Report
Nuclear
Nuclear Notes
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Our position
Nuclear energy can deliver abundant, reliable, zero-carbon power. But the United States has lost the ability to build it quickly, repeatedly, and at scale. Now, rising electricity demand, growing public support, bipartisan political backing, and a once-in-a-generation overhaul of commercial nuclear regulation have created an enormous opportunity to deploy new reactors. Building a nuclear-powered world will require financeable projects, a regulator that can license safely, on time, and at scale, a nuclear community willing to move beyond the status quo, and an industry capable of turning today’s momentum into sustained deployment.
Data and tools
See All-
Tool
NRC Rulemaking Tracker
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Tool
Mapping America's Nuclear Potential
Evaluating Deployment, Investment, and Impact in America's Clean Energy Future
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Tool
Guide to NRC Application Data Requirements for State Implementers
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Three pieces the team says to read first
Nuclear work
Research, analysis and everything we have put on the record: comments, testimony, statements, letters and endorsements.
Showing 97–102 of 226
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Analysis
History of U.S. Uranium Industry
Decoupling Past Practices from Future Endeavors
· Peter Cook, Charlyne Smith, Adam Stein
Report
Mass Acquisition of Early Site Permits for Coal-to-Nuclear Repowering
Propelling the Transition Towards Cleaner, More Sustainable Energy Sources
· Charlyne Smith, Leigh Anne Lloveras, Adam Stein
Analysis
BTI’s Innovative Vision for NRC Modernization
Steps to forge a streamlined path for licensing advanced nuclear reactors
· Adam Stein, Charlyne Smith
Analysis
The Death of Anti-Nuclearism
Green groups’ anti-nuclear efforts are losing ground—here’s why
· Ted Nordhaus
Analysis
Meet Ten of the Next Five Successful Advanced Reactors
These are the advanced systems that are closest to deployment
· Matthew L. Wald
97–102 of 226
Who to talk to
Adam Stein
Director, Nuclear Energy Innovation Email
Latest: NRC Issues Construction Permit for X-energy's Advanced Reactor Project in Texas
Spencer Toohill
Chief of Staff for Nuclear Energy Innovation Email
Latest: Making Practicability the Standard for Uranium Groundwater Restoration
Questions
Should we just build as many large reactors as possible?
Where large reactors make sense, we should build them. But the future nuclear fleet will likely include a mix of large reactors, small reactors, and advanced designs suited to different customers, sites, and markets.
Do we have a solution to deal with nuclear waste?
Yes. Spent nuclear fuel can be stored safely today, and deep geologic disposal is a well-understood long-term solution. Several countries recycle spent fuel. The U.S. problem is primarily one of policy and implementation, not a lack of technical options.
Isn’t nuclear too expensive compared with wind and solar?
While the upfront costs of new nuclear generation are higher than wind and solar, nuclear reactors operate for decades, providing continuous baseload power and reducing the long-term system costs and consumer bills.
Is nuclear power safe?
Yes. In fact nuclear energy is the safest energy source. Its record reflects both the rarity of serious accidents and the extraordinarily small health impacts of producing nuclear electricity compared with other major energy sources.