Biden Embraces Nuclear Power to Save the Climate; It’s Time for State Democrats To Get On Board
Recently, the Biden Administration celebrated the completion of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm delivered a passionate speech advocating constructing 200 nuclear reactors to meet the U.S. climate goals. Yet President Biden is facing an obstacle that might thwart his energy policy: his own party’s rank-and-file members.
Even though Biden’s is the most pro-nuclear administration in decades, even though nuclear power is mentioned as a climate solution in the Democratic Party platform, even though nuclear energy is supported by the largest union of electrical workers in North America, and even though the majority of Americans have positive views about nuclear power, state and local level Democratic officers still routinely shut down any legislation supportive of nuclear power.
Many obstacles stand in the way of the plan to deliver 200 more nuclear power plants the size of Vogtle. Twelve states, most of them Blue, have moratoriums against constructing new nuclear plants. Even in states where building new nuclear power is permitted, democratic state legislators have shot down legislation with no fiscal impact that would have benefited nuclear power. Without the support of state office-holders, America’s net-zero carbon electricity goals are out of reach. Such an ambition is only attainable if the U.S. meets its goal, made during COP last year, of tripling nuclear generation.
Does this mean Secretary Granholm’s proposed nuclear renaissance is dead on arrival? Not at all. California’s last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, shows what a difference real leadership can make. The plant was saved two years ago, partly thanks to committed activists but mostly because Governor Gavin Newsom changed his mind and personally advocated for extending its life once he realized that, without it, the state would run short of power.
Diablo Canyon’s shutdown was supposed to be a done deal. After all, California is where the modern anti-nuclear movement was born. Newsom himself promised that the plant would be shut down. However, after a paper from Stanford and MIT reported the benefits of keeping the plant open and an analysis by electricity experts of the state stated the necessity of keeping Diablo open, Governor Newsom changed his mind. He was able to successfully use his leadership to overcome partisan concerns about nuclear power.
The Biden administration must emphasize the crucial role of Democratic support in its nuclear push. The DNC’s role in ending nuclear moratoriums is pivotal, as it paves the way for new nuclear power plants to open nationwide. Before legislation is discussed at the committee level in state legislatures, Democratic members of those committees must grasp the strategic importance of nuclear power in our climate change efforts and President Biden’s energy policy. Legislators may remain unmoved, but if the California example teaches us anything, it is that leadership matters.
It’s our shared responsibility as citizens concerned about climate change to actively engage with our elected representatives at every level. The Biden administration must take the lead in direct communication with state-level officials to ensure that the policies are properly understood. There seems to be a disconnect between their efforts and the actions of these officers, which needs to be addressed. By engaging directly, we can bridge this gap and ensure that our collective voice is heard and understood.