Key Issues
Nuclear Energy and the Environment
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October 2007
Key Facts
October 2007
Key Facts
- Nuclear power plants generate about 20 percent of U.S. electricity. They do not burn anything when producing electricity, so they do not produce any combustion byproducts. By substituting for other fuels in electricity production, nuclear energy has significantly reduced U.S. emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
- Only 27 percent of America’s electricity comes from clean-air sources, including nuclear power plants, hydro-electric plants, wind farms and solar energy facilities.
- Nuclear energy accounts for 71 percent of the nation’s clean-air electricity generation. It is the only large-scale, clean-air electricity source that can be expanded widely to produce large amounts of electricity.
- In 2006, U.S. nuclear power plants reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide—pollutants controlled under the Clean Air Act—by 1 million short tons and 3.1 million short tons, respectively. The amount of nitrogen oxide emissions that nuclear plants prevent an-nually is the equivalent of taking more than 51 million passenger cars off the road.
- Also in 2006, U.S. nuclear plants prevented the discharge of 681 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is nearly as much carbon dioxide as is released from all U.S. passenger cars.
- Environmental responsibility is an important part of nuclear power plant management. Plants are designed, built and regulated to prevent radioactive emissions. The companies that operate nuclear power plants also voluntarily work to protect nearby wildlife and their habitats.
