Key Issues
Nuclear Power 2010: A Key Building Block for New Nuclear Power Plants
<< Previous
Safe, Clean Nuclear Energy Is Vital to America’s Energy Future
Today’s 104 nuclear power reactors provide a solid base for the next generation of nuclear plants in the United States. They have achieved record levels of performance and continue to maintain outstanding safety levels. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor oversight process, adopted in 2000, is far more efficient and transparent than the agency’s previous process. In addition, nuclear power plants are among the safest places to work in the United States.
Policymakers and the industry are looking ahead to the next generation of nuclear plants to ensure they are ready for market when needed. Already, federal safety regulators have certified new designs that employ advanced technology. Industry and government are testing new and improved licensing approaches, and Congress has enacted comprehensive energy legislation recognizing the integral role that nuclear energy must play in the nation’s future electricity generation portfolio. The legislation offers a wide range of incentives for companies to build new reactors.
Four factors are driving the interest in new nuclear plants:
Safe, Clean Nuclear Energy Is Vital to America’s Energy Future
Today’s 104 nuclear power reactors provide a solid base for the next generation of nuclear plants in the United States. They have achieved record levels of performance and continue to maintain outstanding safety levels. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor oversight process, adopted in 2000, is far more efficient and transparent than the agency’s previous process. In addition, nuclear power plants are among the safest places to work in the United States.
Policymakers and the industry are looking ahead to the next generation of nuclear plants to ensure they are ready for market when needed. Already, federal safety regulators have certified new designs that employ advanced technology. Industry and government are testing new and improved licensing approaches, and Congress has enacted comprehensive energy legislation recognizing the integral role that nuclear energy must play in the nation’s future electricity generation portfolio. The legislation offers a wide range of incentives for companies to build new reactors.
Four factors are driving the interest in new nuclear plants:
- increasing demand for new, large (baseload) power plants
- increasingly tight restrictions on emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury, and discussion at the national level of programs to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions
- pressure on natural gas supply and its resulting price volatility
- strong public support for new nuclear plant construction among policymakers and the public.
Next Page: "An Improved but Untested Licensing Process" >>