Thread
I used to believe nuclear energy was dangerous & nuclear waste was a big problem.
It took me years to realize I was wrong. My ignorance & ideology stood in the way.
Here’s the truth: nuclear is the SAFEST, most powerful & reliable way to generate low-emission electricity.🧵👇
It took me years to realize I was wrong. My ignorance & ideology stood in the way.
Here’s the truth: nuclear is the SAFEST, most powerful & reliable way to generate low-emission electricity.🧵👇
2/ All energy sources have tradeoffs.
Nuclear rises to the top when you compare it against the alternatives:
Burning coal & oil generate pollution.
Solar & wind power are unreliable.
Hydro & geothermal aren't always available.
Nuclear rises to the top when you compare it against the alternatives:
Burning coal & oil generate pollution.
Solar & wind power are unreliable.
Hydro & geothermal aren't always available.
3/ Nuclear power plants don’t emit ANY air pollution or greenhouse gases during operation.
Emissions from mining, concrete, steel, & materials during manufacture & construction are less than other energy sources – 4X fewer than solar farms.
Emissions from mining, concrete, steel, & materials during manufacture & construction are less than other energy sources – 4X fewer than solar farms.
4/ Nuclear is the most reliable of all energy sources.
The reliability of energy sources is measured by capacity factor.
Here’s a comparison of nuclear with other sources:
The reliability of energy sources is measured by capacity factor.
Here’s a comparison of nuclear with other sources:
5/ Nuclear power leaves more land for nature.
A typical 1,000-megawatt US nuclear power plant needs little more than 1 sq. mile to operate.
To produce the same amount of energy solar farms need 75 times more land & wind farms need 360 times more.
A typical 1,000-megawatt US nuclear power plant needs little more than 1 sq. mile to operate.
To produce the same amount of energy solar farms need 75 times more land & wind farms need 360 times more.
6/ Nuclear power makes electricity affordable.
Nuclear plants are expensive to build but cheap to operate & can last for a century.
Countries that rely heavily on nuclear power have below-average retail electricity prices.
Nuclear plants are expensive to build but cheap to operate & can last for a century.
Countries that rely heavily on nuclear power have below-average retail electricity prices.
7/ Nuclear plants can operate for 80+ years.
And they can run for 100 yrs if they are well maintained.
By contrast, solar panels & wind turbines last only about 20 years.
And they can run for 100 yrs if they are well maintained.
By contrast, solar panels & wind turbines last only about 20 years.
8/ Nuclear power protects energy security.
Germany shut down its nuclear plants & now relies on Russian gas.
France, by contrast, has a longstanding energy-security policy. It gets ~70% of its electricity from nuclear & actually exports surplus electricity.
Germany shut down its nuclear plants & now relies on Russian gas.
France, by contrast, has a longstanding energy-security policy. It gets ~70% of its electricity from nuclear & actually exports surplus electricity.
9/ People falsely believe nuclear plants are dangerous–like they falsely believe airplanes are more dangerous than cars.
They’re swayed by emotion & don’t consider the evidence.
They’re swayed by emotion & don’t consider the evidence.
10/ Only ~200 people have died as a result of radiation from a nuclear accident in 60+ yrs. Yet millions die every year from the effects of coal. 
11/ Nuclear is the only energy source that prevents waste from going into the environment.
All the nuclear fuel ever generated in the US is safely contained & can fit on a single football field stacked less than 10 yards high.
All the nuclear fuel ever generated in the US is safely contained & can fit on a single football field stacked less than 10 yards high.
12/ By contrast, solar panels & wind turbine blades are made from toxic materials & enter the waste stream at end of life.
It’s estimated that global solar panel waste will reach around 78 million metric tons by 2050—the equivalent of throwing away ~60M Honda Civic cars.
It’s estimated that global solar panel waste will reach around 78 million metric tons by 2050—the equivalent of throwing away ~60M Honda Civic cars.
13/ Used nuclear fuel is not strictly *waste* because it can be recycled to make new fuel & byproducts in the future.
More than 90% of its potential energy still remains in the fuel, even after 5 years of operating in a reactor.
www.energy.gov/ne/articles/5-fast-facts-about-spent-nuclear-fuel
More than 90% of its potential energy still remains in the fuel, even after 5 years of operating in a reactor.
www.energy.gov/ne/articles/5-fast-facts-about-spent-nuclear-fuel
14/ Nuclear energy technology is getting better. 
15/ Germany is a case study on the effects of shutting down nuclear & chasing energy fantasies.
Emissions are increasing because they’re burning more coal to keep the lights on.
Energy costs have doubled.
Emissions are increasing because they’re burning more coal to keep the lights on.
Energy costs have doubled.
16/ If there’s a real obstacle to nuclear power, it’s that building nuclear plants is slow & expensive.
The construction projects are large & face strict regulatory & financing hurdles. As a result, building a nuclear plant often takes 7 to 10 years.
The construction projects are large & face strict regulatory & financing hurdles. As a result, building a nuclear plant often takes 7 to 10 years.
17/ But it doesn’t have to take that long.
Japan built a nuclear reactor in a little over 3 years.
France built 50+ nuclear reactors in 15 years.
Japan built a nuclear reactor in a little over 3 years.
France built 50+ nuclear reactors in 15 years.
18/ These things are certain:
1. People are going to continue needing energy.
2. Physics & economics beat utopian dogmatism.
3. Nuclear power is inevitable.
Every day we delay nuclear, we’re causing harm & suffering.
Real environmentalists promote nuclear power.
1. People are going to continue needing energy.
2. Physics & economics beat utopian dogmatism.
3. Nuclear power is inevitable.
Every day we delay nuclear, we’re causing harm & suffering.
Real environmentalists promote nuclear power.
