New nuclear energy is old news
And new projects are already under way, benefitting economies and creating jobs
Column by Jarret Adams
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Right now, nuclear energy is expanding around the world. According to the World Nuclear Association, there are 50 reactors under construction across the globe and another 130 (and counting) scheduled to come online over the next decade.
The nuclear renaissance is happening.
Today the world demands clean, low-carbon energy sources to prevent further increases in carbon-dioxide emissions. That is why we are seeing increasing interest in nuclear energy as well as renewable technologies such as wind and solar.
In the United States, nuclear energy is by far the largest source of electricity that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, 72 percent of the nation’s emissions-free electricity comes from nuclear power.
At AREVA, we believe nuclear energy must be part of any solution to reduce harmful emissions and provide affordable, clean electricity to the country. Nuclear energy is just one part of the equation, a range of clean energy sources, including renewables, are needed. But in realistic terms, the United States would be hard pressed to meet its energy and climate goals without nuclear energy.
From California to New York, companies like AREVA are planning a new generation of nuclear energy plants. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received 17 applications to license 25 new reactors and is working hard to review them. Included among these are four AREVA U.S. EPR™ reactors. These four domestic reactors are in addition to the four EPR™ reactors AREVA has under construction worldwide.
These new nuclear facilities will do more than produce clean, reliable electricity. These projects will inject billions of dollars of investment into local communities and create thousands of high-paying jobs.
We must tackle the challenges of reducing emissions and creating a clean-energy economy. Nuclear energy is a reliable, clean-energy source, capable of generating jobs where they are needed most. New nuclear plants should be part of the nation’s energy solution.
Jarret Adams is a spokesman for AREVA Inc., based in Bethesda, Md.
You just go ahead and spend all that money to build nuclear reactors. Us private citizens are tired of paying for utilities and we plan to be totally self sufficient, putting you out of business, and wasting your money. Since you will not listen to the people, you are destined to pay for your mistakes soon enough.
We need some type of dependable power. Coal is bad. Wind Energy is just a subsidized scam and total energy sprawl. If we do not do this, we will get further and further behind.
What about nuclear waste? The cost of handling and storing that stuff, essentially, forever isn’t accounted for. What about the dangers of proliferation and terrorist targets? What about the environmental damage of getting the uranium out of the ground? For the same investment, many more jobs are created funding wind and solar. This isn’t a column, it is an ad for the nuclear industry. An industry that cannot stand on its own merits and requires massive public subsidy to even exist. Private capital will not flow to this industry without the US government taking on all the liability that comes with this hazardous technology.
where in the nuclear fuel cycle are greenhouse gasses not produced?
is it in the continuing mining, milling, enriching, containing and storing of uranium to fuel the reactors? is it in the production of huge amounts of concrete and steel need to construct a nuclear power plant? is it in the millions of diesel-burning transport miles by truck and rail to fuel, secure, operate and maintain the facility? is it in the decades-long process of decommissioning a plant that has lived its useful generating life?
no, it is only in the reaction itself, though the industry would have you believe otherwise with its campaign of “greenwashing” that is just as deceptive as their cost-per-kilowatt hour scam that fails to include taxpayer subsidies.
the nuclear reaction is not an autonomous source of energy that exists in a vacuum. there is a huge amount of carbon (and cost and waste) production inherent in the vast infrastructure needed to generate electricity. don’t believe the PR hype.
nuclear energy does pollute. it does create deadly toxic waste. it cannot exist without taxpayer subsidies and advance rate hikes for plant construction. it is the most complicated, costly and deadly way ever devised to simply boil water for steam and could mean an end meaningful steps toward sustainable energy production rather than a new beginning.
We remember clearly that NRC did not issue a permit last 20 years, claiming that it is hazardous and dangerous. Now all of sudden nuclear plant is safe, clean and sustainable. What logic is behind the suddent change of direction?
What about the huge cooling tower which exhaust enormous heat to the earth?
What about the issue of spent fuel storage?
Do you want to store it in your backyard?
Let’s be honest.
We must improve the true sustainable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal plant, we can do it.
NO NUKE !!