Proposal for a Federal Policy to Expand Nuclear Power Investments and Transition to a Nuclear-Driven Energy Grid

Proposal for a Federal Policy to Expand Nuclear Power Investments and Transition to a Nuclear-Driven Energy Grid

Executive Summary

This policy proposes a significant federal investment in nuclear power as the primary source of clean energy for the United States. Compared to wind and solar power, nuclear energy offers unmatched efficiency, reliability, and scalability. By transitioning to a nuclear-driven energy grid, the U.S. can achieve energy independence, drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support economic growth through advanced technology and job creation.

Background and Justification

1.	The Urgent Need for Clean and Reliable Energy

The United States faces dual challenges of addressing climate change and meeting growing energy demands. While wind and solar are critical components of a clean energy future, their intermittent nature and land use requirements limit their effectiveness as standalone solutions. Nuclear power provides a consistent, high-output alternative that complements renewable energy sources.
2. Advantages of Nuclear Power
• Efficiency: A single nuclear reactor generates significantly more electricity than a wind or solar farm of equivalent land area. For example, 1 gigawatt of nuclear power requires about 1 square mile, compared to up to 360 square miles for wind farms.
• Reliability: Nuclear reactors operate at over 90% capacity, far exceeding wind (35%) and solar (25%) capacity factors. This reliability ensures a stable energy supply even during adverse weather conditions or at night.
• Environmental Impact: Nuclear power produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation and has a much smaller land footprint compared to renewables.
• Economic Growth: Investment in nuclear technology creates high-paying jobs in engineering, construction, and operations, while fostering innovation in advanced reactor designs and fuel recycling.
3. Existing Gaps in Energy Policy
Despite its advantages, nuclear power accounts for only about 20% of U.S. electricity generation. Policy barriers, funding limitations, and public misconceptions have stalled the expansion of this critical energy source. Current federal incentives favor wind and solar, leaving nuclear power underfunded and underutilized.

Proposed Policy Framework

Objective: To establish nuclear energy as the cornerstone of the United States’ clean energy strategy by increasing investments, streamlining regulations, and accelerating the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.
1. Investment in Nuclear Infrastructure
• Allocate $100 billion over 10 years to modernize existing reactors, build new plants, and fund advanced reactor research and development (R&D).
• Provide financial incentives, including tax credits and loan guarantees, to encourage private sector investments in nuclear energy.
2. Streamlining Regulatory Processes
• Expedite Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval timelines for new reactor designs and plant construction.
• Update outdated safety and environmental regulations to reflect advancements in nuclear technology.
3. Deployment of Advanced Nuclear Technologies
• Fund the development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which offer safer, more flexible, and cost-effective options for electricity generation.
• Invest in next-generation reactors, such as molten salt and fast breeder reactors, to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
4. Nuclear Waste Management
• Implement a comprehensive strategy for nuclear waste recycling and storage, including the establishment of interim storage facilities and research into long-term geological repositories.
• Fund programs to develop advanced recycling technologies that reduce the volume and toxicity of nuclear waste.
5. Public Education and Workforce Development
• Launch a national education campaign to address public misconceptions about nuclear safety and waste.
• Partner with universities and trade schools to develop training programs that prepare workers for careers in the nuclear energy sector.
6. Integration with the Energy Grid
• Prioritize nuclear energy for baseload power generation while using wind and solar for peak demand.
• Invest in grid modernization to accommodate the integration of nuclear power and ensure energy reliability.

Evidence-Based Support

1.	Efficiency and Reliability
•	Nuclear reactors produce 800 times more energy per unit of fuel compared to coal or gas.
•	A single nuclear power plant can supply electricity to over 1 million homes.
2.	Comparative Land Use and Emissions
•	A 1,000 MW nuclear plant requires about 1 square mile, compared to 50 square miles for solar and 250 square miles for wind.
•	Lifecycle emissions from nuclear power are comparable to wind and solar and significantly lower than fossil fuels.
3.	Global Precedents
•	France generates over 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, demonstrating its feasibility as a primary energy source.
•	New nuclear technologies are being adopted worldwide, including the U.K., Canada, and China, which are investing heavily in SMRs and next-generation reactors.

Policy Benefits

•	Energy Independence: Reduces reliance on foreign energy sources by producing consistent, domestic power.
•	Economic Growth: Creates thousands of high-skilled jobs and stimulates local economies through plant construction and operations.
•	Environmental Protection: Eliminates greenhouse gas emissions and reduces the need for large-scale land use associated with renewables.
•	Grid Stability: Ensures reliable electricity supply during peak demand and extreme weather events.

Proposed Legislative Language

“The United States shall prioritize the development and deployment of nuclear power as a primary clean energy source. This includes allocating federal funds for infrastructure modernization, incentivizing private investments, expediting regulatory processes, and supporting the development of advanced nuclear technologies. The goal is to achieve a nuclear-driven energy grid that provides reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable power.”

Conclusion

Investing in nuclear power is essential for meeting the United States’ clean energy goals while ensuring a reliable and efficient energy supply. By adopting this policy, the federal government can lead the transition to a sustainable, nuclear-driven future, securing economic, environmental, and energy benefits for generations to come.

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ENERGY IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF ALL NATIONS - CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY IS THE GOAL WHILE TRANSITIONING LOGICALLY ENERGY IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF ALL NATIONS - CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY IS THE GOAL WHILE TRANSITIONING LOGICALLY

NATIONS TRANSITIONING IN A LOGICAL & FUNCTIONAL COST-BENEFIT MANNER WILL THRIVE. NATIONS TRANSITIONING VIA RADICAL POLICIES WITH RADICAL RESTRICTIONS WILL FALTER.

Energy is the lifeblood of every nation & China is maximizing their energy production capabilities as a key component of their five (5) and ten (10) year plans geared toward global dominance. China will be the dominate super power in the latter half of the 21st century and beyond unless America has a 180ᵒ shift toward maximizing our energy resources, production, manufacturing and self-independence for pharmaceuticals, rare earth minerals, technology & other essential goods & commodities.

China is currently the number one global producer of clean renewable energy because they are also accessing 100% of their fossil fuel energy sources in addition to building nuclear power plants across their vast geographical nation. China is restricting nothing! China has 260+ coal-fired power stations with another 515 individual units proposed, permitted or under construction in addition to building another 150 nuclear reactors over the next decade+ as America just opened one (1) new plant and is building none! Using the economic power resulting from their fossil fuel production, China is building the world’s largest power grid and currently has built the largest UHV (ultra-high voltage) power transmission technology system on the planet with plans to connect internationally around the world. China has also built a similar, but smaller, UHV system in Brazil in accordance with their Belt & Road Initiative. India is doing likewise. 'A bullet train for power': China's ultra-high-voltage electricity grid

Energy dominance equals economic dominance, military dominance & global super power dominance. It’s that simple.

Unless America has a total systemic 180ᵒ course correction & returns to the customs & practices that made America the greatest nation on planet earth, Communist China is likely to become the globe’s dominate superpower during this century; much the same as America was the world’s dominate superpower in the 20th century. America produces the cleanest oil, natural gas & energy in the world via a cleaner production process with a smaller carbon footprint than any other nation on the globe. While clean renewable energy will hopefully, and likely, become both America’s and a global norm, the nations who transition in a logical cost-benefit manner will thrive while those who attempt to enact radical restrictions on existing resources will falter.

Sadly, frighteningly, not for us older folks but for our kids and more so our grandkids, America is becoming too systemically dysfunctional and dystopian to survive as a dominate superpower in a violent predatory world of functional adversaries. Opinion | Decline no longer a choice for fading US as China rises to power | South China Morning Post

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I wonder if we’re unintentionally making this more difficult by using environmental jargon?

Maybe we can create a consensus around the fact that we need to double our energy capacity in a handful of years in order to power future EVs, data centers, robots, and, ultimately, America’s leadership in the world.

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Nuclear reactors that use water for coolant are dangerous and probe to accidents if the flow is interrupted. Molten salt is a better alternative for land based nuclear reactors- if the reactor coolant system is disabled- the salt solidifies, shutting down the reactor with no human intervention. The use of molten salt would have prevented all of the high profile accidents that have occurred.

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Not to mention the other benefits:

  • Smaller footprint of the reactor. It’s possible to get to substation level size. By moving the power generation closer to the consumers means less chance for disruption due to weather or other external events. We do need to figure out security.
  • The reactor can be swapped out for another relatively easily. The old reactor can be sent to a reprocessing facility to be refurbished, refueled, and sent back out.
  • Thorium (the fuel of a molten salt reactor) exists in the US in abundance - more than Uranium. It’s easier to mine and process.
  • There are designs that already exist. We’ve had Thorium-Molten Salt reactors for testing since the 60’s. I believe the Oak Ridge reactor was shut down a decade or so ago.
  • Spent fuel and radioactive components (waste) becomes safe after about 100 years, rather than 10000 years for Uranium-based fuel or components.

The biggest problem I see is the Department of Energy and the NRC is a regulatory construct, not something that enhances or encourages development. They stand in the way. This needs to change.

But I am 1000% in favor of Thorium-salt reactors. Lots of them.

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