A Year After Fukushima, Fears About Aging Nuclear Plants Emerge

09:03

March 05, 2012

Protestors hold signs during a vigil to support the closing of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant at the Statehouse Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. (AP)

A year ago this weekend, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan experienced a full meltdown in the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami. Equipment failed, flooding shut down emergency generators, the plants over heated, hydrogen explosions rocked the complex, and radioactive material was released into the atmosphere.

Could the same fate befall nuclear reactors in this country? According to a new documentary from the Center for Investigative Reporting and Al Jazeera, it could.

The investigation looks at several aging American nuclear plants, including Vermont Yankee, which is up for re-licensing.

Guests:

Joe Rubin, the Center for Investigative Reporting
Serene Fang, the Center for Investigative Reporting

More:

Watch the full documentary

This segment aired on March 5, 2012.