“To have a comeback, you have to have a setback.”
Mr. T
Do you have that one task (or multiple?) that you keep putting off because it’s overwhelming? For me, it has been tackling the topic of nuclear power – I’ve continued to sidestep it because it’s so complex. But, I decided to dip my toe in, and today am focusing on this one thing: nuclear power is making a comeback.
What is your gut reaction when you hear this? For those of us who were around in the 70s and 80s, the looming threat of reactor accidents was scary. Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986) became household names, and nuclear meltdowns were being dramatized in movies and books. Environmentalists were (and many still are) vehemently opposed. Then in 2011, the Fukushima accident reawakened some of that fear.
Despite the setbacks, nuclear power has continued to be an important part of our energy mix. Indeed, in the United States, it provides about 20% of our total energy. But it hasn’t been growing. That’s likely to change soon because of a renaissance that has been building. Fast forward to 2025, and nuclear is all the buzz again.
Why nuclear power is making a comeback
1. The demand for energy is rising
In industrialized countries like the U.S., data centers and AI, along with the electrification of homes and vehicles, are driving more demand for electricity. On top of that, in the developing world, the need for energy is growing because of a rising standard of living and/or population growth.
2. We need more clean energy to solve climate change
So, while demand is skyrocketing, the world is simultaneously transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy. To be clear, no form of energy is truly carbon-free, but clean energy produces low to zero emissions of heat-trapping gases. Examples include hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, and yes, nuclear.
3. Nuclear power has improved
While some older reactors are in the process of coming back on line, a new wave is also on the way. Called SMRs, they are smaller, safer, less costly, and more nimble than traditional reactors (like the ones in the photo).
What can we do?
Educating ourselves is probably the most important thing we can do. Here are a few good articles to get you started from Our World in Data and the Wall St. Journal. I have read quite a bit, but still have a lot to learn. There are several pieces of legislation on nuclear power working their way through Congress, so if you want to weigh in, it’s a good time to contact your elected officials.
People have very strong opinions, and conversations can be heated, but support is steadily increasing across the board. Proponents say nuclear is reliable, safe, consistent, and becoming more economical. Critics are concerned that it’s risky, more expensive than other options, and creates radioactive waste. Many also believe we can decarbonize without more nuclear. These are all worth exploring.
As is often the case, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. There are no perfect solutions, so balancing tradeoffs is critical. My view is we need to incorporate as many reasonable clean energy options as we can to both meet the growing energy demand and tackle climate change. But there is a lot more here to “unheat”, so stay tuned!
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Talk about it. Help solve it.