STATEMENT: The White House’s latest Executive Order enriches the future of nuclear energy

Berkeley, Calif. — Today, the Biden Administration released a new Executive Order (EO) laying out their climate objectives for America’s clean energy future, which points to America transitioning to a nuclear energy sustained power grid. The Breakthrough Institute’s Dr. Adam Stein, Senior Nuclear Energy Analyst, has released the following statement following the EO:

“President Biden’s latest move to transition the US to a carbon-free energy future creates a clear path for nuclear energy to regenerate as America’s dominant power source. The EO laid out five energy-related goals, with the first and most prominent being a transition to ‘100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030, at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 demand.’ America’s electricity grid needs the availability and reliability that firm energy resources provide such as nuclear energy.

“Nuclear energy both meets America’s energy needs and provides carbon-neutral, clean energy that the Biden Administration calls for. A fact further emphasized by their proclamation America’s electricity should be ‘100 percent carbon pollution-free.... by 2030, including 50 percent on a 24/7 basis.’ Renewable energy is dependent on weather conditions and has not been successfully used for industry-led 24/7 carbon-neutral energy programs. Nuclear energy can provide the firm energy resource that these programs have been missing."

“This technology-neutral approach to procuring clean energy with an emphasis on 24/7 availability is critical and will be a template for others to follow. A carbon-free future requires firm energy, including nuclear energy.”

Click here to read the full Executive Order Fact Sheet

President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America’s Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability