The Breakthrough Institute

Nuclear

The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant above the cliffs of the California coast

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.

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Nuclear work

Research, analysis and everything we have put on the record: comments, testimony, statements, letters and endorsements.

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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
Ted Nordhaus Founder and President Email Latest: Rich World, Poor World
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.