US may have to go nuclear to meet climate goals, surging energy demand

Jul 12

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

For the first time in nearly two decades, power demand in the United States is on the rise. Electric utilities have nearly doubled their forecasts for additional power needs by 2028. To meet this growing demand and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that the country will need to triple its nuclear power output.

Efforts are already underway to expand nuclear power. One such development includes the potential revival of the Three Mile Island nuclear site in Pennsylvania.

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The site, which experienced a partial meltdown in 1979 that soured American public opinion against nuclear power, has been out of operation for years. However, with rising energy needs, the site’s owners are in serious talks with government officials about reopening it.

In addition to reviving old facilities, new nuclear projects are also being planned. Dominion Energy recently announced its plans to build the nation’s first-ever small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Virginia. This technology promises a reduced environmental footprint and lower costs for consumers compared to larger reactors.

Other planned SMR projects around the country are aiming to offer energy prices that are competitive with wind and solar power.

In California, the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which was slated to close this year, will now continue operating through 2030.

The plant provides around 10% of the power for California, the nation’s second-largest energy-consuming state.

Environmental groups have brought legal action to try and force the closure of this aging facility, which first became operational in 1985. However, closing the plant would cost around $4 billion and remove California’s largest single source of carbon-free power.

Tags: carbon emissions, Climate Change, Electricity, Energy, Nuclear energy, Renewable energy, solar power, U.S. Energy Department, Wind energy

[JACK AYLMER]

IF THE U.S. WANTS TO MEET ITS CLIMATE GOALS, THE NATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO NUCLEAR.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO DECADES, POWER DEMAND IS INCREASING FOR AMERICANS.

ELECTRIC UTILITIES HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED THEIR FORECASTS OF HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL POWER THEY’LL NEED BY 2028.

TO MEET DEMAND AND STILL REACH NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ESTIMATES THE COUNTRY WILL NEED TO TRIPLE ITS NUCLEAR POWER OUTPUT.

AND EFFORTS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL REVIVAL OF ONE OF THE MOST INFAMOUS U.S. NUCLEAR ACCIDENT SITES.

BACK IN 1979, A PARTIAL MELTDOWN AT THE PENNSYLVANIA NUCLEAR SITE THREE MILE ISLAND SOURED PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST THIS FORM OF ENERGY.

BUT NOW THE PREVIOUSLY MOTHBALLED FACILITY COULD BE MAKING A COMEBACK-

WITH ENERGY NEEDS ON THE RISE, THE SITE’S OWNERS ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN SERIOUS TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO RE-OPEN IT.

THIS COMES JUST AS DOMINION ENERGY ANNOUNCED NUCLEAR PLANS OF THEIR OWN.

THE UTILITY COMPANY REVEALED THIS WEEK IT PLANS TO BUILD THE NATION’S FIRST EVER SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTOR IN VIRGINIA.

THIS TECHNOLOGY OFFERS THE POTENTIAL FOR A REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT COMPARED TO LARGER REACTORS-

AND ALSO COMES WITH SMALLER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS.

OTHER PLANNED SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR PROJECTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE EYEING ENERGY PRICES THAT WOULD BE LESS ON AVERAGE THAN WHAT WIND OR SOLAR POWER CAN OFFER.

ELSEWHERE, CALIFORNIA IS KEEPING A NUCLEAR PLANT RUNNING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE THIS YEAR,

THE DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT PROVIDES 10 PERCENT OF THE POWER FOR THE NATION’S SECOND LARGEST ENERGY-CONSUMING STATE.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE BROUGHT LEGAL ACTION FORWARD TO TRY AND FORCE THE CLOSURE OF THIS AGING FACILITY-

WHICH FIRST BECAME OPERATIONAL IN 1985

BUT CLOSING IT WOULD COST AROUND 4 BILLION DOLLARS-

AND ALSO MEAN REMOVING CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF CARBON-FREE POWER.

FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE U.S. PLANS TO HANDLE AN UNPRECEDENTED UPCOMING SURGE IN ELECTRICITY DEMAND, WHILE STILL TRYING TO CUT EMISSIONS-

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