Where nuclear fits in the U.S. energy mix
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nuclear power generated about 18.6% of the nation's electricity in 2023 and roughly 47% of its carbon-free electricity, more than wind, solar or hydropower individually. As of 2024, 94 commercial reactors operate at 54 plants in 28 states. The average U.S. reactor is about 42 years old, and most were built in the 1970s and 1980s.
Why climate policy has put nuclear back in the conversation
Nuclear reactors emit very little carbon dioxide during operation and run at a capacity factor of roughly 93%, meaning they produce power nearly continuously regardless of weather. That combination has led some climate analysts, including those at the International Energy Agency, to argue that meeting emissions targets is harder without nuclear in the mix. Wind and solar are cheaper to build but depend on weather and storage.
The case for expansion
Supporters say nuclear provides firm, around-the-clock electricity that can complement intermittent renewables and replace aging coal and gas plants. They point to advanced designs, including small modular reactors, that aim to be cheaper, faster to build and safer than older models. Backers also note that nuclear has one of the lowest lifecycle death rates per unit of energy produced, according to studies compiled by Our World in Data.
The case for caution
Critics argue that new reactors remain expensive and slow to build. The two new units at Georgia's Vogtle plant, completed in 2023 and 2024, came in about seven years late and more than $17 billion over their original $14 billion budget. Opponents also cite the risk of accidents such as those at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, and the lack of a permanent federal repository for spent fuel, which is currently stored on-site at reactor locations.
Federal policy today
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act created production tax credits for existing reactors and additional credits for new advanced reactors. The Department of Energy has funded demonstration projects for several small modular reactor designs, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been directed by Congress to streamline licensing for advanced reactors under the 2024 ADVANCE Act. Plans for a permanent waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada stalled more than a decade ago and have not been revived.
What voters are weighing
The survey question asks whether the federal government should actively expand nuclear power as part of its climate strategy. That involves trade-offs between speed, cost, safety, waste management and emissions reduction. Some voters weigh those factors and conclude that nuclear is essential to decarbonization; others conclude that renewables, efficiency and storage are a better use of public investment. The debate cuts across traditional party lines.