Nuclear Energy: Benefits for All Americans

Nuclear Energy: From Yesterday to Tomorrow

Only 30 years ago, nuclear energy was an exotic, futuristic technology, the subject of experiments and the stuff of science fiction.

Today, nuclear energy is America's second largest source of electric power after coal. More than 110 nuclear energy plants provide more electricity than oil natural gas or hydropower. Since 1973, they've saved American consumers about $44 billion, compared to the other fuels that would have been used to make electricity.

In many states, nuclear energy is the leading source of electric power. And, because of our interconnected electricity system, virtually every American gets some electricity from nuclear energy.

America's nuclear energy plants deliver many benefits:

The outlook for nuclear energy as bright as its past accomplishments. Government and industry are developing advanced-design nuclear energy plants that promise even lower cost, even better performance and even higher safety. They will help supply our electricity and protect our environment for years to come.

Reducing Dependence On Imported Oil

Nuclear energy helps solve one of our most urgent national problems - growing dependence on foreign countries for the energy that runs our economy. The U.S. is importing over 40 percent of the oil we use - at a cost of $l billion a week. That dependence would be far worse without nuclear energy.

Powering Our Economy

Since the oil embargo of 1973, Americans have used energy more wisely and more efficiently. Since 1973, our population has grown from 211 million to almost 250 million, our economy has grown about 50 percent, but our use of energy has grown only 10 percent.

But our economic growth has been fueled largely by electric power. In fact, there is a close and continuing connection between economic growth and electricity supply:

Where did this new electric supply come from? Over 95 percent of our new electric supply since 1973 came from nuclear energy and coal. More than 80 new nuclear energy plants have started operating since l973.

Protecting Our Environment

Nuclear energy plants produce electricity by the fissioning of uranium, not the burning of fuels. As a result, nuclear plants don't pollute the air with sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, dust or greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.

America's nuclear energy plants reduce electric utility emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 percent, or 128 trillion tons a year. Without our nuclear plants, electric utility emissions of sulfur dioxide would be 5 million tons a year higher. Emissions of nitrogen oxides would be 2 million tons a year higher.

The environmental benefits of nuclear energy can he seen clearly in France. In the 1980s, because of concerns over imported oil, France more than tripled its nuclear energy production. During that same period, total pollution from the French electric power system dropped by 80-90 percent.

Worldwide Benefits

More than 400 nuclear plants are operating in 25 countries around the world. They supply almost 17 percent of the world's electricity. In many countries, nuclear energy plays an even larger role than in the United States.

Many of these nations are building new nuclear energy plants, to meet the needs of their growing populations and expanding economies. About 83 new nuclear energy plants are being built around the world.

Power for the 21st Century

With a growing population and a growing economy...with increasing reliance on computers and other electric technologies...with dependence on foreign oil already at a dangerously high level...with serious uncertainties about the long-range supply and price of oil and natural gas...and with major questions about the long-term environmental effects of burning fossil fuels...America will need more and more electricity from nuclear energy.

With its proven benefits over three decades, nuclear energy will continue to play a major role in providing the electric power that the U.S. will need to fuel its economic growth in the decades to come.

US Council on Energy Awareness (8/93)

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Latest revision date: Monday, December 17, 2001