We only have one planet. Preserving it for future generations means relying on clean, affordable energy that keeps the lights on while reducing our carbon footprint. And thankfully, we have plenty of clean energy options already.
Beyond wind, solar, hydro, and other renewables, clean energy includes nuclear, too. Nuclear energy produces zero
greenhouse gas emissions – the dangerous gases that trap heat and warm the planet. In fact,
60% of America’s emission-free energy comes from the
99 nuclear reactors reliably running around-the-clock from California to New York. That’s more emission-free energy than all other clean sources combined!
Exelon’s 14 nuclear plants have a net capacity of 23,300 megawatts, enough to power more than 18 million average American homes. The clean energy they generate avoids more than 143 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions – equal to removing about 30 million passenger vehicles from the road for one year.
Don’t get us wrong; renewables are still a key part of any 21st century energy portfolio. In fact, it’s the all-of-the-above approach that is exactly what we need. Exelon Generation owns and operates two utility-scale solar projects, 45 wind farms and two hydro plants across the country. Renewables alone can’t meet America’s energy needs. When the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, nuclear is always there. U.S. nuclear plants run more than
92% of the time on average, providing reliable, affordable energy for millions of families.
And at Exelon, our nuclear fleet is even more dependable, operating above
94% in 2016. On average, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro run only about
33% of time.
The bottom line: Without nuclear, it’s impossible to tackle dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.
Yet, the future of America’s 99 nuclear reactors is uncertain. In the next two decades, key economic and policy challenges threaten to close about
half of America’s reactors.
As America’s largest nuclear fleet operator, we’re working hard to reverse this trend. In total, Exelon currently employs more than 12,000 workers across its nuclear fleet.
We will continue to look for opportunities to protect America’s largest source of clean energy. Over the coming months, our experts will share the policy changes and investments necessary to save this national resource. Be sure to tune back in for those insights.