Can nuclear power be redesigned to achieve a level of safety that renders traditional opposition obsolete? Jack N. Barkenbus, drawing upon research from the Institute for Energy Analysis, investigates the stagnation of the American nuclear industry following the Three Mile Island crisis. The author presents a framework for a 'second nuclear era' characterized by inherently safe reactor designs that aim to mitigate public and technical concerns regarding catastrophic failure.

Experts recognize this work as a significant historical document regarding the transition period of nuclear energy policy in the United States. Readers frequently note the technical focus on safety engineering as a primary contribution to the discourse on energy independence.