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Nuclear Energy
— an Overview
A plentiful, reliable supply
of energy is the cornerstone
of sustained economic
growth and prosperity.
Nuclear power is the second-largest source of electric power
generation in the United States, and existing plants are among the
most economic on the grid today.
The demand for energy in the United States is rising much faster than the
projected increase in domestic energy production. By 2030, domestic energy
demand is projected to grow almost 50 percent, according to the Energy
Information Administration (EIA). Global energy demand is expected to almost
double by 2030, according to EIA’s International Energy Outlook.
There are only three ways to overcome this projected shortfall:
– Import more energy,
– Improve energy conservation and efficiency, and/or
– Increase domestic supply.
The Administration considered these options when developing its National
Energy Policy of 2001 (NEP). It concluded that increased dependence on oil
imports from volatile regions of the world would jeopardize our national and
economic security. As imports rise, so does our vulnerability to price shocks,
shortages, and disruptions. For that reason, the Administration resolved to:
– Take steps to improve energy conservation and efficiency,
– Increase domestic energy production, and
– Increase the reliability and security of imports.
www.nuclear.energy.gov
Consistent with the priorities set forth More efficient operation has allowed and brought it back online in June
in the NEP, the President signed the nuclear plant operators to produce 2007.
Energy Policy Act (EPAct) into law in more energy than ever before,
August 2005. This law was the first adding the equivalent of nearly 10 The role of the Department of
comprehensive energy plan in more new nuclear plants to the U.S. grid Energy (DOE) is to work with the
than a decade. EPAct 2005: through efficiency improvements. private sector, our overseas partners,
American plants, which were and other agencies to assure that
– Encourages energy efficiency and available to produce energy only the benefits of nuclear technology
conservation, 70 percent of the time on average in continue to contribute to the security
– Promotes alternative and the early 1990s, are now producing and quality of life for Americans—
renewable energy sources, and power around 92 percent of the time. and other citizens of the world—now
Nuclear power plants do not release and into the future. By focusing on
– Encourages the expansion of the development of advanced nuclear
nuclear energy in the United air pollutants or carbon dioxide in the
production of electricity, providing technologies, the Office of Nuclear
States. Energy supports the Department’s
an important option for improving air
Over the past 15 years, U.S. and environmental quality. goal to develop new generation
utilities have become the best capacity while making improvements
operators of nuclear power plants As a result of this success, essentially in environmental quality.
in the world. Consolidation of plant all U.S. nuclear plants are expected to
apply for renewed licenses that will A robust expansion of nuclear energy
ownership to a fewer number of in the United States goes hand-in-
excellent operators has made the keep most plants in operation into the
middle of the century. The Tennessee hand with the Global Nuclear Energy
operation of U.S. plants: Partnership (GNEP), established by
Valley Authority (TVA) is going a step
– Safer, further and refurbishing a plant that the President in February 2006, to
was shut down in 1985. TVA invested promote a significant, wide-scale use
– More cost-effective, and of nuclear energy in a safe and secure
$1.8 billion in Brown’s Ferry Unit 1, a
– More reliable than ever before. 1,200-megawatt boiling water reactor, manner while decreasing the risk of
Location of 104 U.S. Nuclear Power Reactors
Source: Based on data from the International Nuclear Safety Center, Argonne National Laboratory,
GE Nuclear Energy, and other sources.
*Map indicates locations only, some sites have more than one reactor.
www.nuclear.energy.gov
nuclear weapons proliferation and Bilateral cooperation that benefits to deploy new nuclear plants in the
effectively addressing the challenge GNEP in its international technical United States by early in the next
of nuclear waste disposal. The core development efforts includes decade, and to develop advanced,
of the GNEP vision is strengthening arrangements between the United next-generation nuclear technology.
nuclear nonproliferation and States and Russia, Japan, China,
improving safety, security, and Australia, Jordan, and Italy. As an The benefits of nuclear power as a
safeguards. example, the U.S.-Russian Bilateral safe, reliable, and affordable source
Action Plan outlines national of energy are an essential element in
The global aspect of GNEP is strategies in nuclear power and the Nation’s energy and environment
manifested through a voluntary identifies the common basis for U.S.- future. A broadly diverse energy
international partnership consisting Russian cooperation in advanced supply has sustained the country in
of like-minded nations that share recycling reactors, exportable the past, and it must be available for
the common vision of the necessity small and medium reactors, the future. Nuclear energy is part of
for the expansion of nuclear energy nuclear fuel cycle technologies, that diverse portfolio. It can serve us
for peaceful purposes worldwide in and nonproliferation —all tenets well, as we require more energy to
a safe and secure manner. With the of GNEP. Similarly, under the supply our growing economy, work to
expansion of this ground-breaking U.S.-Japan Bilateral Program Plan, protect the environment, and enhance
partnership, GNEP now represents working groups are now conducting America’s energy security.
every region of the world. Its joint research and development.
Statement of Principles has been
adopted by 20 Partner nations. NE leads the development of
The Partnership also includes 18 new nuclear energy generation
additional countries that participate technologies to meet energy and
in an observer capacity, as well as climate change goals and
three multinational organizations that advanced, proliferation-
serve as permanent observers. GNEP resistant nuclear fuel Program Budget
is unique based on its comprehensive technologies that maximize Nuclear Energy
vision for realizing the safe and energy from nuclear fuel, ($ in Millions)
secure expansion of civilian nuclear while maintaining and
FY 2008 FY2008 FY 2009
energy, its respect for each Partner’s enhancing the national
Request Actual Request
unique energy needs, and its nuclear infrastructure.
potential, represented by Partners These activities build on
from all stages of the nuclear fuel important work started
cycle and all geographic regions of over the last three years Nuclear Energy $874.6 $1,033.9 $1,419.5
the world.
www.nuclear.energy.gov Printed on Recycled Paper
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