Is it Possible for the US to Create a Future Powered by Nuclear Energy?

Nearly seven decades ago, the United States witnessed a major energy breakthrough when nuclear fission at the countrys first commercial nuclear power facility became self-sustaining, ready to provide electricity for homes and businesses. This milestone came 15 years after humans achieved the first controlled nuclear chain reaction, a milestone of the Manhattan Project that eventually contributed to the development of the atomic bomb.

The Shippingport Atomic Power Plant in Pennsylvania achieved full generating capacity on December 23, 1957, roughly three years after the Soviet Union inaugurated the worlds first nuclear plant connected to the power grid. The facility aligned with President Dwight D. Eisenhowers vision of using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. At the plants groundbreaking, Eisenhower expressed hope that atomic energy would serve humanity rather than destroy it.

In addition to supplying electricity to the Pittsburgh region, Shippingport served as a research platform for experimenting with different reactor coresthe central components that house the fuel to convert water into steam, which then drives turbines to produce electricity. In 1977, the reactors core was replaced with a light water breeder design containing uranium and thorium, a more abundant and cost-effective element.

The plant was decommissioned in 1982, following a period of decline in U.S. nuclear energy development, partly influenced by the Three Mile Island incident in 1979, where a partial core meltdown heightened public safety concerns. The nuclear industry also struggled financially, with numerous projects delayed or canceled in the 1970s due to budget overruns.

Shippingports closure highlighted a persistent challenge: the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Once nuclear fuel loses the ability to produce steam, it remains radioactive for thousands of years and must be carefully managed. Shippingports reactor components were transported via rivers and the Panama Canal to Washington State, where they were interred at the Hanford Military Reservation, serving as a model for future decommissioning efforts.

Despite only a few new reactors being built in recent decades, existing U.S. nuclear plantsaveraging 40 years in operationstill provide approximately 20 percent of the nations electricity. Rising energy demands from AI data centers have renewed interest in nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source. The Department of Energy recently approved a $1 billion loan for a new nuclear facility at Three Mile Island, intended to supply power to Microsoft data centers.

However, the issue of nuclear waste remains unresolved. Proposed long-term storage solutions like Yucca Mountain in Nevada have faced political opposition and funding challenges. Currently, around 90,000 tons of nuclear waste are stored at more than 100 locations across 39 states. The growth of data centers may further increase the accumulation of radioactive byproducts, pressing officials and energy leaders to seek sustainable, long-term solutions.

Author: Sophia Brooks