The 2019 Nuclear Energy Assembly (NEA) gathered thought leaders from the energy industry and beyond to talk about the United States’ largest source of carbon-free electricity. The event—paired with the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) annual meeting—brought great speakers, engaging sessions and plenty of networking.
But now that it’s over, what’s next for nuclear energy for the rest of 2019? Here are the three biggest takeaways from NEA:
1. There’s No Better Advocate Than You.
If we want the future we know nuclear energy can bring, we have to … go to the Hill, to our state legislatures, and to our governors and make our case.
NEA gathers the best and brightest in the industry. Who better to advocate for the future of nuclear? NEI’s Chief Executive Officer Maria Korsnick challenged you to share your stories with policymakers so that your passion and expertise could motivate them to preserve nuclear plants.
We learned from pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson that the next generation of voters is ready to act to prevent climate change, but they don’t know enough about the value of nuclear energy. Ken Schmidt, former director of communications for Harley Davidson Inc., showed us what we need to do to change how we’re perceived.
After the conference, many engaged NAYGN-ers took to Capitol Hill to start applying these lessons. NEI has tools and resources to help you advocate for nuclear, too.
Now is the time to tell your story.
2. Keep Innovating
No matter what’s important to you in energy, you can find it in advanced nuclear technology.
Murkowski was right. The future of the industry was on display as NEA’s Startup Alley featured three advanced reactor developers—X-energy, Flibe Energy Inc. and TerraPower LLC—working to deploy the next generation of nuclear technology. But NEA highlighted the innovation happening in the current fleet as well, whether it was Top Innovative Practice Awards showcasing remarkable efforts to improve operations or nuclear leaders talking about how to incorporate cutting-edge tech—like wearable technology, artificial intelligence or advanced data analytics—into current plants.
You showed us how innovation drives the industry. Don’t stop now.
Keep working to make advanced reactors, small modular reactors and micro-reactors a reality. Keep thinking of new solutions and technologies to make your plants more efficient and reliable. Keep looking for better ways to provide clean energy to America.
3. You Can Save the Planet
We must be stewards of the planet.
As the recent IEA report illustrates—along with a growing chorus of voices—the world needs carbon-free energy. Nearly every speaker agreed: nuclear is the largest source of clean energy in the U.S. and essential to any climate solution.
But as NEA 2019 becomes a memory, flawed markets still threaten to prematurely close nuclear plants across the country. New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Connecticut have taken action to preserve nuclear, but legislators in Pennsylvania and Ohio are still deciding the fates of their zero-carbon nuclear plants.
Nuclear energy is powering our way of life without carbon emissions, and we can’t protect the climate without it. We must make sure policymakers see how valuable nuclear energy—and your hard work—are for the planet.
With your stories, your innovations and smart policies, we can be good stewards of the planet and bring about a clean energy future.
