Nuclear Energy and the environment

Key Points:
· Nuclear energy is the only option available today that can provide large-scale electricity production 24/7 economically and without emitting greenhouse gases. [1]
· Nuclear energy is a vital source of electricity that can meet the nation’s growing energy needs with a secure, domestic energy supply that also protects air quality. [1]
· Nuclear power plants generate about 20% of U.S. electricity. [2]
· Nuclear power plants do not burn anything when producing electricity, so they do not produce combustion byproducts— such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. [2]
· Cooling water discharged from a nuclear plant contains no harmful pollutants, and it meets federal Clean Water Act requirements and state standards for temperature and mineral content. [2]
· Environmental responsibility is an important part of nuclear power plant management. Plants are designed, built and regulated to prevent radioactive emissions. The companies that operate nuclear power plants also voluntarily work to protect nearby wildlife and their habitats. For example, some companies have developed environmentally rich wetlands, providing better nesting areas for waterfowl and other birds; new habitats for fish; and sanctuaries for other wildlife, flowers and grasses. “Residents” at power reactor sites include many endangered and protected species, such as bald eagles, manatees, crocodiles, blue crabs, oysters and fish. Several species of endangered plant life also find refuge at nuclear plant sites. [2]
· Strict standards, careful control—All methods of producing electricity affect the environment to some degree, but the impacts from nuclear energy are minimal—one of the lowest on a per-kilowatt-hour basis. [3]
· Because the fuel in nuclear power plants is radioactive, nuclear plants are carefully designed, built and monitored to prevent releases of radioactive material. The Environmental Protection Agency sets—and the NRC enforces—strict standards governing radiation emissions. To make sure that nuclear power plants operate well within those standards, radiation levels at every plant are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even soil, cows' milk from neighboring farms, and fish and sediment in nearby rivers and lakes are monitored periodically. The monitoring instruments are so sensitive that they can measure even trace amounts of radiation. Nuclear power plant emissions are always well below the safe levels permitted by federal standards. That is why the environment has never been harmed by radiation emissions from a U.S. nuclear power plant. [3]
· By substituting for other fuels in electricity production, nuclear energy has significantly reduced U.S. emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. [2]


Cutting down on carbon dioxide emission:
· Carbon dioxide—the greenhouse gas mainly emitted by human activity—is the major focus of global discussions to reduce emissions. Many scientists believe that carbon dioxide emissions increase Earth’s warming effect, bringing about changes in climate. [2]
· Because nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, they do not emit combustion by-products. By substituting for other fuels in electricity production, nuclear energy has significantly reduced U.S. and global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the chief greenhouse gas. [3]
· By using nuclear energy rather than fossil fuel-based plants, electric utilities prevented 681 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2006. [1]
· Worldwide, nuclear energy prevents the emission of more than 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. [1]
· In the European Union, a recent study of the region’s carbon avoidance shows that an additional 704 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted if all nuclear power plants in these countries were removed from the electricity grid.
· Worldwide, nuclear energy has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 430 nuclear power plants in 31 nations produce 17 percent of the world's electricity-while reducing CO2 emissions by some 500 million metric tons of carbon. [3]
· Also in 2006, U.S. nuclear plants prevented the discharge of 681 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is nearly as much carbon dioxide as is released from all U.S. passenger cars. [2]
· Between 1973 and 1999, the nation's nuclear plants reduced the cumulative amount of carbon emissions by 2.61 billion tons of carbon. [3]


Comparing Electricity-Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Generating 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity produces:
􀂃 996 metric tons of carbon dioxide from a coal-fired plant
􀂃 809 metric tons of carbon dioxide from an oil-fired plant
􀂃 476 metric tons of carbon dioxide from a natural gas-fired plant
􀂃 None from a nuclear power plant.
Conclusion: Nuclear energy, like all non-emitting technologies such as wind turbines and hydroelectric generation, does not emit criteria pollutants or greenhouse gases in the direct production of electricity.


Cutting down on nitrogen oxide (NOx):
· Nitrogen oxides play a major role in the formation of ozone, which is detrimental to human health. Nitrogen oxides also are a significant contributor to acid rain. [2]
· By substituting for fossil fuels in electricity generation, U.S. nuclear power plants currently avoid almost two million tons of NOx emissions annually. [3]
· In 2006, U.S. nuclear power plants avoided the emission of 1 million short tons of nitrogen oxides—the same amount emitted by more than 51 million passenger cars in a year. [2]
· Between 1973 and 1999, U.S. nuclear power plants reduced cumulative emissions of nitrogen oxide 31.6 million tons and 61.7 million tons.


Cutting down on sulfur dioxide (SO2):
· Sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain. A main objective of the Clean Air Act amendments is to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. [2]
· In 2006, nuclear plants avoided the emission of 3.1 million short tons of this pollutant—more than twice that avoided by hydro electric power and all other renewable energy sources combined. [2]
· By displacing fossil fuels to generate electricity, this increased generation avoided 480,000 tons of (SO2) emissions, or about 37 percent of the required Phase I reduction. [3]
· In 2006, U.S. nuclear power plants reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide by 3.1 million short tons.
· Between 1973 and 1999, U.S. nuclear power plants reduced cumulative emissions of sulfur dioxide by 61.7 million tons.


Some Quotes On Nuclear Energy’s Environmental Benefits [1]

“[The United States should] provide opportunities for nuclear power to play a continuing role in a future low-carbon electricity sector. …Because nuclear power is one of the few options for no-carbon electricity production, efforts should be made to preserve this option.”
—Pew Center on Global Climate Change

Recommendation in “Agenda for Climate Action”
“A more diverse mix of voices are taking a positive second look at nuclear energy—environmentalists, scientists, the media, prominent Republicans and Democrats, and progressive think tanks. They are all coming to a similar conclusion: If we are to meet the growing electricity needs in this country and also address global climate change, nuclear energy has a crucial role to play.”
—Patrick Moore
Co-founder, Greenpeace
Co-chair, Clean and Safe Energy Coalition

“Even some environmental groups have come to realize that a new generation of safer nuclear plants is the best option for addressing the nation’s mounting energy needs. ...Nuclear units emit no greenhouse gases from plant operations, which make nuclear a compellingly green alternative to coal, oil and natural gas.”
—USA Today
Editorial
May 16, 2007

Citations:
[1]: Nuclear Energy Institute (2008) Nuclear Energy Plays Essential Role in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. [On Line] Available from: http://www.nei.org/filefolder/Nuclear_Energy_Plays_Essential_Role_in_Reducing_Greenhouse_Gas_Emissions_0408.pdf (15 June 2008)

[2]: Nuclear Energy Institute (2007) Nuclear energy and the environment. [On Line] Available from: http://www.nei.org/filefolder/nuclear_energy_and_the_environment_1007.pdf (15 June 1008)

[3]: Nuclear Management Company (2007) Nuclear Facts. [On-Line] Available from: http://www.nmcco.com/education/facts/environment/energy.htm (June 15, 2008)