On May 26, 1958, in a ceremony at the White House, the United State’s first commercial nuclear energy power plant, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, sprang to life with a wave from President Eisenhower’s “neutron wand.” The President was on his way to delivering the promise he had made to the United Nations four years earlier in his “Atoms for Peace” speech to harness atomic power into a “positive good.” “The United States,” he said, “pledges before you—and therefore before the world—its determination to help solve the fearful atomic dilemma—to devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life.” Since that day in 1958, the United States has added a total of 104 reactors to its fleet, producing 20 percent of the nation’s power with clean, safe and affordable nuclear energy.
Since the industry’s infancy, the United States has been on the forefront of commercial nuclear power development. From a 1942 experiment under the bleachers of Chicago University’s stadium that lead to the first self-sustaining chain reaction to the creation of the National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) in 1951, known today as the Idaho National Laboratory, America worked toward the possibility of providing clean, abundant and safe energy. With the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the government gave private companies the permission to explore nuclear energy, fueling the industry’s growth.
In the 50s and 60s, commercial nuclear energy began to flourish as the focus of atomic research shifted to commercial nuclear power generation. Companies like Westinghouse, Argonne National Laboratory and General Electric were engaged in the exploration and development of various reactor technologies. The earliest light water and boiling water reactors were turning the turbines of our earliest nuclear power plants. During that time, the Atomic Energy Commission anticipated that more than 1,000 reactors would be operating in the United States by 20001.
With the ’70s and ’80s came the realization that nuclear power would not achieve its originally forecasted growth potential. Marked by the events at Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant in Pennsylvania, along with a host of other factors including declining demand, alternative energy sources, high interest rates, public opposition, safety concerns, and cost overruns of plant construction, the industry was brought to a stagnant state that continued well into the ’90s.
The 21st century brought talk of a nuclear renaissance driven by a variety of factors. According to the World Nuclear Association, increasing energy demand, climate change concern and dependence on overseas supplies of fossil fuels combined to make the case for increasing use of nuclear power. American’s 30 year safety record coupled with its ability to efficiently generate electricity contributed to a more favorable view of nuclear energy than in past decades. Just as a renewed acceptance of nuclear power was emerging, Mother Nature threw a curve ball.
Images of the March 2011 events at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan flooded the media, raising questions about the safety of nuclear power plants and dropping the nations support for the industry2. Though the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has determined that there is not an immediate safety concern at U.S. reactors based on today’s earthquake standards, those events have resulted in more oversight by the NRC. The NRC, along with the nuclear industry, continues to study the information to learn from the events.
Today, the United States is the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for more than 30 percent of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the U.S. nuclear industry is one of the safest industrial working environments in the nation, based on its 50 years of experience. From 104 reactors in 31 states, the U.S. has made tremendous production gains over the past dozen years, producing 806.9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2010. Nuclear plants generate clean, affordable energy to Americans, providing the power needed to improve the quality of and sustain life, delivering on Eisenhower’s promise.
During the week of Jan. 23, help us celebrate the technology that drives nuclear power during National Nuclear Science Week by visiting either the World of Energy at Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca, S.C., or the EnergyExplorium at the McGuire Nuclear Station in Huntersville, N.C.
Both locations offer a fun and interactive way to learn about electricity. Visitors of all ages will discover how nuclear energy is generated. The self-guided tour lets you explore at your own pace. Afterwards, children and adults can enjoy testing what they learned on our video games. Try your skills at the Energy Master Challenge and see if you can reach 100,000 points. Your visit brings nuclear energy to life. We hope that you will decide to join us during this celebration. Groups are welcome and appreciated. Plan your visit today.
(1) Seaborg, Glenn T., The Plutonium Economy of the Future, October 5, 1970, p. 7. The earliest light water and boiling water reactors were turning the turbines of our earliest nuclear power plants.
(2) Michael Cooper (March 22, 2011) “Nuclear Power Loses Support in New Poll” http.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/us/23poll.html?_r=1
