Alan Ahn Says Nuclear Is Still the Carbon-Free Fuel of the Future

Ahn is a senior fellow at Third Way, a think tank that supports the industry. He admits you might not agree with his opinion. He says that if you grew up watching Homer Simpson roll around on top of a barrel and leak something green and glowing, you should be very proud. There are rockets currently sailing over Zaporizhzhia in Ukranian.

Nuclear technology has been used in the United States for decades, and it still produces 20% of the country's electricity with no carbon emissions. Over that period, its safety track record is very strong. Issues of energy security are relevant due to the fact that missiles landed near Zaporizhzhia. These are some of the reasons that have changed attitudes towards nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is seen as a way to reduce dependence on Russian gas and oil, and as a way to provide clean, reliable energy at night and when winds are low, as well as being part of the future.

Economics is the main reason for the industry's uncertainty. Big reactor construction in the US can take a long time and cost a lot. Advances in technology make the future brighter. The new advanced reactor developed by NuScale and Oklo is meant to be smaller, more efficient, and easier to build, he says. The future of nuclear energy will be bright once those designs are approved by regulators.