The New Face of Nuclear
Many have feared the prospect of nuclear energy. For years, we've been inundated with images, movies, news reports and lore that have filled us with trepidation over Hiroshima-like mushroom clouds, WMDs, radiation leaks and even environmental and ecological sabotage. We've been taught to fear everything nuclear when in reality our fear is based in a lack of information. In fact, nuclear energy is considered one of the safest and cleanest industries, creating no significant negative impact on the areas surrounding reactors. Times are changing, and people are changing their minds about nuclear energy, thanks in large part to ever-increasing demand and the push for more sustainable and environmentally sound practices. According to a Spring 2009 Gallup poll, 62% of American citizens favor using nuclear power for generating electricity. Their eyes have been opened to the benefits of increasing the nuclear presence in our energy mix by the tireless efforts of organizations, such as the CASEnergy Coalition, dedicated to educating citizens and businesses about the potential positive impact nuclear energy will have on the environment, the economy and the future of our region.
Dr. Patrick Moore, co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition (CASEnergy), understands the fears associated with nuclear energy — he's been there. As an environmental activist and co-founder of Greenpeace, Moore protested the fallout of nuclear waste on marine life and, as a dynamic leader, was a driving force behind shaping policies of the activist organization. That was until Dr. Moore, in a stunning reversal, left Greenpeace and became an outspoken advocate for the advancement of nuclear energy. His turnabout was fueled by his realization that nuclear energy and nuclear medicine were unjustly being categorized with nuclear weaponry as a collective "evil."
"We made a big mistake in villainizing all nuclear products," says Moore. "What started as an outcry against nuclear warfare was swept up into a sensationalistic and emotional distrust for everything nuclear. I realized my colleagues were more interested in fear-mongering than publishing fact, so I left the organization."
In the years since, Dr. Moore has served in various leadership capacities for environmental companies and organizations and currently works as director of NextEnergy Solutions, a Canada-based distributor of geothermal systems. He also serves as chair and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies and, in 2006, was named co-chair of CASEnergy.
NUCLEAR REVOLUTION
Formed in 2006, the CASEnergy Coalition, a grassroots organization uniting business, environmental, academic, consumer and labor communities in support of nuclear power, initiated a national discussion on how nuclear energy could improve security, ensure clean air and enhance the quality of life for all citizens. It is the coalition's goal to arm everyone with all tools and resources available in order to help them make informed decisions on their support of a nuclear energy agenda.
CASEnergy has devised a four-point policy roadmap for clean energy intended to increase nuclear energy's presence within a diversified mix of energy sources. The policy calls for:
1. Enabling the US to solidify its energy security through the implementation of targeted policies designed to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while reducing our carbon footprint.
2. Ensuring the financial means to expand nuclear and other green energies as a way to spur the economy and continue to answer the ever-increasing demand for energy.
3. Investing heavily in nuclear expansion and the creation of 40,000-70,000 new, high-paying jobs in the industry, as well as ensuring the availability of educational resources to train future generations.
4. Addressing the efficient management of used nuclear fuel for recycling purposes and other technologies.
The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) is just one organization to join in support of CASEnergy. "The SCMA joined the CASEnergy Coalition because our membership agrees that nuclear energy needs to be a vital component of our nation's energy plan," said Lewis F. Gossett, president and CEO of the SCMA. "Affordable and reliable energy is critical to serving the energy needs of our manufacturing base. We proudly partnered with CASEnergy to help educate policymakers and the general public about the benefits of nuclear energy."
NUCLEAR BENEFITS
"With electricity demands expected to rise nearly 28 percent across the nation by 2035, we must fully utilize our current resources and make plans to expand our nuclear capabilities," says Moore. "We will be best served going forward with a diversified portfolio of energy resources and an increased usage of nuclear energy as a way to meet both demand and federal carbon emission targets."
CASEnergy is working to dispel the myths surrounding nuclear energy to instead shed light on the many benefits of expanding the industry in the US. It is imperative for citizens and corporations to understand that nuclear energy is:
Clean
Nuclear energy is the nation's largest emission-free generator of electricity, producing no greenhouse gases to contribute toward global warming. CASEnergy points out that nuclear energy accounts for 90 percent of all electric utility savings in CO2 emissions since 1973.
"Every nuclear plant built can directly replace the output of two fossil plants," says Moore. "The best part is these new nuclear facilities can be built using some of the existing infrastructure already in place at fossil fuel locations."
Water, used for cooling inside the plant, is released back into nature without pollutants and at a safe temperature to protect wildlife. In fact, nuclear reactor sites are so clean, it is common to see wildlife preserves and natural sanctuaries surrounding the plant.
Dr. Moore also dispels the concern regarding nuclear waste, saying, "The Greenpeace activists have overreacted to the supposed danger of nuclear waste. It's already being managed efficiently, and no one has been harmed in the process. Honestly, we should not refer to it as 'waste' as nearly 95 percent can be recycled as new fuel with only an infinitesimal fraction left for disposal."
Safe and Secure
Some of the top fears associated with nuclear energy revolve around excessive exposure to radiation, as well as a belief that reactors are prime terrorist targets. Both of these assumptions are untrue. Most do not realize that one would have to live in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant for an excess of 2,000 years in order to receive the same amount of radiation found in one medical x-ray. In fact, only a negligible amount of radiation is emitted from the reactor. As for security, the Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC) holds nuclear plants to a host of stringent standards and guidelines, requiring them to have emergency response resources as well as failsafe measures to shut down reactors at any hint of trouble. The Center for Strategic and International Studies' (CSIS) national security simulation in Washington, DC, touted America's nuclear sites as "our best defended targets," with the industry investing more than $1 billion in security upgrades since September 11, 2001, over and beyond the guards already in place before that time.
Affordable and Reliable
With steadily increasing demand for electricity and rising energy costs a stressor, it is apparent that our limited natural resources will fail to meet the energy needs of our nation. This is where nuclear comes in as a viable solution, with its efficiency and reliability as an energy source and its lower and more predictable production costs. For Dr. Moore, nuclear energy is the cleaner, safer and more sustainable alternative.
"Other than hydroelectric power, nuclear is the only base power available 24/7 in order to support a continuous flow of electricity to private residences and businesses alike. We hear much promotion of wind and solar technologies, but the truth is that these are intermittent sources that can come and go for days at a time, and that is a completely unrealistic option. As part of a comprehensive energy mix, wind and solar power are terrific, but they must be balanced by a steady, efficient base power source like nuclear."
"On a cost comparison, wind and solar energies cannot compete with the low production costs of nuclear — solar technologies cost up to 10 times that of nuclear."
By increasing the nuclear presence in the U.S. energy mix, we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil with a strong domestic-based product and a plentiful fuel supply.
Economically Stimulating
Dr. Moore points out how energy costs can be directly correlated to the economy. "Energy underlies everything in our world. It is needed from start to finish for all the goods and services we rely on. When energy costs rise, so it is reflected in everything we do or buy."
Because nuclear energy production is stable and reliable, there are no unexpected fluctuations in energy costs being passed along to the consumer. Such predictability paves the way for consumer confidence which will ultimately reflect in purchasing habits.
Nuclear energy has also impacted the quality of life for those residing in proximity to plants across the nation through the creation of high-paying, stable jobs and trickle-down economic growth to the goods and services offered in the same area. CASEnergy points out these interesting facts:
• Each nuclear plant employs an average of 500 people from the community while another 500 jobs are created in the local area.
• Each new American nuclear plant will create 1,400-1,800 construction jobs and add 400-700 permanent positions to support operations.
• The economic activity of a nuclear plant generates around $20 million in state and local tax revenues.
• According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2006, the average annual salary for nuclear engineers was $82,900.
TODAY AND TOMORROW
Duke Energy is currently operating two nuclear plant sites in the Upstate of South Carolina — the Catawba site in York County and the Oconee site in Oconee County. Operational since 1985, the Catawba site employs about 1,100 people. The Oconee site, operational since 1973, employs roughly 1,300 people and has safely and reliably generated more than 500 million megawatt-hours of electricity and is the first nuclear station in the U.S. to do so. The Duke Energy nuclear fleet provides approximately 50% of electricity for the Carolinas.
Rita Sipe, Duke Energy spokesperson, says much thought and planning are required in developing future energy plans. "Through our Integrated Resource Plans, we look at the near-term and the long-term, and this is why diversity in the mix is important. We consider a repertoire of available energy sources — nuclear, hydro, coal, wind and solar — to determine which types of energy will best serve our customers both now and in the future. We evaluate many variables, including What is the anticipated growth and demand for electricity in the area? Will we be living in a carbon-constrained environment? What will be the cost of natural gas? These are all meaningful questions to help us pinpoint future direction. Nevertheless, for there to be meaningful carbon reduction in energy production, nuclear must be a part of the mix."
Currently Duke Energy has a proposed plant site in Cherokee County and is in the licensing process for two units at the location. The application was submitted in 2007, and a license is anticipated in 2013 with tentative plans to bring the reactors online in the 2021 timeframe.
Sipe points out that because of an aging workforce in the energy industry and the expected increase in nuclear production, educational resources are gearing up to provide citizens with opportunities to work in the nuclear industry in a variety of roles from welders to mechanics to nuclear engineers. "Duke is partnering with multiple educational outlets to begin preparing tomorrow's workforce today," says Sipe. "Opportunities are available, from two-year degrees in a variety of plant roles to four-year degrees in engineering and other disciplines."
For more information on nuclear energy or to find out how you can become a member of CASEnergy, log on the website at www.CASEnergy.org.