In putting together our new website section on nuclear energy's unmatched reliability, we uncovered some facts that the folks who aren't familiar with our industry might find surprising. Feel free to share them, and the below infographic, on social media.
1. Nuclear power plants are the most efficient source of electricity, operating 24/7 at a 90 percent average capacity factor.
2. A nuclear plant refuels once every 18 months, in spring or fall, replacing one-third of the fuel each time—so just-in-time fuel deliveries are never an issue.
3. One uranium fuel pellet creates as much energy as one ton of coal or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
4. A typical nuclear plant generates enough electricity for 690,000 homes without creating air emissions.
5. Nuclear energy generates more electricity than any other source in Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.
1. Nuclear power plants are the most efficient source of electricity, operating 24/7 at a 90 percent average capacity factor.
2. A nuclear plant refuels once every 18 months, in spring or fall, replacing one-third of the fuel each time—so just-in-time fuel deliveries are never an issue.
3. One uranium fuel pellet creates as much energy as one ton of coal or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
4. A typical nuclear plant generates enough electricity for 690,000 homes without creating air emissions.
5. Nuclear energy generates more electricity than any other source in Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.
Comments
The only folks who are going to see it here either don't need convincing or are only visiting to sharpen their anti-nuclear skills.
The NEI is a trade organization, and is not suited for public activism. In fact, its ties to ALEC would cripple it as an agenda-setter. (I hope NEI severs their connection with the Kochs, but that's ultimately a business decision they'll have to make, not an advocacy one.)
Still, how many people do YOU know who trust ANYTHING a corporate body or a trade group says?
Nuclear energy will only succeed if a wide range of people demand it -- not just engineers, techies, Greenie-bashers, and enthusiasts like us. I'm glad that NEI will continue to support us with accurate information and a forum like this, but the battle is ours alone. But "ours" will eventually comprise a very big number, indeed.
--dogmug
The organizations which were merged to create the NEI included the public outreach and promotion organization which is supposed to take care of getting this kind of information in front of the public.
And while some of the public distrusts corporate and trade group messages, not everyone does. There's huge value in getting your message out just to let the public know that there's still a battle to be fought. If I had not worked hard to find these web sites (and no, they're not easily found) I would think that the anti-nuclear forces had won and that the entire game was over.
One never hears **anything** positive about nuclear power in the media, without an overwhelming "equal time" comment from paid liars about how terrible it is.
NEI needs to start shifting the conversation. Show the public that there is support for nuclear electricity, regardless of the source, and contradict the lies, even if they aren't entirely trusted at first.
Correct the lies that are easily checked with any physics text, and the public will see that the antis have been lying. Once the public sees one lie from the antis, that's a chink in their trust.
No, this isn't my job. I don't have the resources. NEI is the organized gathering of interest that should be doing this job and is not. It takes money and time. Individuals don't have that. Trade groups do. If NEI won't for political reasons, then it's a lousy trade group.