Unproven Nuclear Reactors
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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, as the industry seeks to remain relevant at least 20 different vendors, each with distinctive reactor designs, have come forward. 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 at full scale, the vendors are not shy about claiming that they can be built fast, that they are safe, that they are clean, and that they will save us from “unreliable” sources of wind and solar. They gloss over nuclear power’s high cost 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. However, marketing does not make nuclear power safe, cheap, reliable, or clean.
A Bird in the Hand (is Essential to Combat Climate Change)
The steadily worsening effects of climate change, now visible everywhere, mean the world needs to move quickly if we are going to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas emission goals. To meet those goals requires replacement energy sources that can go online now; we don’t have time to waste. Solar, wind, and energy efficiency are available now. In contrast, even the rosiest of schedules for new nuclear reactors does not suggest they can come online until 2030. And those schedules are more likely than not to slip, as has been the case with just about every nuclear power plant ever built. NuScale, and X-energy have also promoted using their plants to supply oil and gas refineries with power and steam. Such proposals contradict the industry’s claimed concern about the climate.
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
• Working with other organization in the West to make sure consumers have safe, affordable, and reliable power.
• Reaching out to the Northwest residents make them aware that nuclear energy is not a viable climate action.
• Supporting the deployment of local energy sources that will keep electric rates affordable for all such as energy efficiency and solar.
Utilities in the Pacific Northwest are in the process of planning for reducing their carbon footprint and while some are looking at energy efficiency and conservation along with renewablea, 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 and focus on local energy projects. Nuclear power costs will only add significant costs to electric bills in addition to the increased costs for fixing the electric grid for reliability.
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 ratepayer 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
Resources
Note: To expand the table go the bottom of the table and on the righthand corner click on "View larger version." For more help view the Document Library Guide.