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Nuclear Energy’s Vital Role in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon dioxide—the greenhouse gas mainly emitted by human activity—is the major focus of policy discussions to reduce emissions. At a time when the United States faces a projected 25 percent increase in electricity demand by 2030, failure to develop a holistic policy that meets the nation’s energy demand, energy security needs and greenhouse gas reduction goals could threaten success on both objectives.

Nuclear power plants produce large amounts of electricity without emitting carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. America’s 104 commercial power reactors provide about one-fifth of U.S. electricity—and 70 percent of the nation’s carbon-free electricity generation.

In a 2007 policy paper, the Nuclear Energy Institute detailed the principles underlying its position on climate change. These include:

• The industry supports federal legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Nuclear energy is a vital source of electricity that can meet the nation’s growing energy needs with a secure, domestic energy supply that also protects air quality.
• A credible program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will require a portfolio of technologies and approaches. Nuclear energy is an indispensable part of that portfolio.
• Achieving a significant expansion of nuclear energy in the United States requires sustained federal and state government policies that pave the way for advanced design nuclear plant construction, research and development on new reactor and used fuel recycling technologies, development of the next-generation work force, and long-term stewardship of used nuclear fuel.

In the United States, electric utilities are expanding the use of nuclear energy along with energy efficiency and conservation programs and an expanded portfolio of low-emission sources of electricity, including wind and solar energy.

Nuclear power plants already play a powerful role in preventing greenhouse gases in the electricity sector. By using nuclear energy rather than fossil fuel-based plants, electric utilities prevented 681 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2006. For perspective, the volume of greenhouse gas emissions prevented at nuclear power plants is equivalent to taking 96 percent of all passenger cars off America’s roadways.

A credible program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will require a portfolio of technologies and approaches, including the widespread use of nuclear energy, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and the development of technology to capture carbon from coal and natural gas power plants.

In the European Union, a recent study of the region’s carbon avoidance shows that an additional 704 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted if all nuclear power plants in these countries were removed from the electricity grid. Worldwide, nuclear energy prevents the emission of more than 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.

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