Sometimes, it is important to restate the obvious. Why is smoking bad for you? Because it causes cancer. Why is it not a good idea to drive drunk? Because it can lead to serious accidents. Why should we get rid of nuclear power? Because it is dangerous, expensive, dirty and not helpful. Although for decades the arguments against nuclear power have been –and still are- strong and valid, there is an increasing group (more…)

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 (more…)

The nuclear energy industry knows all about the vagaries of fashion. When the first nuclear reactors were built in the 1950s, they were lauded as heralding an age of cheap, abundant energy. But problems with safety and nuclear waste soon became apparent, tarnishing their image. The accidents at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, US, in 1979 and then at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986 were the final straw, leading (more…)

Nuclear power plants operate in most states in the country and produce about 20 percent of the nation’s power. Nearly three million Americans live within 10 miles of an operating nuclear power plant. Although the construction and operation of these facilities are closely monitored and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), accidents at these plants are possible. An accident could (more…)

STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER IN MEMBER STATES Nuclear power plants are primarily used for electricity production. Currently, 439 reactors are operating in 30 countries and are contributing approximately 14% to global electricity generation. The share of nuclear in global electricity generation has declined slightly in recent years. However, the total amount of nuclear electricity generation is increasing (more…)

In 1999, 351 GW of nuclear capacity were installed, and in 2000, the rate of production of nuclear electricity was 2586 TWh/y, for an average capacity factor (neglecting the one-year interval) of 84% (S33). Assuming that the wedge envisioned here is added to existing capacity which remains unchanged, we see that a wedge of nuclear power displacing coal requires approximately tripling, by 2054, both (more…)

Until building new nuclear power plants becomes economically viable without government subsidies, and the nuclear industry demonstrates it can further reduce the continuing security and environmental risks of nuclear power—including the misuse of nuclear materials for weapons and radioactive contamination from nuclear waste—expanding nuclear power is not a sound strategy for diversifying (more…)

Summary The physical security of nuclear power plants and their vulnerability to deliberate acts of terrorism was elevated to a national security concern following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Since then, Congress has repeatedly focused oversight and legislative attention on nuclear power plant security requirements established and enforced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Energy (more…)