Nuclear energy is proven to be a stable, reliable way to produce electricity for Texas and for the country. Nationwide, the average generating capacity factor is More than 89 percent. Texas’ two nuclear plants, South Texas Project and Comanche Peak, have been safe, steady producers of inexpensive electricity for two decades. The nation’s 104 nuclear units supply about 20 percent of the electricity in the United States. The only fuel source that produces more electricity is coal, which emits greenhouse gases.

Nuclear energy comes from a fuel that is not fossil-based, is of relatively low cost, and is abundant. U.S. nuclear energy plants use a low-enriched form of uranium (U-235) for fuel. Uranium is a relatively abundant element that occurs naturally and that is about as common on Earth as is tin. In 2002, 16 countries produced more than 99 percent of the world’s uranium, with Canada and Australia counting for about half of the world’s production. Compared to natural gas, uranium is relatively low in price and is less sensitive to fuel price increases—only 0.2 cents of the overall production cost is due to the cost of uranium, while 83 percent of the cost of electricity from gas is due to the cost of natural gas. It does not take much uranium to power a plant from a volume standpoint: one pellet of uranium—the size of the tip of an adult’s little finger—is the equivalent of 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal or 149 gallons of oil. Nuclear energy is not dependent on unstable foreign suppliers; North America has abundant sources of uranium.

Nuclear plants are not subject to weather fluctuations or climate conditions. These large units, which run for extended periods, supply electricity—called “baseload generation”—day and night, often only shutting down for refueling every 18-24 months. While nuclear plants are as environmentally clean as plants driven with wind and solar power, nuclear plants do not rely on wind conditions or on the sun shining to do their jobs, and they occupy much less land based on comparable generation output.

Continued plant modernization means there is no such thing as an “old” plant. Although the oldest existing U.S. commercial plant went online in 1969, there is no “old” nuclear plant. Systems are constantly upgraded or replaced to ensure all plants operate with the highest reliability. Additionally, nuclear power plants are valuable assets to their owners because their initial license period can be extended. The initial license period of 40 years can be renewed for an additional 20. This means that operators have incentives to keep their plants in top operating shape and maintain safety margins.

Creating reliable electricity for the United States will require a mix of energy sources. With the country predicted to need 48 percent more energy between now and the year 2030, nuclear energy is a key part of that mix, along with renewables, natural gas and clean coal technologies that are under development.