Nuclear energy isn’t always recognized for the fact that it has world-class safety standards and studies have shown it to be one of the safest forms of energy.
Nuclear energy also leads the way in clean, reliable, affordable power as America’s largest source of carbon-free energy. We know it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our earth, shielding us from the worst effects of climate change, but it also has a proven power plant safety record. Let’s ask the expert, John Kotek, NEI’s senior vice president of policy development and public affairs, about just how safe nuclear power is.
What benefits does nuclear provide and why is it critical for a carbon-free future?
Nuclear energy has three key benefits. The first is that it’s both firm and clean, so it is available 24/7/365 in all weather conditions—makes it the perfect complement to things like wind and solar, to get to an affordable, reliable, carbon-free grid. The second is the fact that nuclear creates thousands of well-paying, long-lasting jobs, which is critical to achieving this Administration’s goals to ensure that the clean energy transition results in good-paying jobs for all Americans. Third, is the fact that nuclear can provide energy security that allows us to reduce our reliance on non-U.S. or non-allied sources of energy and ensure that we are not vulnerable to energy supply disruptions.
How safe is nuclear energy?
We’ve got more than 60 years of experience operating commercial nuclear power plants in the United States and those plants have exhibited just an outstanding safety record. When you look at the full life cycle of what goes into producing energy—from the mining, fabrication, construction that goes into building facilities, through the operations and maintenance and ultimately through the decommissioning of that plant—what studies in the U.S. and abroad have found is that nuclear is on par with things like wind and solar in terms of the lowest safety impacts to both workers and the public.
What are some actions that have been taken to ensure accidents don’t happen?
Several things. First of all, when things do happen in the nuclear industry, as they do in any industry, the industry has mechanisms to ensure that those lessons are shared and learned across the sector. For example, in nuclear, we have something called the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations which ensures information sharing and operational practice sharing across the industry. We’ve also by virtue of more than six decades of safe, commercial reactor operations learned how to improve things like fuel performance and the availability of cooling systems that would be needed in an emergency, to ensure that there are multiple layers of protection and multiple systems available in the event that something does go wrong. That’s why nuclear has had such an outstanding record of safety performance over these past 60 years and why we expect the next generation of nuclear to be even better.
How will advanced reactors incorporate even more safety features?
Two key ways. First is through the incorporation of advanced fuel types that take advantage of the 60 years of operating experience we have with today’s reactors. The second way is through the incorporation of safety features that don’t require active systems like pumps or values but actually rely on things like gravity and natural convection to ensure that the reactors, the workers, and the public stay safe.
