Nuclear power in America: Five reasons why it's safe and reliable

Though the crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant appears to be stabilizing, the United States is stepping up inspections of the country’s 104 nuclear reactors. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission today announced that inspectors will soon visit all US reactors to ensure they can withstand the kind of “severe accident” that led to Japan’s emergency. That emergency has caused many Americans to wonder about the future of nuclear power. Is it safe and dependable? Yes, says Tony Pietrangelo, chief nuclear officer and senior vice president of the Nuclear Energy Institute. Here’s why:

4. Nuclear is economic

Nuclear plant operations, maintenance, and fuel costs are the lowest among the major sources (nuclear, coal, gas, and petroleum) for power generation in the United States. On average, it costs just over two cents per kilowatt-hour to generate electricity with nuclear power. This equates to low-cost clean energy for consumers and businesses that drive the economic engine.

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