New Nuclear Reactors Unproven
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When Small (New Nuclear Reactors) is not Beautiful
The (Nuclear) Empire Strikes Back
Seeing its share of electrical generation in the world decrease—as nuclear loses out to renewables and other less expensive resources—the nuclear industry had to come up with something new. Unfortunately, it means there are at least 20 different vendors with distinctive designs and that is not even counting the proposals for mobile nuclear reactors, a concept whose time should never come. Although not a single new concept reactor has been built and operated to full scale, the vendors are saying they can be built fast, they’re safe, they are clean, and will save us from the unreliable sources of wind and solar. They never mention whether nuclear is affordable and they never talk about the use of energy efficiency. If there is one thing the nuclear industry has learned from its decades of failures it is marketing. And that is a problem because marketing does not make nuclear power safe, cheap, reliable, and clean.
A Bird in the Hand (is Essential to Combat Climate Change)
The world needs to move quickly if we are going to meet the 2030 greenhouse gas emission goals to combat climate change. To meet those goals requires replacement energy sources that can go online now; we don’t have time to waste. Solar, wind, energy efficiency—all of these sources are available now. In contrast, even the rosiest of schedules for new nuclear reactors does not have them scheduled to come online until 2030. And those schedules are more likely than not to slip, as has been true of at least one vendor: NuScale. NuScale, and X-energy have also promoted using their plant to supply oil and gas refineries with power and steam, so much for all that concern about the climate. New nuclear designs are like today’s experience with self-driving cars; there will be a lot of bugs to work out.
Given the climate crisis we need to invest the maximum amount of our resources into reducing greenhouse gas emissions with today’s technology, not gamble them on future nuclear power plants whose proponents seek to partner with the oil and gas industry.
Below in the Resources section you will find papers, articles, videos, etc. documenting nuclear power along with solar, wind, and energy efficiency.
How we’re fighting back
NWEA is working with other organization in the West to make sure consumers have safe, affordable, and reliable power.
NWEA is reaching out to the Northwest residents make them aware that nuclear energy is not a viable climate action.
NWEA is supporting the deployment of local energy sources that will keep electric rate affordable for all such as energy efficiency and solar.
Utilities in the Northwest are in the process of planning for reducing their carbon footprint and while some are looking at energy efficiency and conservation along with renewable, others are unfortunately looking to nuclear power. It's important we encourage those utilities seeking nuclear free options to continue down that path. At the same time, we need to let those utilities planning on nuclear power know they need to follow a nuclear free path. Nuclear power costs will only add to an increased costs for fixing an electric grid above and beyond what's needed for reliability. The utilities now considering nuclear power include Clark County PUD, Grant County PUD, and Pacific Power.
Action Needed Now!
Tell Your Electric Utility
Now is not the time to solve one problem with another, one that will increase electric rates and impact future generations with radioactive waste. Let your utility know you want your dollars to be used for energy efficiency, community renewables, and rooftop solar. Here are the utilities that we know are considering new nuclear reactors:
Clark Public Utility District - Grant County Public Utility District - Pacific Power