“Nuclear power…is going to be an important part of our energy mix. It’s 20% of our electricity generation today, but it’s 70% of the carbon-free portion of electricity today. And it is baseload.”
—Steven Chu, Energy Secretary
Confirmation Hearing
January 13, 2009
Why Nuclear—Environmental Nuclear Energy & The Environment
Nuclear energy is America’s largest source of clean-air, carbon-free electricity, producing no greenhouse gases or air pollutants. Presently, nuclear energy produces electricity for one in five homes and businesses across the U.S. and nearly three quarters of all the country’s clean-air electricity.
Uranium fuel is compact—a tremendous amount of electricity is generated from a small quantity of fuel, resulting in a correspondingly small amount of manageable spent fuel. Spent nuclear fuel can be safely stored at nuclear plant sites in steel and concrete vaults or containers and remain securely in place until it is recycled or the government transports it to a repository.
Environmental responsibility is an important part of nuclear power plant management. Plants are designed, built, operated and regulated to exacting standards to protect the environment and ensure plant safety and security. Additionally, many of the companies that operate nuclear power plants also voluntarily work to protect nearby wildlife and their habitats.
*U.S. Energy Information Administration
Sources: Nuclear Energy Institute
At a Glance:
Environmental Benefits
Nuclear power accounted for 36% of America's total avoided CO2 emissions in 2005, the most of any electricity generation*
Unlike fossil-fuel generation, a small amount of nuclear fuel generates a large amount of energy leaving a small amount of manageable spent fuel
Nuclear Energy Institute
