America has had a rocky relationship with nuclear power, from issues at Rocky Flats and Hanford to the halted Yucca Mountain facility, which was intended to solve America's nuclear waste problem.
The United States has 54 operating nuclear power plants that produce just under 20% of America's energy. Reactors at these plants are being decommissioned at an alarming rate, with 22 currently in that stage. Decommissioning these plants can cost around $700 million on average and take 10 years for dismantlement.
Now, we need nuclear power more than ever to stabilize America's energy production and secure our energy security. Nuclear power produces negligible carbon emissions, offers extreme energy density compared to oil, gas, and various renewable sources, and has capacity factors (electricity produced vs. potential) exceeding 90%, while oil and gas and renewable options average around 45-50%.
One of the major problems is that the average American has little or no understanding of nuclear energy; over 72% of Generation Z does not know that nuclear is carbon-free. Only 35% of U.S. adults believe the country should push for more nuclear power production.
Accidents such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster have tainted nuclear power in recent years, but the public is unaware of recent developments in safer reactor technology. How do we educate and make the public aware of the benefits of nuclear power?
We have to look at the past when all hands were on deck supporting nuclear power. In 1957 Disney published a TV episode highlighting the benefits of nuclear power, which can be found here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pkwadgJORFM&t=2s…
The International Atomic Energy Commission even had buses that would tour Europe and the United States, educating people on nuclear energy.
Next, we should look toward the French model and highlight their success with nuclear power. France's largest energy source has been nuclear power since the 1980s; they have had a handful of accidents but with no fatalities.
Lastly, we need to showcase the future of small and medium-sized modular reactors.
Small modular reactors can cost under 1 billion dollars, much cheaper than the average range of $6-9 billion, and can be developed on as little as 10 acres of land, whereas traditional reactors require hundreds of acres.
Fast Small Modular Reactors maintain neutrons at high energy, allowing them to burn nuclear waste. Companies like Rolls Royce are developing small modular reactors that can also allow for passive shutdowns without human interaction.
Now is the time for a new age nuclear power narrative.