The Future of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power currently accounts for approximately 19% the United States' electricity generation and 60% of our emission-free electricity. Nuclear energy is a reliable, resilient, and has safely powered America for decades. But, fundamental questions about the future of this technology need to be answered. When will we see the commercialization of small modular reactors that can be deployed at off-grid locations? When will we see deployment of advanced reactors that can reach much higher levels of thermal efficiency, recycle nuclear waste, and serve as hybrid energy systems? What are the regulatory and market barriers slowing down progress of these technologies in the United States? Nuclear energy was born in the United States. We have the best scientists and engineers in the world. Yet, we are not seeing the pace of commercial technology advancement that we would expect. At the same time, other countries including China are surging ahead. We have to ask ourselves: is the United States going to remain a global leader in nuclear technology?