In the wake of the 2009 U.N. Climate Change Conference, the United States begins to look toward its promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. To combat the rising rate of U.S. emissions and introduce new clean energy plans, President Barack Obama has granted over $8 billion in federal loans to go toward the construction of nuclear power plants in the United States. While this decision has been criticized by proponents of more renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, Obama stands his ground that “nuclear energy remains our largest source of fuel that provides no carbon emissions.”
The idea of nuclear power as an alternative energy source is not unheard of especially when looking on the international map. France supplies nearly 80% of their energy consumption through nuclear power, far greater than the 20% supplied by U.S. reactors. The Obama Administration hopes that the two new proposed reactors in Georgia will aid in the promise made at the Copenhagen Conference of reducing carbon emissions to 17% lower than they were in 2005. The construction will mark the first nuclear power plants in the U.S. in over 30 years.
If the United States is to be an integral global actor in the switch to more stable and reliable energy, then the introduction of nuclear power demonstrates a proactive approach to the encroaching global climate and energy issues.