We get asked all sorts of questions about nuclear and that got us thinking; what are the commonly asked questions? Want to learn more about nuclear energy? Here’s what our experts had to say.
Is nuclear energy affordable?
Benton Arnett: I really like that the question is framed around affordability because it's a great value judgement. I think people all too often want to talk just about price or some of these other attributes, but when we really think about what people are procuring when they buy power, we're buying power for a purpose. We want that power to power our business operations or our homes. We want that to be available when we need it.
So, when you start to think about those attributes that we care about, things like reliability, nuclear is the most reliable energy source out there. And then you layer on things like wanting it to be clean, and nuclear energy is clean. So, combining those clean and reliable attributes creates a value proposition that is just unmatched by any other technology on the market.
You don't have to take my word for it. I think when you look at those customers that are making these deals and they're seeking out nuclear power, it's because they've done their research. So, when organizations and individuals do the research of what they actually want to purchase and what nuclear can provide, the answer becomes really clear.
Are there different kinds of nuclear plants?
Alison Hahn: Yeah, so advanced nuclear provides a lot of different technologies for a variety of applications. Starting just at the small-scale reactors, the microreactors, those are really good for remote communities that rely on diesel fuel year-round. They're also really good for emergency response efforts, being able to bring in a microreactor to provide that energy quickly for those efforts.
As your power needs increase, advanced nuclear has the technology for you. Whether that's a specific application like an industrial plant that needs high temperature heat, or that's a larger community that needs significantly more power for that community. We have those varying sizes to be able to suit your needs.
How does international financing help deploy new nuclear in the U.S. and abroad?
Kevin Warnke: They key thing that international financing can open up is opportunities for U.S. companies to win in global markets. With those sales, what we're seeing is increased investments in U.S. supply chains, in U.S. jobs, in U.S. manufacturing, and U.S. innovation. And the benefits of that are going to be experienced here domestically as well. So, as we're building more and more nuclear plants around the world, those same skills and attributes and experiences are going to help strengthen our ability to build here at home as well. So, it's really important that we help U.S. companies succeed globally and help support our workers and our innovators.
Is there nuclear energy in every state?
Kristy Hartman: Here in the United States, there's currently 94 operating nuclear reactors across 28 states. Those 94 operating reactors provide just over 45% of the carbon free nuclear energy in the U.S. But you know what's also very interesting is even if you're in a state that doesn't have a current nuclear reactor, you may still receive electricity from neighboring states that have nuclear reactors. So, your state may benefit from nuclear power, even if it doesn't directly have an operating nuclear reactor.
Is nuclear energy safe?
Jonathan Rund: Yes, nuclear energy is absolutely safe. The nuclear industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries out there when it comes to industrial or any other facility. Nuclear power is regulated by an independent nuclear regulatory commission that's responsible for establishing the rules. The NRC also provides extensive oversight of the nation's nuclear power plants. There are resident inspectors that are at those sites every day. The NRC also requires that the operators of the plants be licensed, and so they are.
That requires an extensive set of testing and training. These operators of plants go through extensive studying and training before they're allowed to operate plants. We also have a culture in the industry that focuses heavily on safety. So, that nuclear safety culture is embedded in the employees top to bottom.
