Senate Hearing on the Future of Nuclear Power

• •The U.S. currently operates 99 nuclear reactors, which provide approximately 20 percent of the nation's electricity.
• •Nuclear power accounts for about 60 percent of all carbon-free electricity generated in the United States.
• •Up to 25 of the 99 existing U.S. reactors could close by 2020.
• •By 2038, 48 reactors will reach 60 years of age, representing 40 percent of current U.S. nuclear capacity.
• •Nine reactors across seven sites in the Northeast are scheduled to shut down by 2025.
• •The Energy Information Administration estimates that closing those nine reactors will increase total U.S. electricity sector carbon emissions by 2 percent.
• •Vermont Yankee closed in 2014, leading to a 5 percent increase in Vermont's electricity sector carbon emissions between 2014 and 2015.
• •California's carbon emissions increased by approximately 24 percent following the 2012 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
• •The subcommittee is considering extending reactor operating licenses from 60 to 80 years.
• •The committee is evaluating the potential for building new advanced nuclear technologies, including small reactors and accident-tolerant fuels.
• •Chairman Alexander advocates for opening the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository to resolve the national nuclear waste stalemate.

The committee is evaluating policies that could determine whether existing nuclear reactors remain operational or are retired, which directly impacts national carbon emission levels and electricity generation capacity.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.