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There has recently been a lot of interest in repowering the closed NRG generating plant in Dunkirk and making use of a new type of nuclear reactor called SMRs or Small Moveable Reactors.
Today, it might be surprising to learn amid all the enthusiasm for wind and solar power generation that nuclear plants are operating and producing from 100 to 103 gigawatts of power providing 18% to 19% of the total electricity generated in the U.S. More importantly nuclear provides about 50% of all carbon free electricity produced in the U.S.
Nuclear power first became a major component of the U.S. energy grid during the 1960s and 1970s. Following the opening of the nation’s first large-scale commercial facility, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in 1957, utility companies rapidly began adopting the technology. Between 1962 and 1976, the industry experienced an unprecedented boom, with total generation capacity doubling approximately every two years.
But then on March 28, 1979, a partial meltdown occurred at the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Harrisburg, Pa., caused by a feedwater pump failure, a sticky valve, and operator error. Fortunately, only small amounts of radioactive gases and iodine escaped into the atmosphere, and there were no injuries or death. However, a sense of panic among some was created by sensationalist reporting and the release 12 days prior of the movie "The China Syndrome" that depicts a nuclear accident.
Then in April 1986 a truly catastrophic event occurred at Chernobyl located in the northern Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. Reports indicate the event was the result of engineering deficiencies, operational mistakes and the lack of a concern for safety. During a test the reactor dropped to an unstable low power condition. In an effort to raise power, operators pulled nearly all control rods out of the core. The resulting power surge created very high steam pressure that literally blew the lid off the reactor. The intense heat and air rushing into the exposed core ignited large amounts of graphite moderator blocks that burned for ten days. Unlike American reactors, Chernobyl did not have a concrete and steel containment dome to contain radiation and the region around Chernobyl is now an exclusion zone with dangerous levels of radiation, unfit for human habitation.
It should be noted the engineering problems at Chernobyl were known by the Soviet government but were classified as "top secret," which should give caution to those Americans who revel in the glories of Marxism.
The renewed interest today in nuclear power in the U.S. is primarily driven by surging electricity demand from AI Data Centers, and strong federal policy backing. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has begun to place strain on regional power grids. Unlike solar and wind, nuclear power provides continuous 24/7 power independent of weather or sunlight.
To facilitate this program the Trump administration has acted and supported legislation aimed to aggressively expand domestic nuclear capacity. These include the Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit and the Civil Nuclear Credit that targets Nuclear power plants projected to close because of economic issues. Also, the Department of Energy announced the $17.5 billion American Nuclear Supply Chain Loan Program to speed the domestic deployment of next generation large scale commercial reactors.
Another reason for the renewed interest in nuclear power is that nuclear generating plants do not pollute. As an example, when California closed the San Onofre nuclear plant carbon emission in the region rose by an estimated 9 million metric tons the next year, the equivalent of putting two million additional cars on the road. Further an MIT study revealed that a complete phase out of nuclear power in the U.S. would cause an estimated 5,200 premature deaths annually due to increased emissions from additional fossil fuel generation.
Nuclear power is also driven by the recognition that plants supply steady "always on" baseload electricity. Taking nuclear out of the picture would make the grid dependent on wind and solar that are not constantly available and natural gas that can experience pipeline delivery issues during extreme weather.
A recent development in nuclear reactors are SMRs or Small Moveable Reactors. While they operate much like gigawatt reactors SMR's generally generate from 50 to 300 megawatts and are small enough to fit on trucks or in shipping containers and can be used to power remote communities, military bases, industrial sites and data centers. They are fueled by an advanced type of micro-ceramic encapsulated nuclear fuel called "Triso" designed to withstand extreme temperatures without melting down and releasing radioactive material. These reactors have also moved away from traditional water coolant making use of high temperature helium gas, liquid metals and molten fluoride salts.
The SMR reactor is the type of reactor that Sen. George Borrello and County Executive PJ Wendel have lobbied to repurpose the idle NRG Generating station on Dunkirk Harbor. Discussions with local leaders came about because of Gov. Kathy Hochul's push to evaluate upstate communities for these zero emissions advanced nuclear powered base load facilities. It is likely that her interest in SMR reactors is a tacit admission that dependence on wind and solar in meeting New York’s constantly growing need for electric power will never meet those needs.
For me the renewed interest in nuclear generated power is a sign that New York State and the federal government are finally adopting rational policies for meeting our energy needs.
Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com