Key Issues
Electricity Supply
Nuclear plants are the lowest-cost producer of baseload electricity. The average production cost of 1.72 cents per kilowatt-hour includes the costs of operating and maintaining the plant, purchasing fuel and paying for the management of used fuel.
Bringing Stability to America's Energy Mix
As an integral part of the U.S. energy mix, nuclear energy is a secure energy source that the nation can depend on. Nuclear energy is not subject to unreliable weather or climate conditions, unpredictable cost fluctuations, or dependence on foreign suppliers. In fact, nuclear energy is produced by a strong domestic and international industry, with extensive fuel supply sources.Nuclear power plants produce electricity uninterrupted for extended periods—for as long as 24 months. They help supply the necessary level of “baseload” electricity for the electricity transmission network, or “grid," to operate. Nuclear power plants are a key element in the stability of our country's electrical grid.
A Tool to Meet Rising Demand
The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that the United States will need 25 percent more electricity by 2030. That is a conservative estimate and below the actual growth rate of the past five decades. To meet this demand, the electric utility industry is expected to invest $750 billion in power plants, environmental technology, and transmission and distribution lines.Nuclear plants, along with coal- and gas-fired power plants, are the workhorses of the U.S. electricity system. Nuclear plants produce nearly 20 percent of our nation’s electricity, and can help meet the growth in electricity demand resulting from an expanding U.S. economy and population. However, that is just one of the many benefits of nuclear energy.
Worldwide, 439 nuclear power plants are operating in 30 countries, supplying 16 percent of the world's electricity. Thirty-five new nuclear plants are under construction in 14 countries. All of the world’s economic powers rely on nuclear energy for a portion of their electricity production.
