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 193–198 of 226
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Analysis
Nuclear Has Scaled Far More Rapidly Than Renewables
The Clean Energy Transition Needs the Atom
· Geoff Russell
Analysis
‘Pandora’s Promise’ Stirs National Debate Over Nuclear
The Most Important Movie about the Environment Since ‘An Inconvenient Truth'’’
· Breakthrough Staff
Analysis
San Onofre Nuclear Closure to Boost State Carbon Emissions by 8 Million Tons
Replacement Electricity Equivalent to Adding 1.6 Million Cars
· Breakthrough Staff
Analysis
No Solar Way Around It
Why Nuclear Is Essential to Combating Climate Change
· Michael Shellenberger, Ted Nordhaus
Analysis
The Green Nuclear Conversion
'Pandora's Promise' Cuts Through Misinformed Fears
· Paul Blustein
Analysis
Planetary Emergency? Then Go Nuclear
Antinuclear Greens Aren't Serious About Climate Change
· Ted Nordhaus, Michael Shellenberger
193–198 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.