The Future

The Future of Nuclear Power

In 2009, there were 439 nuclear reactors operating in 30 countries, with more than 40 under current construction. The United States has 104 nuclear reactors in operation today, generating 20% of our total electricity production, and 26 new nuclear reactors are on the immediate horizon for the US.

History of Nuclear Power

While the construction of nuclear power plants had waned in recent years, the current geopolitical circumstances have revived the US’s interest in developing nuclear power. With sufficient nuclear power, the United States could potentially reduce the current dependency on foreign imports for gas and oil and decrease the amount of pollution caused by the burning of these fuels.
Nuclear power is a powerful source of clean energy that can’t be ignored. It has vast potential to power our country’s energy needs without the dangers of mining and the harmful environmental implications that are produced from fossil-fuel consumption. And, when combined with other renewable clean energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power, it could eventually lead to the United States being solely powered by clean, efficient energy that originates within our borders, cutting down our reliance on other countries to provide us with sufficient resources to supply our increased demand for energy.