By Courtney Bowman, 6/08

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As climate change continues to spur both political and public debate, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are supporting the research of new technologies and renewable energy resources in an effort to ensure cooperative members receive affordable power while balancing environmental concerns. “A solution that combines environmental responsibility with a reliable source of power may lie in the development of nuclear power plants, proven to have a long record of producing electricity with no negative effects to the atmosphere,” said Rick Thomas, CEO of North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC).

The North Carolina cooperatives distribute electricity produced from a diverse mix of fuels that includes carbon-neutral nuclear generation, natural gas, diesel generation, coal, hydro and renewable resources. Such a diversity in the fuel mix helps insure a balance for managing risk and costs.

In 1981, NCEMC became a part owner of Catawba Nuclear Station, located on a 391-acre peninsula in York County, S.C. NCEMC purchased 56 percent of the station’s Unit 1, which began commercial operation in 1985.

Nuclear power is growing in popularity, and for good reason. Currently, nuclear power plants generate 73 percent of all carbon-free electricity in America. Nuclear plants generate power for one in five homes and businesses in the United States without emitting any harmful carbon dioxide, making them a viable tool for reducing greenhouse gases. (About half of the electricity distributed by North Carolina’s electric cooperatives comes from a nuclear source.) According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the policy organization for the nuclear technologies industry, more than 8,000 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions were avoided by the U.S. nuclear power industry from 1995–2006.

Increased use of nuclear power will also help reduce our dependence on foreign oil as well as better balance our use of coal as a resource. Although it is plentiful, reliable and cost-efficient, coal when burned releases carbon emissions that contribute to environmental concerns. To ensure reliable and affordable power is available over the next 30 years, nuclear energy must remain a viable economic option to produce large amounts of electricity. “Nuclear plants in the United States have historically had a stable energy price, one of the lowest of all sources of generation,” Thomas said.

Nuclear power is also being heralded for its strong safety performance. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission holds nuclear reactors to strict safety and security standards. In 2000, the NRC developed a detailed oversight process to ensure continued power plant safety. In addition, Bureau of Labor statistics reveal it is safer to work at a nuclear power plant than in the manufacturing sector, and even in the real estate and finance industries, when comparing accident rates. Additionally, there are excellent and cost effective technologies available and in use worldwide to manage nuclear spent fuel and waste by-products.

As electricity demands continue to increase, nuclear power is a cost effective way to meet growth needs both economically and ecologically. In the next 25 years, North Carolina’s population is expected to increase by half. This population growth will bring with it increased energy demands. Renewable resources and energy efficiency will not be enough to meet the expected demand for electricity. As a carbon-free energy source, nuclear power will help meet increased demand, while providing an environmentally friendly response to this growth.

Courtney Bowman is a senior English major at N.C. State University and an intern with the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives.