The 2020 election season is here! And with it a renewed focus on hot topic issues like the environment, public health and the economy. Candidates may disagree about how to approach these issues, but the one thing we should all agree on is the importance of including nuclear carbon-free energy as part of the solution.
Here are five reasons why:
1. Nuclear power is our nation’s largest source of carbon-free energy. Nuclear energy accounts for 20% of total electricity production in the U.S.—and over half of all carbon-free power generation. Any serious plan to combat climate change must include nuclear energy, especially because…
2. …Every time a nuclear power plant closes, it is replaced with carbon-emitting gas and coal. Closing one nuclear power plant is the equivalent of adding 111 million carbon-polluting cars back on the street. Many nuclear facilities in the U.S. are at risk of premature closure this year unless we vote for policymakers who value the carbon-free benefits of nuclear power.
3. Nuclear energy is central to protecting public health. Nuclear energy is always on and always reliable – 24/7/365 – and is 100% carbon-free. Replacing nuclear with carbon-emitting sources puts as many as two million lives at risk and increases rates of respiratory illnesses, especially among vulnerable populations.
4. Nuclear power plants drive economic growth. They provide hundreds of thousands of Americans with high-paying, long-term employment. America’s nuclear power plants contribute nearly $60 billion annually to America’s GDP, and $12 billion each year in local, state and federal tax revenues.
5. Advanced nuclear technology is the future of clean energy. Evolution in nuclear technology has the potential to prevent even more greenhouse gas emissions. Exciting new research is taking place at laboratories across the country, as the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) gets underway. Making our nuclear power plants smaller, smarter and even safer can ensure the U.S. remains the leader in renewable energy innovation for years to come.
Heading to the polls soon? Know someone who is? Share this article with your friends and family and let them know why Nuclear Matters for America!