- Nuclear energy is dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound
Nuclear energy is needed to meet increasing electricity demand
- Nuclear energy is not subject to unreliable weather or climate conditions, unpredictable fuel cost fluctuations, or dependence on foreign suppliers.
- Electricity generated by nuclear power is among the cheapest available today - production costs are the same or less than production costs from coal, oil, or natural gas
- Nuclear energy is the nation's largest and the only expandable source of electricity with near-zero emissions that will help the US meet clean air requirements.
New power plants can now be built faster and cheaper
- There is a limited supply of natural resources, which is insufficient to continue to meet growing electricity demand.
- Maintaining or increasing nuclear energy's share in the nation's energy mix will reduce US dependence on foreign oil.
- Over the next 20 years, the US will need 400,000 megawatts of new electric generating capacity to meet new electricity demand.
- Standardized designs will lead to greater efficiencies in all aspects of nuclear plant operations.
- Technological advances offer designs that are simpler and more compact, which leads to reduced construction time and costs.
- Improvements in the regulatory processes reduce uncertainties in licensing and construction, which lowers the costs of capital needed to finance new plants.
Last updated July 10, 2012, 11:16am CDT.