What if the solution to America's 70-year nuclear waste problem was hiding in plain sight?
Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation, joins Tim Montague to reveal how his company plans to revolutionize nuclear waste storage using existing oil and gas drilling technology. With nuclear waste currently piling up at power plants across the country and costing taxpayers $2 million daily in storage fees, this conversation couldn't be more timely.
Deep Isolation recently raised $33 million to demonstrate their breakthrough approach: using directional drilling to create mile-deep boreholes that can safely store nuclear waste for thousands of years. Unlike the failed Yucca Mountain project, their modular solution works at individual plant sites and could save taxpayers over $50 billion.
In this episode, you'll discover how Deep Isolation's Universal Canister System works, why 80% of US nuclear sites could use this technology, and how their approach differs dramatically from traditional repository methods. Rod explains the technical details of boring 18-inch holes a mile underground, the safety standards they exceed by a factor of 1,000, and why this solution makes sense whether you support nuclear energy or not.
The conversation covers the regulatory landscape, industry response, and what comes next after their upcoming full-scale demonstration. With 87 patents and growing international interest, Deep Isolation represents a practical path forward for one of America's most persistent environmental challenges.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in energy policy, environmental solutions, or innovative approaches to complex infrastructure problems.
Connect with Rod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodbaltzer/
https://www.deepisolation.com/
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00:00 Introduction: The Cost of Nuclear Waste Storage
00:34 Welcome to the Clean Power Hour
00:59 Sponsor Message: CPS America
01:50 Scaling Up in Commercial Solar
02:42 Deep Isolation: Solving Nuclear Waste
03:17 Interview with Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation
03:56 The Nuclear Waste Problem in the US
04:26 Rod Baltzer's Journey into Nuclear Waste Management
05:10 The Cost and Safety of Nuclear Waste Storage
07:55 Deep Isolation's Borehole Technology
09:51 The Future of Nuclear Energy in the US
22:17 Comparing Deep Isolation to Yucca Mountain
25:33 Challenges and Public Perception
29:54 Deep Isolation's Next Steps
31:26 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
