.

>> THE WORD "NUCLEAR" TENDS TO MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.

THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN MAKES PEOPLE UNEASY.

JOHN: KAITLYN IS A SENIOR STAFF COUNSEL AT THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE.

IN 2013, FRESH OUT OF ROGER WILLIAMS LAW SCHOOL, SHE MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR WORK.

>> I ENDED UP CONNECTING WITH SOME PEOPLE AT THE NUCLEAR INSTITUTE, AND WE JUST KIND OF HIT IT OFF.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SERENDIPITOUS THINGS, AND I THOUGHT, LET'S GIVE IT A TRY, AND FROM THERE, I LEARNED A TON ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY, THE COMMERCIAL POWER SECTOR, CLEAN ENERGY.

JOHN: THAT KNOWLEDGE, SHE SAYS, HELPED HER PROMOTE THE USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

>> ONE OF THE CORE FUNCTIONS OR RULES THAT WE PLAY -- ROLES THAT WE PLAY ARE GOING INTO SCHOOLS AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS ON NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY.

JOHN: SHE'S ALSO PART OF A GROUP OF MOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST THE CLOSURES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS.

AN ISSUE LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE FOR HER IS PERSONAL.

>> I HAVE TWO KIDS.

EMMA IS GOING TO BE THREE IN DECEMBER, AND I JUST HAD A FOUR MONTH OLD IN JUNE.

HIS NAME IS WYATT.

WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE TRUCKS?

A REPORT HAD COME OUT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD JUST REACHED A NEW TROUBLING MILESTONE IN CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I STARTED TO GET REALLY ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT MY CHILDREN'S FUTURE IS GOING TO BE.

THAT ANXIETY BECAME A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

IT WAS WHY I BECAME MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR NUCLEAR.

JOHN: FORGETTING MOST PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA THAT NUCLEAR ENERGY MIGHT BE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE, MAINLY BECAUSE OF TWO DEFINING NUCLEAR INCIDENTS.

THE FIRST BEGAN AT 4:00 A.M. ON MARCH 28, 1979.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST STEP IN A NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW AT THIS HOUR, NO WORSE THAN THAT, BUT A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAID THAT A BREAKDOWN AT AN ATOMIC POWER PLANT IN PENNSYLVANIA TODAY IS PROBABLY THE WORST NUCLEAR REACTOR ACCIDENT TO DATE.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED HERE AT THE THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

>> ULTIMATELY, HALF THE CORE OF ONE OF THREE MILE ISLAND'S NUCLEAR REACTORS MELTED DOWN.

LESS THAN 10 YEARS LATER IN APRIL 1986, DISASTER STRUCK AGAIN AT A NUCLEAR PLANT NEARLY 5000 MILES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

>> THE DANGER MAY BE ESCALATING.

IT IS ANATOMIC FIRE AND THE SOVIETS CANNOT CONTAIN IT.

THOUSANDS MAY ALREADY HAVE DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY CONTAMINATED.

>> BOTH ACCIDENTS HAD TO THE RISE OF THE ANTINUCLEAR MOVEMENT, BUT IN RECENT YEARS AS THIS VIDEO ILLUSTRATES, THE PLANET IS HEATING UP AT A FASTER RATE THAN MANY THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

>> AS IF 2020 WAS NOT ALREADY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE DARKEST YEARS I RECENT HISTORY, IT WAS ALSO THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD.

ACTUALLY, THE 10 WARMEST YEARS EVER HAVE ALL OCCURRED SINCE 2005.

THIS TREND IS NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON.

MORE FREQUENT HEAT EXTREMES ARE ALREADY HAVING REAL EXTREMES -- ARE ALREADY HAVING REAL EFFECTS ON PEOPLE NOW.

>> AFTER CHERNOBYL, THE WORLD TOOK A PAUSE TREND YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT MORE RECENTLY, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID NUCLEAR HAS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BECAUSE THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES THAT WE RACE ARE FAR TOO GREAT.

>> OUR POSITION IS A VERY NEUTRAL ONE.

>> DR. ED LYMAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF NUCLEAR POWER SAFETY AT THE UNION FOR CONCERNED SCIENTISTS IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

>> WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN A POSITION PRO-OR ANTI-NUCLEAR, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT NUCLEAR POWER HAS UNIQUE SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS AND THAT THOSE HAVE TO BE GIVEN THE FULLEST ATTENTION IF NUCLEAR POWER IS GOING TO PLAY A ROLE IN MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

>> MANY OF THOSE RISKS RELATE TO THE AGING FLEET OF PLANTS.

ORIGINALLY LICENSED FOR 40 YEARS, MANY HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A 20-YEAR LICENSE EXTENSION WITH SOME EVEN BEGINNING TO APPLY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS.

>> THAT RAISES THE POSSIBILITY THAT IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS, THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION NEEDS VERY HIGH ASSURANCE THAT THOSE KINDS OF SYSTEMS ARE GOING TO FUNCTION EVEN AS THEY AGE AND DETERIORATE.

>> WE VISITED THE MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT, LAST SUMMER.

IT IS HERE THAT OPERATORS TRAINED TO RUN A REAL NUCLEAR REACTOR.

>> WE HAVE ACTUALLY MEASURED DOWN TO THE MILLIMETER TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS THAT ARE IN THE CONTROL ROOM OR IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AS THEY ARE IN HERE.

>> CAN HOLD WORKS FOR THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE PLANT.

THERE'S NO SURPRISE HE LANDS ON THE SIDE OF NUCLEAR POWER BEING THE KEY TO A CARBON-FREE SOURCE OF ENERGY.

>> RIGHT NOW, MILLSTONE REPRESENTS 95% OF THE CARBON-FREE ENERGY GENERATED IN CONNECTICUT.

>> THAT'S NEARLY HALF OF THE STATE'S ENERGY NEEDS COMING FROM ONE SOURCE, BUT AS NUCLEAR PLANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY GET OLDER AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD NEW ONES, HE SAYS THE FUTURE IS GRIM.

>> IF MILLSTONE GOES AWAY, IT IS NOT A SOLAR FARM THAT WILL BE BUILT TO REPLACE IT.

IT IS NOT WIND POWER THAT IS GOING TO REPLACE IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE NATURAL GAS, SO YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A ZERO CARBON RESOURCE OFF THE GRID AND REPLACE IT WITH A CARBON RESOURCE, AND THAT JUST MAKES YOUR JOB THAT MUCH HARDER IN REDUCING CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

>> STILL, HE SAYS HIS COMPANY'S GOAL IS TO BE NET CARBON ZERO BUT 2050.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REDUCE OUR CARBON IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT OR HOW WE CAN MITIGATE IT.

>> BECAUSE OF HOW DEPENDENT THE AREA IS ON MILLSTONE TO GENERATE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ITS ENERGY, DO YOU FIND IT IS OFTEN EASIER IN THAT LICENSE RENEWAL PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO REPLACE IT?

>> THE PROCESS DOES NOT LOOK AT NEED AT ALL.

THE PROCESS IS FOCUSED SOLELY ON SAFETY.

IF THE NRC DOES NOT THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE TO OPERATE FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS, THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE LICENSE.

>> CREATED IN 1974, THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR LICENSING AND REGULATING CIVILIAN USE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS.

IS THE NRC DOING ENOUGH IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE TO REGULATE THE OPERATIONS OF AGING NUCLEAR PLANTS?

>> WE DON'T THINK SO.

ONE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING NOW IS THAT THIS AGING POPULATION OF PLANTS IS FACING DIRE ECONOMIC PRESSURE IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRICES OF ALTERNATIVES, NATURAL GAS.

PLANTS ARE SHUTTING DOWN, AND THERE'S ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THOSE PLANTS TO CUT COSTS, AND WHERE YOU CUT COSTS ON THINGS LIKE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS AND REPAIRS AND ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLANT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

>> AND LYMAN SAYS THE INDUSTRY IS NOT IMMUNE TO INDUSTRY INFLUENCE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS TO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT KIND OF PRESSURE, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE AGENCY HAS DONE ENOUGH TO SAFEGUARD THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THESE PLANS AS THEY AGE.

>> WHAT ABOUT LOOKING AT THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF GROWTH SPECIFICALLY OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY?

HAS THAT SEEM TO HAVE STAGNATED?

>> I WOULD SAY THE POTENTIAL FOR UNITS LIKE MILLSTONE, A NEW THOUSAND-MEGAWATT BIG GENERATING STATION ARE PROBABLY SLIM.

THERE'S NOT GREAT CHANCES OF SOMETHING THAT RICK BEING BUILT AGAIN, BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SMALL MODULE REACTORS.

THESE ARE REACTORS THAT PRODUCE ABOUT 1/5 OF THE POWER FOR ABOUT 1/10 OF THE SIZE.

>> A RECENT START UP IS PLANNING TO DO JUST THAT BY BUILDING A SMALLER, 345-MEGAWATT PLANT IN WYOMING BUT 2028.

IT WILL USE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGIES DESIGNED TO DRASTICALLY MITIGATE THE SAFETY ISSUES OF THE PAST, BUT DR. LYMAN SAYS THAT WHILE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY IS MORE BROADLY LOOKING TO NUCLEAR ENERGY AS ONE OF THE BROADER ISSUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE INDUSTRY ITSELF HAS BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE THEIR IMAGE FOR DECADES.

>> MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO, THEY REALIZED ONE SELLING POINT THEY HAD WAS ELECTRICITY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING THAT MESSAGE FOR DECADES, BUT IT HAS ONLY REALLY BECOME RESIDENT IN RECENT YEARS.

OF COURSE, THERE IS MERIT TO THAT, BUT YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY NEED NUCLEAR POWER TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE'S NO IMPERATIVE IF THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT CAN DO THINGS BETTER AND MORE SAFELY.

>> AS SOME FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INCORPORATE NUCLEAR ENERGY INTO ITS CARBON-FREE FUTURE, THERE'S ONE FUTURE ON CAITLIN'S MIND.

>> IT HAS LEGITIMATELY CROSSED MY MIND IF I'M BEING RESPONSIBLE HAVING CHILDREN AND HAVING MORE CHILDREN, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FUTURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE, BUT I FEEL LIKE ALL I CAN DO AS A MOM NOW IS DO MY VERY BEST TO TRY TO HELP SET THAT FUTURE UP, BUT I THINK EVERY PARENT IN OUR GENERATION IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE IT CROSS THEIR MIND -- WHAT AM I BRINGING MY CHILDREN INTO?

PAMELA: NOW, HOME COOK DAN RINALDI SERVES UP SOME OF HIS FAVORITE DISHES.

DAN: I ENTERTAIN A LOT.

I ASKED PEOPLE, WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE HAVING?

THEY LIKE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO MAKE.

JUST MAKE WHATEVER.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO EAT AND THEN I COOK WHATEVER IT IS THEY FEEL LIKE EATING.

MY NAME IS DAN RINALDI.

THIS IS MY TAKE ON COOKING.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PASSION FOR IT.

I ALSO BELIEVE YOU WANT TO GRAB THE BEST AND FRESHEST INGREDIENTS THAT YOU CAN, BUT ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE IT BOILS DOWN TO PASSION, HOW MUCH YOU LOVE COOKING.

WATCHING MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY MOTHER AND EVERYBODY, THERE WAS A LOT OF COOKING GOING ON IN MY HOUSEHOLD.

THEY WOULD ALL BE TALKING AND HAVING A GREAT TIME, AND I WOULD BE INVOLVED IN IT, AND I WOULD JUST CONTINUE FROM THERE.

I'VE COOKED FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.

IT WAS SELF-PRESERVATION AT ONE POINT BECAUSE THE MEALS WERE SO BAD I JUST HAD TO COOK.

I STARTED COOKING THERE, BUT THE MEALS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT BETTER THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

FOR ANYBODY THAT WAS STARTING TO COOK, MY BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE START OUT WITH SOMETHING EASY.

SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A FEW INGREDIENTS, SOMETHING SIMPLE TO BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE AND WORK FROM THERE.

PROBABLY A REALLY EASY RECIPE WOULD BE A SIMPLE PER SCANNER -- BRUSCHETTA.

I WILL GET A LOAF OF BREAD, TOASTED WITH SOME OLIVE OIL, NARRAGANSETT CREAMERY RICOTTA CHEESE, SALAMI, AND SOME TOMATOES THAT ARE OF OVEN ROASTED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OLIVE OIL, SALT, PEPPER, AND GARLIC -- TOMATOES THAT I HAVE OVEN ROASTED.

IT IS, LIKE, 5, 6 INGREDIENTS.

VERY SIMPLE.

ANYBODY WHOSE MOTTO IS IT WILL FILL YOU UP IF YOU CAN KEEP IT DOWN, YOU DO NOT WANT THEM COOKING FOR YOU BECAUSE I HAVE EATEN THE COOKING OF THOSE PEOPLE.

SO, YEAH, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE ONLY IN THE KITCHEN IF THEY ARE WASHING THE DISHES.

OTHERWISE, THEY SHOULD BE NOWHERE NEAR THAT STOVE.

THE BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER MADE WHICH I WOULD CONSIDER MY SIGNATURE DISH IS A SEAFOOD PASTA DISH WITH A SPICY RED SAUCE, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE MINCED CLAMS, SCALLOPS, SHRIMP, LOBSTER, AND CALAMARI.

USUALLY, I FRY THE CALAMARI AND PUT THAT ON TOP FOR A BIT OF A CRUNCH.

THE WORST MEAL I EVER MADE WAS PROBABLY A BLOCK OF MACARONI AND CHEESE BECAUSE I REALLY WAS NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE IT, NOT BEING FROM THE SOUTH.

THAT'S NOT REALLY IN MY WHEELHOUSE.

ITALIANS MAKE THEIR MACARONI A CERTAIN WAY.

I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE MACARONI AND CHEESE ONE TIME, AND IT WAS PRETTY MUCH JUST, LIKE, BLOCK '' CHEESE BY THE TIME IT WAS DONE.

YOU COULD PICK IT UP WITH A FORK AND JUST NEEDED OUT OF THE HEN.

I GREW UP WITH "SESAME STREET."

I'M 53 YEARS OLD, AND IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S RIGHT WHEN SESAME STREET STARTED, AND IF YOU LOOK AT MY PERSONALITY, BETWEEN COOKIE MONSTER AND EARNEST, THAT IS LIKE ME TO A T. THERE'S NO WAY THEY DID NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON MY SENSE OF HUMOR GROWING UP.

MY DREAM COOKING JOB WOULD BE TO BAKE COOKIES FOR COOKIE MONSTER.

MY NAME IS DAN RINALDI AND THIS HAS BEEN MY TAKE ON COOKING.

PAMELA: DAN RINALDI IS ONE OF 10 CONTESTANTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY FEATURED IN THE NEW PBS COOKING COMPETITION "THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE."

YOU CAN STREAM THE SERIES ON RHODE ISLAND PBS AND FOLLOW DAN'S PROGRESS.

DAVID: FINALLY, A SNEAK PEEK ON KEN BURNS' DOCUMENTARY ON KIDS AND MENTAL HEALTH, "HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT."

>> I STARTED HAVING SAD THOUGHTS AROUND THE END OF THIRD GRADE.

>> AT THAT AGE, HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO ADMIT I CANNOT SEE PAST TOMORROW?

>> IT FEELS LIKE YOU WANT TO CRY, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

>> WE ALL HAVE STUFF.

WE ALL HAVE STRUGGLES.

>> PEOPLE DO OVERCOME HAVING MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> YOU ARE NEVER ALONE AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.

DAVID: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT IS NOW STREAMING ON RHODE ISLAND PBS PASSPORT.

THAT'S OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PAMELA: WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES, OUR PAST EPISODES OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, AVAILABLE ON ALL YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

AND GOOD NIGHT.