The risks Americans face from the threat of climate change are compounded when we lose our largest sources of reliable clean energy. Nuclear's 24x7 carbon-free power can only be replaced by increased gas generation. This means that when plants like Palisades and Diablo Canyon are forced to close, both energy prices and carbon emissions increase. Thankfully, the Biden Administration has been able to reject antinuclear activists' myth-based fear-mongering to use data and science to underpin their energy policies. They and the Congress are working to level the playing field to allow nuclear's clean energy to be properly valued.
True environmentalists know that we need to reduce emissions asap but maintain grid reliability and to do so, we need a diverse mix of carbon-free energy sources—wind, solar, hydro, nuclear and geothermal power—expanded so we can maintain grid reliability in a shifting climate while we eliminate sources of emissions from coal, oil and gas. Those who seek to shut down nuclear power during this climate crisis have a much different agenda than addressing climate change and energy reliability. Climate activists, energy experts, union workers and most voters support protecting nuclear energy assets. We came together to demand that federal support to protect nuclear power and we were heard! Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act with $6 billion for the Civil Nuclear Credit program to support nuclear power plants threatened with premature closure. More recently, the Inflation Reduction Act was passed which provides further support for leveling the playing field of tax subsidies for clean energy, so that nuclear is not discriminated against.
Hey fans of abundant, reliable, affordable and diverse clean energy: Our campaigns to urge Governor Whitmer and Governor Newsom to take action to save their nuclear plants have succeeded! They both used their executive power to try to protect nuclear's reliable clean energy. We could not #SavePalisades but we continue to support Gov. Newsom's efforts to #SaveDiabloCanyon and prevent its premature closure.