Transcription
Narrator: Demand for clean, reliable and affordable energy is on the rise, fueled by growth in manufacturing, cloud computing and AI. To meet America's growing demand, the United States must re embrace nuclear power, a proven large scale source of clean energy.
Through the 1970s and 80s, the United States on average built three to four nuclear reactors per year. That nuclear fleet still produces nearly 20% of America's electricity with virtually zero emissions, more than all wind and solar combined. But in the past two decades we have completed just three reactors total. Rising regulatory and construction costs plus competition from cheap natural gas and renewables stalled nuclear's growth.
Recent shifts offer hope, however. Public support for nuclear is on the rise. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google and Amazon have invested in both conventional nuclear plants and safer next generation projects, including small modular reactors to meet their baseload needs. So called Generation IV Technologies, some combining nuclear with thermal storage, enhance flexibility in volatile energy markets. And innovative financial models such as special purpose private investment vehicles with government backed risk sharing can help buy down the costs of building these new reactor supply chains.
To seize this opportunity, policymakers must spend streamline regulations, support private public partnerships and pursue international cooperation with complementary partners like Korea and India. The Trump administration's broad ranging Energy Executive Order aims to quadruple nuclear output over the next 25 years, marking an important first step towards this vision. Fully revitalizing the US nuclear enterprise can support our energy security, economic growth and a clean energy future.
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