A Quiet Life

The documentary photography project ‘A Quiet Life’ investigates the inner duality of nuclear power. Nuclear energy is once again topical due to the potential role it can play in achieving climate change goals.

In a valley in France lies the village of Chooz, where the local nuclear power plant is responsible for economic activity. France deals with nuclear power in a very different way than the Netherlands. France approaches energy transition using nuclear power; France has 58 nuclear power plants, the Netherlands only 1. The power plant in Chooz connects the people and maintains the village, the inhabitants see it as a source of employment. In addition, the company pays them local taxes in the form of free internet, water, cable television etc. This raises the question: who holds the power?