Kate Kressmann-Kehoe, Advisor for Nuclear New York & New York Lead for Mothers for Nuclear, July '26

Kate Kressmann-Kehoe tabling for Mothers for Nuclear

Meet the filmmaker and outdoors enthusiast who is using her storytelling abilities to advocate for nuclear energy.

Kate Kressmann-Kehoe, a video producer based in New York, did not always pursue storytelling. As an undergraduate, she studied geology, an experience that she says shaped the way she thinks about science and the world around her. Throughout it all, she has maintained a lifelong interest in science communication. Growing up, her favorite TV show was Nova - a documentary series known for making complex scientific topics easy to understand. It was this process of taking something complicated and making it something anyone can understand that influenced her transition from geology to filmmaking. To her, a video has the power to introduce you to people, take you to new places, and orient you in time and space in a way that a photo or words or sounds can’t do by themselves.

Kate Kressmann-Kehoe filming Comfort Zone

One of Kressmann-Kehoe's greatest strengths is making complex topics accessible without losing their human impact. Much of her work centers on telling stories that resonate emotionally with audiences with topics ranging from historic pipe organ restoration to how to support victims of domestic violence. Most notably, she explored climate change through her documentary Comfort Zone, which used the experiences of three individuals to illustrate how climate change affects communities close to home. Admittedly, talking about climate change can be depressing. It can be hard to get off the couch and take action when you feel emotionally overwhelmed. Kressmann-Kehoe found that people are more motivated when they see how their actions can make a difference. This combination of rational optimism and sense that meaningful change is possible inspires people to get involved. Kressmann-Kehoe applies this understanding to her nuclear advocacy by emphasizing both facts and emotions, because, as she puts it, “you can’t cuddle someone into changing their minds, but you can’t pound them either.”

For Kate Kressmann-Kehoe, the journey to becoming an advocate of nuclear energy was a multistage process. It all started when one of the co-producers on Comfort Zone suggested including a section about nuclear energy. Although they ultimately decided against it, as they thought it would be too controversial and derail the climate change conversation, it put nuclear on her radar. Funnily enough, it wasn’t until she got solar panels that she really started to think about nuclear energy. The panels made her aware of the variability of solar production. She quickly noticed the mismatch between her household’s energy usage and energy production, admitting that she was using a lot more energy than she was producing at certain times of the year. The mismatch of power usage and power production was especially obvious on cloudy winter days when her panels produced little to no energy. So, when her local nuclear plant, Ginna, hosted an open house, she decided to attend. She was impressed by both the professionalism of the operation and the pride employees took in their work. The experience motivated her to do her own research, which made her aware of the magnitude of nuclear energy in the US. This ultimately convinced her that nuclear energy had to be part of the climate solution because of the sheer amount of energy nuclear contributes.

From there, Kressmann-Kehoe joined her local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). This led her to discovering Nuclear New York, which led to her getting involved with Mothers for Nuclear - a true chain reaction. Kressmann-Kehoe is now on the Coordinating Committee of her local CCL chapter, an Advisor for Nuclear New York, and the New York Lead for Mothers for Nuclear. Within these organizations she wears many hats, leading informational sessions, tabling, and engaging with her community from in front of and behind the camera. Her advocacy work has taught her a lot about how to keep conversations going. She explains that a productive discussion with someone who is anti-nuclear or skeptical of climate change begins by acknowledging the validity of their concerns before presenting your own facts and personal connections, since every perspective has a kernel of truth. Kressmann-Kehoe’s favorite part of tabling with Mothers for Nuclear is the shock factor the name carries. She’s noticed that people don’t know what to expect when they see “Mothers for Nuclear” and are consequently more open to what she has to say, which allows for genuine questions and more productive conversations. Building support and getting people who are not activists to be more vocal about their support for nuclear is particularly important now, as New York is looking to build new nuclear energy for the first time in decades.

Kate Kressmann-Kehoe with her children

Kate Kressmann-Kehoe is hopeful about the future of nuclear energy in the U.S. She considers herself fortunate to be working on a climate issue that inspires optimism rather than despair. While she believes nuclear energy can bridge political divides, she says its future ultimately depends on people who are willing to advocate for it. In her personal life, her family has become nuclear energy allies, but in her greater community, there are a lot of environmental activists who have a bias against nuclear. She says the key is to keep engaging with people because conversations with neighbors and friends really do shift perspectives. It’s an ongoing process that often means listening more than speaking, but consistently mentioning nuclear energy in a positive light creates space for misconceptions to be addressed, concerns to be validated, and people to do their own research. It sometimes also uncovers people who are already allies, but didn’t feel comfortable mentioning it on their own.

We are thrilled to announce Kate Kressmann-Kehoe as our July Ally of the Month, and look forward to all the amazing work she will do as she continues to advocate for nuclear energy and climate change through storytelling.

Written by: Hope Werstler