Nuclear Energy Needs a Turning Point Soon

Abstract

Figureآ 1 shows the past and potential future of the U.S. nuclear power generation [1]. In the 1970s to 1990s, we were building nuclear power plants and reached roughly 19% nuclear power of the entire electric power demand. If this trend had not been stopped, today we would have produced about 25% of the total power demand in nuclear power plants, and if this trend would have continued, we would have reached 39% in 2040. This is still much less than roughly 80% nuclear power presently provided of the total electric power demand in France. No wonder that the carbon dioxide discharge per person in France is half of ours in the U.S.