NARUC white paper examines nuclear’s role in advancing decarbonization

Breaking down barriers: The white paper offers suggestions on ways in which federal, state, and local officials—including public utility commissioners—can address barriers and challenges facing the nuclear industry. As energy generation increasingly shifts from fossil fuels to renewables, said barriers must be reduced so clean energy goals can be reached without decreasing grid reliability and public access to electricity. Confronting these issues is especially important with the expected upcoming deployment of several advanced nuclear reactors.

A framework for moving forward: According to Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for nuclear energy in the Department of Energy, the paper “provides a framework for decision makers to start those conversations.” As the paper’s executive summary notes, “Going forward, establishing a more favorable financial and regulatory environment will allow nuclear energy to remain a keystone clean energy resource in a decarbonized U.S. electric grid.”