Energy

Obama’s Energy Secretary Argues Allowing Nuclear Plants To Close Imperils National Security

(Shutterstock/Daniel Prudek)

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Tim Pearce Energy Reporter
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An August report by Energy Futures Analysis (EFA) says nuclear energy development plays an important role in U.S. national security.

The report by EFA, a think tank created and run by former Obama Energy secretary Ernest Moniz, claims nuclear power is “intimately connected” with nuclear nonproliferation policy and nuclear security.

If the U.S. falls behind in nuclear energy development and weakens related industries, such as providing nuclear technology and services, other countries may step in to take the lead. The report points to Russia as one of the main threats, Axios reports.

EFA also says domestic nuclear production is necessary to maintain a state-of-the-art navy. The navy needs a readily available supply of domestically produced uranium, an industry supported by building nuclear reactors.

A vibrant U.S. nuclear industry is needed, at least for now, to ensure the United States has a legitimate nuclear deterrence strategy, or can threaten aggressive enemies with a nuclear war any sane leader would avoid at all costs.

“Even as we aspire to the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, they are and will remain at the core of the United States’ defense posture for the foreseeable future as a deterrent for the use of nuclear weapons against the U.S. and its allies,” the report states.

A couple high profile nuclear infrastructure projects have failed and begun begging for federal funding to survive in recent months.

A South Carolina nuclear construction project was ditched after setbacks and escalating costs, along with unfavorable market conditions, made the venture too expensive to continue.

The Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia is the only nuclear plant under construction in the U.S. after the South Carolina project went down. Officials from Southern Company, in charge of Vogtle, have requested federal officials expedite some funding assistance to help Southern cover increasing construction costs.

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