⚛ Is Biden's nuclear dream just a fantasy?
America faces a critical moment on climate change, which is really a clean-energy abundance problem. But there's a lot of work to do.
The United States currently gets 19 percent of its electricity generation (compared with four percent for solar and 10 percent for wind), or about a 100 gigawatts, from 93 operating commercial nuclear reactors at 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states. But that’s not nearly enough to the country’s net-zero carbon-emissions goals, says US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Speaking last week at the Vogtle power plant in Waynesboro, GA., Granholm said the country’s clean energy needs require 98 more reactors with the capacity of Vogtle’s new units 3 and 4, the first new reactors built in the United States in over 30 years:
It is now time for others to follow their lead to reach our goal of getting to net zero by 2050. We have to at least triple our current nuclear capacity in this country. That means we’ve got to add 200 more gigawatts by 2050. Okay, two down, 198 to go!
Hey, love the passion and the Up Wing energy. Now the reality check: The US has zero reactors under construction, according to the World Nuclear Association, with zero planned (meaning there are funding commitments in place and the approved reactors are expected to be operational within the next 15 years). History would suggest a baseline forecast of less nuclear generation capacity going forward than more as older reactors are decommissioned.
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