​                                                                                                       SUBSCRIBE                   PREVIOUS ISSUES​

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​​Towards a Nuclear Future​

​Nuclear energy is the highest-potential energy source available today. Nuclear power plants inspire feelings of awe, fear, promise and peril. The ever-growing need for reliable, clean and efficient energy is driving a shift in attitudes which the Administration is responding to.

Currently, approximately 19% of the total electricity generation in the United States comes from nuclear energy.¹ The current administration's plan to reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) aims to increase the United States nuclear capacity by four times, to 400GW, in 2050. That would power 76% of the nation's current energy use.

As a start to this plan, the US Department of Energy is supporting the reopening of the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan² and 5 gigawatts of power upgrades to existing nuclear reactors. Additionally, there are to be 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030. The expansion of nuclear power will be accompanied with a heavy emphasis on nuclear training, apprenticeships and grants by the Department of Education.³

These moves are the start to a resurgence of nuclear energy in the coming years. Such news will spell excitement for some and hesitation for others. Here are some benefits and public concerns of nuclear energy.

Benefits

Reduced air pollution: Nuclear energy itself does not produce carbon emissions or air pollution. According to the World Nuclear Association, the life cycle emissions from nuclear are equal to those of offshore wind energy.⁴ More than 6.5 million deaths occur across the globe each year due to air pollution.⁵ Switching to nuclear helps protect human health and the environment.

Economic benefits: While the capital costs are expensive, the operation and maintenance costs for nuclear plants are lower than other power plants.⁶ Nuclear power plants also bring about more jobs, as they need significantly more employees than other power generation facilities.⁷

Reliability and security: The high energy density of nuclear energ​y and its domestic sourcing potential⁸ combine to make nuclear a strong contender for increasing the reliability of the grid as well as the energy security of the nation. The past few decades have seen continuous improvements to security measures, safety systems and structural resiliency. These not only make nuclear safer than most other power generation options, but it also helps to ensure continuous and reliable power without detriment to the environment or populous.⁹

Concerns

High Initial Costs: The initial capital costs of nuclear energy are significantly more expensive than other power generation methods. Nuclear power plants and reactors require complex components and construction is customized to the site.⁶

Disposal of waste: “Half-life" is the period of time in which half the radioactive isotopes in a given substance will disintegrate into harmless material. The half-life of nuclear waste can last anywhere from minutes to tens of thousands of years.⁹ Handling, storage, transportation and disposal of this waste is a very delicate process, as direct exposure will be fatal and mishandling could lead to environmental contamination.¹⁰

While there is still a lot of work to do and challenges to overcome; if realized, a nuclear renaissance could bring about a better future, with cleaner, safer, and more reliable energy.

​Spotlight                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Discovery Lake Dam Repair​​ ​ Discovery Lake Dam was constructed in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) campus in 1977 to control flooding. As time went on, the internal drainpipes deteriorated and required repair. Bill Steinmetz, NIEHS Environmental Compliance Officer, provided some interesting insights into the project.​​​​​​​ LEARN MORE

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2025 GREEN Bingo Board ​ If you weren't able to get a bingo last year, then get ready for round two of the GREEN Bingo Board! Commit yourself to reducing resource use and improving the environment by trying these 25 initiatives throughout the year. See if you can tick off more boxes than your colleagues! LEARN MORE​

Fun Fact                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​​At Research Triangle Park, the name “Discovery Lake" was chosen from over 500 entries submitted by employees in a lake naming contest during the summer of 2012. The lake had previously been called NIEHS Lake, Drew Lake, Noname Lake, and unnamed tributary to Burdens Creek.

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