Nuclear Energy: The Future ​

What is Nuclear Energy?​

Nuclear Energy is a zero-emission clean energy source that is vital to our national energy security. It generates power through fission; the heat released by fission is used to create steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity without the harmful byproducts emitted by fossil fuels.

Why Nuclear Energy?

Most people immediately think of solar panels or wind turbines when they hear the term “clean energy”; nuclear is often left out of the “clean energy” conversation despite it being the second largest source of low-carbon electricity in the world behind hydropower.

Nuclear is a Clean, Carbon-Free Energy Source

It is the largest source of carbon-free electricity in the United States and protects our air quality by generating electricity without other harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, or mercury.

Bi-Partisan Support for Nuclear Energy in the US – for the first time in 48 years the Democrat platform supports nuclear: “We are not going to be able to achieve our climate goals if nuclear plants shut down. We have to find ways to keep them operating” – Energy Secretary Granholm

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the United States avoided more than 471 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020. That’s the equivalent of removing 100 million cars from the road and more than all other clean energy sources combined. It also keeps the air clean by removing thousands of tons of harmful air pollutants each year that contribute to acid rain, smog, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Nuclear has a Small Land Footprint

Despite producing massive amounts of carbon-free power, nuclear energy produces more electricity on less land than any other clean-air source. A typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility in the United States needs a little more than 1 square mile to operate. NEI says wind farms require 360 times more land area to produce the same amount of electricity and solar photovoltaic plants require 75 times more space. To put that in perspective, you would need more than 3 million solar panels to produce the same amount of power as a typical commercial reactor, or more than 430 wind turbines (capacity factor not included).

Nuclear is Powerful

One uranium fuel pellet—about the size of a gummy bear—creates as much energy as one ton of coal, 149 gallons of oil or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas. A single nuclear power reactor generates enough electricity on average to power over 700,000 homes without emitting any greenhouse gases—that’s more than enough to power a city the size of Philadelphia. In fact, America’s 94 nuclear plants produce enough electricity to power 75 million homes.

Nuclear Provides Domestic Energy Security

With the recent conflicts with Russia and Ukraine, there has been an increased need for energy security worldwide. The conflict has demonstrated the need for domestic energy and the need to reduce dependency on other countries.

The US is the largest consumer of uranium in the world, yet produces close to none, despite having abundant uranium sources.

“Uranium is being advanced as a “critical material” that is vital to America’s economic and national security.” – U.S. Department of Energy

Nuclear is Safe

Despite common misconceptions, nuclear energy is one of the safest sources and has seen dramatic changes over the last 50 years to make the technology even safer and more efficient.

Comparative death rates per unit of electricity production

What is In-Situ Recovery

“ISR”

* ISR In-Situ Recovery is a proven uranium extraction process, used globally for uranium extraction

Environmentally-responsible and economically superior uranium extraction

The Nuclear Renaissance

The global uranium & nuclear environment today:
  • ~200 nuclear reactors under construction or planned – an increase of more than 40% of current operating nuclear fleet.1
  • “Global realignment away from Russia in the nuclear fuel supply chain…new emphasis on western, and in particular, US produced uranium.”2
  • Japan – 10 reactors restarted and 16 additional reactors have applied for restarts 2
  • “Japan Plans Return to Nuclear Power with Reactor Restarts & New Build Plans”, Nuclear Market Review, Tradetech, August 17, 2022
  • A widespread trend away from Russian products….nuclear utilities are exploring alternative supply options. – “Uranium Market Study Interim Assessment: RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE”, Tradetech, March 22, 2022
  • United Kingdom – Energy Strategy: UK plans 8 new nuclear reactors to boost production – BBC News April 7, 2022
  • US – heavy reliance on nuclear power3: generates approx. 20% of electricity and 55% of carbon-free electricity
  • Increased power authorizations increase fuel demand
  • Financial investors and mining company purchases depleting spot market supply

Why American Uranium?

Provides a safe, reliable, and cost effective source of American energy.

  1. Reduces our reliance on unreliable foreign uranium producers such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and China.
  2. Nuclear provides 20% of US power and is a viable, affordable energy source that protects our pocketbooks and national security.
  3. Replaces 70% of uranium purchased from foreign state-owned suppliers.
  4. Supports and grows our economy with jobs, contracts, and tax revenue.
  5. Supporting American uranium directly contributes to the effort to reduce our carbon footprint.