Challenges and Opportunities for Nuclear Power in Biden’s Green Agenda
Nuclear energy, with its ability to produce significant power with no emissions, has long been viewed as a promising solution for addressing climate change. However, despite its potential benefits, the technology is facing challenges that may prevent it from playing a leading role in President Joe Biden’s green agenda.
American policymakers, particularly Democrats and their appointees, are working towards the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the U.S. power sector by 2035. While wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources have garnered significant attention, nuclear power has not seen the same level of growth. The U.S. nuclear capacity has remained relatively stagnant since 1980, with only a few new reactors coming online in the past two decades.
Energy sector experts argue that one of the main impediments to nuclear energy’s expansion is the complex regulatory and permitting process. Dan Kish, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Energy Research, criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for creating a regulatory morass that drives up costs for nuclear projects.
Despite the Biden administration’s efforts to advance its climate agenda with substantial investments and subsidies, the regulatory environment for nuclear remains challenging. The recent bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act include provisions to support nuclear power plants, but experts believe that more must be done to simplify the regulatory process and reduce costs.
The administration has also expressed a desire to bolster the domestic supply chain for nuclear power, which is currently dominated by Russia and China. However, contradictory actions, such as designating uranium-rich land in Arizona as a national monument, may hinder efforts to secure a reliable supply of nuclear fuel.
While many nations around the world have pledged to increase nuclear energy generation as a means of reducing emissions, the U.S. faces unique challenges. Concerns about safety risks, high costs, and regulatory hurdles continue to hamper the growth of nuclear energy in the country.
Despite past nuclear incidents like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, experts believe that nuclear power’s overall safety record is strong. John Starkey, director of public policy for the American Nuclear Society, noted a shift in public perception and bipartisan support for nuclear energy in recent years.
Efforts to streamline the regulatory process and promote nuclear energy have garnered bipartisan support in Congress, with the passage of nuclear reform bills in the House. While some legislative tactics have faced obstacles, there is optimism that the nuclear package could still make its way through the Senate in the near future.
Overall, while nuclear energy holds promise as a clean and reliable power source, challenges such as regulatory complexity, high costs, and safety concerns continue to present barriers to its widespread adoption. As policymakers work to achieve ambitious climate goals, the role of nuclear energy in the U.S. energy landscape remains uncertain.
The Biden administration’s push for a net-zero emissions power sector by 2035 has brought nuclear energy into the spotlight due to its effectiveness at scale and minimal emissions. However, despite the reliability demonstrated by nuclear power, regulatory and permitting processes have not been streamlined, hindering its potential to play a major role in the green agenda.
While the administration has included nuclear alongside solar and wind in its discussions, new nuclear capacity in the U.S. has been stagnant, with only a few new reactors coming online in the past two decades. The high costs and complex regulatory environment have deterred progress in expanding nuclear energy.
Although there is bipartisan support for nuclear energy, environmental concerns, safety risks, and past incidents like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have hindered its widespread adoption. Efforts to advance nuclear energy through legislative packages and streamlining regulatory processes are ongoing, but challenges persist in realizing the full potential of nuclear power in the U.S.