The need to improve the environment has never been more pronounced. We must start by conserving and using energy more efficiently. And, we must develop renewable energy projects like wind and solar.
However, these two commendable initiatives alone will not allow us to meet the growing energy demand. That is why we will continue to require clean baseload power like nuclear power…to help meet demand and address climate change.
Nuclear accounts for 20 percent of the power generated in the United States and more than 50 percent of the electricity generated in New Jersey. With such a contribution to our current power needs, it’s clear it must be part of any environmental solution.
|
|
Nuclear has one of the lowest impacts on the environment of any energy source because it does not emit air pollution, it isolates its waste from the environment and requires a relatively small amount of land. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), only 26 percent of our nation’s electricity overall comes from clean-air sources – with nuclear power generating almost three-fourths of it.
Nuclear power has another distinction – it’s available 24/7. With an abundance of nuclear fuel available, it also reduces our country’s dependence on foreign sources of energy and other natural resources.
The minimal waste generated from a nuclear power plant demonstrates that it is one of the greenest forms of electricity available. If all the used nuclear fuel produced in the U.S. nuclear industry over the past 40 years were to be stacked end to end, it would cover just one football field seven yards deep.
These benefits are why new nuclear development and license renewal for existing plants continue to gain momentum. Of the nation’s 104 nuclear plants, 51 have already had their license extended by 20 years, with another 19 in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s review process. This summer, PSEG will submit license renewal applications for its one Hope Creek and two Salem units so they too can continue to provide the clean energy needed in the future.
While no new nuclear plants have been ordered in three decades, more than a dozen companies are currently pursuing licenses for 30 new nuclear power plants. PSEG is in the earliest stages of exploring the possibility of building an additional reactor next to its existing units in Salem County.
The threat of climate change is growing all too quickly. We need to aggressively invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources as well as clean baseload power like nuclear. This three-pronged approach is the best way to meet the growing demand for energy and have a positive impact on our environment.
What’s your view? Please let us know at Opinion@PSEG.com.
.pdf version |
email this page
