Nuclear Power in the United States

By Sharon Joag

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Nuclear Power Spinoff Looks for U.S. Aid” immediately grabbed my attention. This particular issue dives into the distinct individualistic vs socialist viewpoints on the Social Welfare State. Nuclear Power would sit under the Platform Programs, a program, more socialist in nature with the hope of eventually having nuclear power as another source of renewable energy for our country. As of today, many Nuclear Power Plants are close to shutting down, due to lack of funding, however with the help of state subsidies, they are surviving.
Until February 2, 2022, Exelon Corp was servicing 10 million customers in 5 states and Washington D.C., after which, Exelon created a company called Constellation, a subsidiary of Exelon, which would focus entirely on Nuclear Power.
As of today, Constellation, the new stand-alone company is waiting on a bill that is currently stalled in Congress, called the “Build Back Better” climate bill.  This bill would establish tax credit for nuclear power production. This Bill sits under the $2 Trillion dollar Infrastructure Bill, which includes many socialist concepts including Education, HealthCare etc. which would fall under the Platform Services, those tax-based invisible programs that we all benefit from; and would make Nuclear Power more available.
Constellation has outlined a plan, where they can use nuclear power to produce something called “green hydrogen”; this hydrogen can be used as fuel in cars, which would eliminate vehicle emissions. It could also be used in power plants, and heavy industry, where pollution is great in those areas. This also ties in with the political climate in our administration in 2022. President Biden has said that he aims to have a carbon-free grid by 2035. However, 2035 is far off, and many Administrations will come and go in that time; Biden’s aim may or may not come to fruition.

If this “Build Back Better” Bill passes through Congress, it will create and establish tax credits for nuclear power production. Compared to Solar, Wind and Natural Gas farms, Nuclear Power Plants are much more expensive to run and operate. However, the one very positive aspect is that Nuclear Power can be made available at any time, any day; the Solar and Wind farms have to rely on the weather and the time of day.
Currently, Nuclear Power via Constellation, operates in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and New Jersey. With the passage of this bill, we might see more states relying on Nuclear Power in the near  future, and that will get the country closer to having a carbon free grid by 2035.

References:
Blunt, K. (2022, February 2). This New Company is Betting Big on Nuclear Power in America. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-new-company-is-betting-big-on-nuclear-power-in-america-11643820916?st=gukmteqmkswc07q&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink (Links to an external site.)