We have entered an era of energy transition. As utilities, states, and major energy consumers commit to eliminating carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, we must prioritize technologies that will play a role in decarbonizing the electricity grid and beyond.
These carbon-reduction goals mean shifting away from some traditional energy sources, such as unabated fossil fuels, while expanding new technologies. And we know this transition can be good for the economy and for jobs. It will require us to focus on what has historically worked well for our energy system and apply those elements to the new carbon-free era. One way to achieve this is by encouraging policies that support a transition from coal to nuclear in circumstances where coal plants have announced closures.
Today nuclear energy provides 20% of our total electricity while also generating more than half of our country’s carbon-free energy. That’s why the Biden administration and bipartisan policymakers, both in D.C. and state legislatures, are prioritizing nuclear energy alongside wind, solar, and battery storage. The American Jobs Plan and additional legislative proposals are counting on existing nuclear plants and new nuclear reactors to decarbonize the power grid.
As we look forward, nuclear could be the key to helping coal communities enter a new era. For decades, coal plants have played a significant role in powering our everyday lives while serving as economic pillars for the communities they serve. Some coal plant sites could be retrofitted with carbon capture technology, but many may find that option infeasible. In that instance, transitioning a power plant site from coal to nuclear means coal workers can continue to use the skills developed over decades to sustain our energy sector and our country’s success.
As this past winter’s experience in Texas demonstrated, a reliable electric grid requires a significant share of “firm” generation that can perform during trying conditions. Nuclear plants can meet this need for firm, baseload generation that will be lost as coal plants retire. In 2020, all the energy lost from coal plant closures was replaced almost entirely by natural gas. In the years to come, it’s critical we don’t fill this void with more fossil fuels, taking steps backward from our nation’s ambitious path to zero emissions.
The nuclear reactors of the future will have a tremendous role in making the transition affordable and smooth without compromising a steady flow of 24/7/365 energy. Small modular reactors and other advanced reactors can take advantage of the land, grid interconnection, and cooling water available at coal plants. Some reactor technologies offer the potential to marry up directly with the steam systems at newer coal plants, reducing the costs of construction — potentially by 25% or more.
More critical, however, is the economic hardship created when coal plants, or really any plants, close. Nuclear energy can support those communities with reliable, carbon-free energy and high-paying jobs. The highly skilled workforce that exists in the coal sector can be redirected to the nuclear industry.
No other form of energy has the capacity to sustain employment for coal workers the way that nuclear power does while offering the highest median wage across the entire energy sector. Significant overlap exists between the jobs needed to operate coal and nuclear plants. From management to operations to maintenance to engineering, many of the functions needed to run a new nuclear plant will compare considerably to coal plants. And it’s not just theoretical. Today, utilities use coal workers to support refueling outages at nuclear plants and commonly hire displaced coal workers.
It’s clear that as coal plants retire, a transition to nuclear is the right fit — both technologically and as a way to sustain and grow good-paying, highly skilled energy jobs. But building this reality will require targeted policies that incentivize construction for new nuclear builds in coal country. It also means increasing public and private investments to accelerate the deployment of new nuclear technologies. Companies, states, and policymakers are already acknowledging this possibility with discussions popping up in states such as Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
The clean energy transition is here, and it can’t be done without nuclear. As the largest source of carbon-free, reliable power, we are committed to building on the skills and infrastructure of the past and leading the nation toward a revitalized grid and carbon-free energy future.
Maria Korsnick is president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute.
