Quick Facts • In 2008, nuclear power provided one fifth of total U.S. electricity and constituted nearly 70 percent of total U.S. low-carbon electricity generation.1 The United States is the largest generator of nuclear power, accounting for about 30 percent of global nuclear generation.2 • Globally, nuclear power provides roughly 15 percent of total electricity generation and more than 40 percent of global non-fossil fueled electric power generation.3 The United States, France, and Japan account for nearly 60 percent of global nuclear power generation.4 • Under policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power could be an important source of low-carbon electricity, for example, providing 40 percent of U.S. electricity and more than 20 percent of global electricity by mid-century.5,6 Background Electric power generation is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel combustion. In the United States, electricity generation is responsible for roughly one third of total GHG emissions (80 percent of which come from coal use).7 Globally, electricity generation accounts for more than 27 percent of total CO2 emissions and more than one fifth of total GHG emissions.8 Given the magnitude of GHG emissions from the electricity sector, low-carbon electricity generation technologies are crucial for achieving the significant GHG emission reductions necessary to avoid dangerous climate change. Nuclear power is one option in the portfolio of low-carbon electricity generation technologies, which also includes renewables (e.g., wind, solar, and biomass) and fossil fuels coupled with carbon capture and storage. Nuclear power emits no GHGs from electric power generation, and its overall lifecycle GHG emissions profile is low and similar to that of solar power.9 In addition, nuclear power is already a widely deployed technology and can—like coal-fueled generation—provide reliable baseload electric power. Currently, nuclear power is by far the largest source of low-carbon electricity in the United States. In 2008, nuclear power provided one fifth of total U.S. electricity, which was more than twice as much as generated from all renewable sources (including conventional hydropower).10 The United States has 104 operating nuclear reactors at 65 plants in 31 states.11 Globally, nuclear power generates roughly 15 percent of total electricity…

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