Public Policy

U.S. companies are exporting plants, equipment and services to countries around the world. This photograph shows construction at the Sanmen Nuclear Power Station in China, where two U.S.-designed reactors are being built (photograph © Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. All Rights Reserved).

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Commercial Nuclear Exports Mean Thousands of U.S. Jobs

Worldwide, 70 new nuclear energy facilities are under construction, and an additional 160 are in the licensing and advanced planning stages. The demand for high-quality commodities, components and services provides an export opportunity for U.S. manufacturers.

New Plants Abroad = Export Opportunities = Jobs and Economic Benefits

The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that the international market for equipment and services at $500 billion to $740 billion over the next 10 years, and that every $1 billion of exports by U.S. companies supports 5,000 to 10,000 domestic jobs. 

Key markets will not be slowed by events in Japan. Leaders in China, India and other countries where future growth is concentrated have already indicated they will go forward.

Construction of nuclear plants creates a range of export opportunities. Depending on the design, a single new reactor requires approximately:

• 500 to 3,000 nuclear grade valves
• 125 to 250 pumps
• 44 miles of piping
• 300 miles of electric wiring
• 90,000 electrical components.

The economic benefits of nuclear trade are substantial—but the opportunities it provides to strengthen the nonproliferation regime and enhance international nuclear safety practices are just as compelling.