Did you know that nuclear energy fuels 29 U.S. states, and provides 55% of American’s clean energy?
With the recent inauguration of President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, many are eager to see their plans for the upcoming years, and their policies to improve the America we live in. For many, the focus is on healthcare, for some it is immigration, and for others, nuclear energy.
To know what nuclear energy is, and what it provides specifically to America, we have to look at how it compares to other types of fossil-fuel energy production. Nuclear energy “comes from splitting atoms in a reactor to heat water into steam, turn a turbine and generate electricity,” according to the nuclear energy Institution, (NEI.org) “Ninety-four nuclear reactors in 28 states generate nearly 20 percent of the nation’s electricity, all without carbon emissions because reactors use uranium, not fossil fuels. These plants are always on: well-operated to avoid interruptions and built to withstand extreme weather, supporting the grid 24/7.” Through a process called fission (the splitting of uranium atoms), heat is generated, which transforms the water into steam, and in turn is used to generate electricity.
Nuclear power plants require a larger upfront investment, but are significantly more profitable in the long run than fossil fuel plants. It also takes much more time and effort to build completely. The nuclear power plants provide carbon-free electricity. Less emissions, meaning less pollution, is much more stable for the environment. Currently, the United States accounts for 15% of the world’s emissions.
In his presidential run for office during 2007-08, Biden vouched for an increased production in renewable energy, which excludes nuclear energy, and resolving the energy crisis.
On day one, Biden made several executive orders including rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, which is a ‘legally binding international treaty on climate change,’ and which former President Donald Trump had backed out of early in his term. The Paris plan, which is to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, requires cutting climate pollution from all major emitting countries, through means of reducing emissions. France generates 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy, which is the most out of any country globally.
During his campaign in 2019, President Biden proposed a deal, incorporated by the Green New Deal, to eliminate greenhouse gasses by 2050.
Biden has also proposed investing $1.7 trillion over the next ten years in a Clean Energy Revolution that will create new jobs and reach goals on climate change. According to his public site, [He will] “establish an enforcement mechanism to achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050.” It is unclear what the replacement for fossil fuels will be, but it’s clear he wants to eliminate their use as sustainably as possible, with as many jobs saved as he can. Vice President Kamala Harris has mentioned similar thoughts, as to increase investments in cleaner renewable energies.
Along with Nuclear Power Plants, investing in zero-carbon technologies, such as SMR’s (Small Modular Reactors), will help in the battle against climate change. SMR’s are reactors, used for power generation. Biden plans on an investment in zero-carbon technologies, including SMRs.
With the help of Biden’s administration, and if we work diligently in the next four years, we could be on a fast, crucial track for tackling our biggest enemy.
