The Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant | South Carolina’s Dangerous Relic

In the 1970s, the U.S. launched an ambitious plan to solve its growing nuclear waste problem: reprocess spent fuel into usable energy. The result was the Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Center—an ultra-secure, state-of-the-art complex in South Carolina designed to handle the nation’s radioactive leftovers. But despite half a billion dollars invested and near-complete construction, it never processed a single gram of fuel. What happened?

In this episode, we dive deep into the rise and fall of Barnwell—how Cold War optimism collided with nuclear non-proliferation fears, and how a symbol of energy innovation turned into one of America’s most expensive abandoned facilities. From political fallout to urban legends, the site’s story is stranger than fiction—and not quite over.