Opinion | Using nuclear power can help our children live with climate change
A recent report from President Donald Trump's administration states, “Global mean surface temperature is projected to increase by approximately 3.48°C (6.27°F) . . . by 2100.” It goes on to quote experts, “It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century" because of the release of greenhouse gases.
Some say that 2100 is far away – other generations will mitigate climate change. However, a just-released analysis by Nobel Prize winners finds that by acting aggressively in the next 12 years we have a chance to mitigate the worst threats of climate change to human health. One of the fastest ways to quit disposing of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere is to use fossil-free electricity such as renewable energy, hydroelectric power, biomass and nuclear.
Nationwide, nuclear power plants generate more than half of our fossil-free electricity. As reported by the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee, 41 percent of Tennessee Valley Authority electricity is nuclear – beating the national average for fossil-free electricity generation of 37 percent. Also, nuclear power plants are rarely shut down. They operate 97 percent of the year providing a steady supply of electricity. So these high-yield, efficient plants are helping mitigate global climate change today.
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But isn’t nuclear power dangerous?
Routine operations are managed safely by strict Nuclear Regulatory Commission scrutiny with trained operators and engineering staff continuously improving safety and efficiency.
Accidents are dangerous. Fewer than 40 brave workers died because they were exposed to radiation while stabilizing the Chernobyl accident. At Fukashima one radiation worker’s death was attributed to the tsunami that overwhelmed the reactor. Extensive studies have found that no members of the public died because they were exposed to radiation from these accidents. As traumatic as these accidents were, nuclear reactors do not cause deaths during normal operation.
Aren’t nuclear power plants expensive?
Nuclear power plants are expensive to build, but not to operate. Their construction and operating plans are rigorously overseen by regulators. Since a nuclear power plant generates an average of 1,000 MW of electricity at a single location, the cost for a new facility is high. Once the facility is built, the output of electricity is highly efficient, reducing overall operating costs.
What will be inside the future K-25 History Center?
What about radioactive waste?
The U.S. has decided not to permanently dispose of the used fuel that powers nuclear plants. Waste contains useable fuel when it is stored to reduce concerns of nuclear proliferation. These spent fuel rods generate heat, so they are cooled in on-site storage systems. After cooling, they are stored in heavy, on-site concrete casks and monitored, so U.S. nuclear power plant waste is self-contained within each plant site boundary. Ongoing engineering and political efforts are directed to increasing the safety of spent fuel.
Climate change is not a partisan issue. Republicans and Democrats have joined the Congressional Climate Solutions Caucus, which proposes methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity can be generated today so that greenhouse gas emissions are dramatically reduced by combining nuclear power and renewable energy. By adopting these technologies now, our planet will be much less than 6°F warmer in 2100, giving our children and grandchildren a better chance to survive climate change.
Jan Berry is a retired chemical engineer and group leader with U.S. International Experimental Fusion Reactor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.