Gabriella Hoffman
When people think of the incoming Trump-Vance administration's plans to unleash domestic energy production, they likely start with policies for oil and gas drilling and fracking and clean coal. However, nuclear energy plays a vital role in expanding our domestic energy resources and protecting the environment. We should not let old misconceptions about nuclear production get in the way.
Support for nuclear energy in the United States has reached an all-time high – 56% of Americans support nuclear energy. However, this support is uneven, with 70% of men having a positive attitude towards nuclear energy compared to only 44% of women. Women may be skeptical of nuclear energy due to memories of Soviet-era nuclear accidents and the infamous Three Mile Island incident, as well as modern intimidation from the media and radical environmentalists. But nuclear energy has come a long way since then and is now one of the most promising technologies in terms of efficacy, safety and environmental impact.
The incoming Trump administration could appeal to women's ecological sensibilities by emphasizing the fact that nuclear power is a reliable and environmentally friendly option. Women care deeply about clean air and water conditions and want natural resources to be managed responsibly.
Nuclear energy is the most efficient energy source available today. 94 nuclear reactors already supply 18.6% of the United States' current electricity generation. Like natural gas, nuclear energy is critical to meeting the world's growing electricity demand. Unlike intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar, nuclear power operates almost 24/7. It emits nearly zero emissions and has a lower environmental impact than utility-scale solar and wind facilities, requiring just one square mile of land to accommodate a 1,000-megawatt (MW) plant that operates 93% year-round. ) power station. In comparison, solar and wind power produce only a fraction of the electricity produced by nuclear power, and require 75 and 360 times more land respectively to produce the same amount of electricity. In other words, nuclear power is more reliable, more efficient, requires far less land, and emits negligible carbon — vastly outperforming renewable energy on all these metrics.
Understandably, women are concerned about safety protocols and safe storage of nuclear waste (or used nuclear fuel). In the past 60 years, there have been only three major accidents at nuclear power plants around the world. U.S. nuclear power plants are among the safest in the world, built to minimize accidental radiation releases and meltdowns. Additionally, reactor operators undergo rigorous training and must obtain a federal license to oversee these plants. Our Department of Energy reports that U.S. facilities cause minimal harm to humans and the environment due to “safety procedures, robust training programs, and strict federal oversight.”
While concerns about nuclear waste storage are understandable, today there are new solutions that are better than ever. Today, most used nuclear fuel is safely stored in on-site dry casks, which the Trump Department of Energy can continue to improve by prioritizing permanent disposal of nuclear fuel.
When Americans envision nuclear facilities, most start with the giant steam towers operated by Homer Simpson. The reality is completely different. In fact, one of the most promising developments is the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors are not only functional; They are beautiful and modern.
President-elect Trump said during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast that he likes nuclear power but claimed conventional facilities are “…too big, too complex, and too expensive.” This is where small and medium-sized reactors can fill this gap.
There are currently 80 SMR prototypes under development. Each SMR module has a power generation capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW). Spent nuclear fuel from large reactors is even reused to power it.
The two companies are cleverly combining functionality with beauty—a surefire way to attract nuclear-skeptic women. In the United States, the Idaho National Laboratory's Oklo Aurora power plant prototype, expected to come online in 2027, has been praised for its sky cabin design. Incoming Energy Secretary Chris Wright sits on the board of publicly traded nuclear SMR startup Oklo and can rely on his expertise to bring future bosses on board. Across the ocean in the UK, luxury car company Rolls-Royce (unlike rival Jaguar) is cleverly using SMR to diversify its product portfolio. Their prototype takes up about two football fields and is capable of powering about a million homes.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to “unleash energy production from all sources” — including nuclear power — during his second term. The first Trump administration made 11 major achievements in this reliable energy effort, including the appointment of the first (and highly qualified) woman, Dr. Rita Baranwal, to oversee the Office of Nuclear Energy.
Women are critical to making American nuclear great again. Let's hope the incoming Trump-Vance administration can capitalize on this district.
Gabriella Hoffman is director of the Center for Energy and Conservation at the Independent Women's Forum and host of the Sanctuary Podcast. Follow her on X @Gabby_Hoffman
This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and provided via RealClearWire.
Relevant
