The Coming Nuclear Renaissance

What’s the cleanest, cheapest and safest way to generate electricity? Nuclear energy. The Nuclear Energy Institute has produced some amazing statistics that document these claims:

Cheapest — The average electricity production cost in 2005 for nuclear energy was 1.72 cents per kilowatt-hour, 2.21 cents for coal-fired plants, 8.09 cents for oil and 7.51 cents per kilowatt-hour for natural gas.

Cleanest — Nuclear energy is the world’s largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants or greenhouse gases. In 2005, U. S. nuclear power plants prevented 3.32 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 1.05 million tons of nitrogen oxide and 681.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the earth’s atmosphere.

Safest — For years America’s nuclear energy industry has ranked among the safest places to work in the United States. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show it is safer to work at a nuclear power plant than in the manufacturing sector and even in the real estate and financial industries.

South Carolina — a leader

Nuclear energy produces about 20 percent of America’s electricity needs. That’s the second largest source of electricity for American consumers, but many expects predict that because it is clean, cheap and safe, we are on the verge of a nuclear Renaissance.

South Carolina is a national leader. More than half our electricity comes from nuclear power plants. In fact, we’re second only to Vermont in the percentage of electricity generated by nuclear energy.

For more than three decades, the Barnwell low-level radioactive waste disposal facility has protected the environment with expert management and disposal services for the nuclear power industry, as well as the medical and pharmaceutical industries that use radioactive technology to improve the quality of life.

If facilities such as Barnwell did not exist, low-level radioactive waste would be stored in facilities across South Carolina and the nation, instead of permanently disposed of in a safe location.

EnergySolutions is proud to be a leader in servicing the nuclear industry. And we’re proud of the role that Barnwell plays.