Newsroom Archive

The global transition to a low-carbon economy will involve trillions of dollars. For some it will be an expense; for others, revenue. And U.S. exporters of nuclear energy hardware and expertise could see well over $1 trillion in business by mid-century.

Although the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published their special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 ºC nearly two years ago, the climate crisis is gaining increasingly more bipartisan attention in Washington, D.C. Mitigation strategies that support all forms of carbon-free energy generation, including nuclear, have gained notable popularity across the political spectrum

Stories of innovation in the nuclear industry often focus on the advanced reactors under development, but there’s a thriving culture of innovation and excellence across all plants in the U.S. fleet. NEI’s annual Top Innovative Practice (TIP) Awards recognize those employees whose new ideas and approaches make the sector more efficient, cost competitive and even safer.

If there was ever life on Mars, nuclear technology will help find it. You may recognize nuclear energy as the workhorse of the electric grid, but innovation has made the technology essential for tasks well beyond electricity generation – and beyond our planet, too. NASA says it is on track to meet the schedule dictated by the dance of the planets, and launch its new rover Perseverance sometime between July 17 and August 11.

On June 24, NEI hosted “The State of the Nuclear Energy Industry 2020” virtual event on the future of nuclear energy, carbon-free energy and nuclear policy. The event included remarks from NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick, as well as a panel discussion with Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance CEO Miranda Ballentine and Union of Concerned Scientists President Ken Kimmell moderated by ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell, and an interview with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) conducted by Bipartisan Policy Center Founder and President Jason Grumet.

While the nuclear energy industry has made great strides in increasing gender diversity, there’s still work to be done. The workforce remains predominantly male, with women making up less than 25 percent of the nuclear sector workforce worldwide.

As many of the United States’ nuclear power plants approach the expiration of their licensing periods in the next 20 years, SLRs must be granted to ensure that the environmental and security benefits gained from nuclear are preserved and furthered.

Around the world, perhaps the best predictor of health, nutrition, prosperity, education and upward mobility is reliable access to electricity.

Innovation can mean challenging old assumptions. When it comes to nuclear energy, one assumption ripe for rethinking is about size.

On May 14, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a funding opportunity announcement for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. This program will create partnerships between DOE and private industry and provide funding to develop and build advanced reactors.