It can no longer be denied: nuclear energy is having a moment. Advanced reactor deployment is on the horizon, a wave of subsequent licensing renewal applications is on the way, public opinion is on the rise, and Vogtle 3 is supplying power to customers, delivering the first advanced reactor in the U.S. and ushering in a new era for nuclear energy.
The path forward is clear; the urgency even more so. If we want to meet our climate goals and build a clean, independent power grid, Vogtle 3 must be followed by hundreds more deployments of all shapes and sizes.
We have seen a groundswell of development in pursuit of this goal, with a recent survey of members identifying a role for more than 90 gigawatts of nuclear power. Across the board, the industry is thinking and planning ever more boldly to meet demand and deliver on the nuclear promise.
The Vogtle experience provides us with an important glimpse at what is to come and a taste of the media landscape in a future of rapid deployment. And while much of recent media coverage has been positive, we have seen the same malicious forces rear their heads: misinformation, misunderstanding, and misguided prejudice.
But the benefits of this technology speak for themselves—nuclear has the ability to tackle net-zero targets, secure U.S. energy independence, and provide always-on power to the people.
If nuclear is to play its role in the world’s clean energy future, it will require all of us to tell that story to more people than ever before. It’s a big task. Luckily, NEI is here to help.
Over the past several months, NEI has released a suite of new tools for people to share the nuclear story within their community.
Our newly released “Generation” ad campaign offers a fresh approach to digital advertising, with a strong message to strengthen support for the expansion of nuclear. The campaign underscores nuclear energy’s value in building a better future by providing clean power 24/7/365.
In addition to our ad campaign, NEI has launched a new Advanced Nuclear Hub to help communicate the myriad benefits of nuclear energy in your community. Whether you want to tell the nuclear story, partner with the industry, or learn about the features and advantages of next-generation nuclear technology, the NEI website has more resources than ever to help you do so.
Success is critical not just for the clean energy transition, but also for our children and grandchildren who are counting on nuclear energy to be the foundation of a net-zero world. And as demand, development, and deployment pick up pace, we know we have what it takes to deliver a clean, carbon-free future for all of us.
