The Promise of Nuclear Energy

Abstract

Nuclear energy offers important benefits in helping to meet the nation's future energy needs: it helps con serve other fuels for purposes for which they are uniquely suited; it provides a competitive source of energy with costs which do not vary appreciably with location; it significantly reduces the problem of air pollution and has other important environmental advantages; it is a positive element in our foreign trade; and it provides freedom from overreliance on foreign energy sources. While coal, oil and gas are projected to continue sharing in the growth of the energy market, nuclear energy can, and must, make a vital contribution towards meeting our future energy requirements in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Although the emerging nuclear industry is going through a difficult period of growing pains, it is basically healthy; the future of nuclear energy is bright. Throughout our nation, there is a basic ap preciation of the fact that our social and economic system requires the continuing availability and proper utilization of clean energy supplies. There is also a growing awareness of the need for decisive actions to assure that our future energy requirements are met while the quality of our environment is simultaneously protected and enhanced. In the years ahead, while we should continue to explore the potential of new energy sources, we will need to rely on energy supplies which can be efficiently produced from every practical source. Each of these sources must be used in the most optimum fashion, consistent with environmental considerations.