Frequently Asked
Questions
Nuclear Energy 101
Nuclear energy is produced by splitting atoms apart. The process of splitting atoms is called fission. We design nuclear reactors to sustain and control nuclear fission. This allows us to generate clean, reliable electricity for generations.
Both fission and fusion produce energy from atoms. However, they are very different physical processes. Fission happens when a neutron strikes a larger atom, which causes it to split into two smaller atoms. Additional neutrons are released, causing a chain reaction. The heat produced during fission creates steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity. Fusion is the same process that powers the sun. It occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, releasing a lot of energy. However, it is much more difficult to harness fusion for energy because it requires extreme pressure and temperature. All nuclear reactors in the U.S. today are fission reactors, but there have been recent breakthroughs in fusion research and development.
Nuclear energy has been generating abundant, reliable energy for communities and businesses across the nation for more than 70 years. Today, nuclear energy makes up around 20% of our electricity in the U.S. and nearly half of our clean energy. There are currently 94 operating nuclear reactors across 28 states. These reactors produce power more than 92% of the time, which makes nuclear energy the most reliable source on the grid. Nuclear reactors can also operate for up to 80 years, making them a steady, reliable source of power for generations to come.
Safety
The U.S. has been operating nuclear power plants safely for more than 70 years. These power plants are actually some of the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the world. They are built with multiple layers of physical barriers to prevent the release of radiation and handle the worst case scenarios. They must be able to withstand the worst natural disasters ever recorded in the area, plus an extra safety margin just in case.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the independent federal agency in charge of making sure nuclear reactors are safe in the United States. They grant licenses for the construction and operation of nuclear reactors and evaluate the safety and the security of sites once the nuclear plants are in operation. The Environmental Protection Agency also plays a role by setting limits on the amount of radiation that workers, the public and the environment can be exposed to. The NRC helps enforce these limits at nuclear power plants. If the NRC believes a plant is unsafe, the agency will order it to shut down.
The United States has a long record of safely operating nuclear reactors. In our 70+ years producing nuclear energy there has only been one major nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. Even then, the safety systems and protocols worked as intended. The reactor shut down, no injuries or deaths occurred, and the radiation released was just 1 millirem above natural background levels, which is about the same as a few extra days of normal living. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) quickly implemented sweeping improvements in operator training, emergency planning, and plant design following the accident. The NRC has also implemented measures to further protect U.S. nuclear plants against extreme weather events following the earthquake at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan in 2011.
Future, advanced nuclear reactors continue to build on safety by incorporating passive safety features that allow them to shut down and remove excess heat without human intervention. Many will also operate at lower pressures and can be built below ground to provide physical security and stronger protection against extreme events.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sets strict safety standards in the United States to make sure the nation’s nuclear reactors are built to handle the worst nature can throw at them. Nuclear power plants must be able to withstand the worst natural disasters ever recorded in the local area, plus an extra margin of safety.
All U.S. nuclear reactors are designed to withstand earthquakes and other major natural disasters. They use a ‘defense-in-depth’ approach that means there are multiple independent and redundant layers of safety. Nuclear power plant sites constantly monitor for seismic activity to make sure reactors can safely operate. Future, advanced reactors go even further by incorporating passive safety systems that allow them to shutdown and remove heat without human intervention. Advanced reactor developers are also integrating seismic isolation systems into reactor foundations for added resilience.
No, a nuclear reactor cannot explode like a nuclear bomb. In fact, their purposes and designs are fundamentally different. Nuclear weapons are designed to release as much energy as possible in an instant, whereas nuclear reactors do the exact opposite. Nuclear reactors carefully control the release of heat from fission to generate electricity safely and steadily for decades. Nuclear reactors also use entirely different fuel called low-enriched uranium, which cannot explode like a bomb. Nuclear weapons, on the other hand, use much higher quantities of enriched uranium or plutonium in a concentrated form. Even the byproducts released from a reactor are different, and their designs incorporate safety at every step to prevent the release of radiation.
Living near a nuclear power plant exposes you to almost no radiation. If you live within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant you would only receive about 0.01 millirems of radiation. That’s less radiation than you would get from walking through a Utah canyon. Radiation is actually a natural part of our environment. It comes from our soil, air, food and even our own bodies. The average person receives about 620 millirems of radiation each year. About half of that comes from natural sources like the sun, soil and rocks and the other half from manmade sources like medical X-rays, smoke detectors and televisions. So living near a nuclear power plant exposes you to thousands of times less radiation than natural background radiation.
Nuclear Reactors
There are 94 operating nuclear reactors in the United States. These reactors are large, light-water reactors, which means they use water as both a coolant and a neutron moderator. These reactors operate on about 1 square mile of land and produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity—enough to power about 1,000 homes. ‘Advanced reactors’ is a broad term for new nuclear reactors that come in a range of shapes and sizes. These reactors can generate anywhere from a few to more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Advanced reactors use different fuels, materials and coolants and have different safety features from current reactors. They also offer enhanced safety and efficiency over current technology and are more flexible to build and operate, which provides important energy options for communities
Current large, light-water reactors use quite a bit of water for cooling. However, most of these reactors use closed-loop systems that recycle the cooling water in the plant to reduce overall water use. The good news is that advanced nuclear reactors are being designed to use far less water. Even advanced water-cooled reactors like some small modular reactors will use significantly less water than today’s reactors. Other designs will use alternative coolants like molten salts, liquid metals or gases like helium to significantly reduce or eliminate water for cooling. Some of these new nuclear technologies will even use less water than other power plants, like coal and natural gas.
Building a nuclear power plant is a multi-year effort that requires significant upfront investment. It takes about seven years to build a current large, light-water nuclear reactor. That might seem daunting, but once built, these reactors have very low operating costs and can run for up to 80 years.
Advanced nuclear technologies are changing the game. These next-generation designs require fewer components, are faster to build, and use modular construction techniques that allow parts to be prefabricated off-site for better quality control and shorter construction times on-site. However, many of these designs will be first-of-a-kind and could carry risk of cost and timeline overruns. Repeat deployments could help bring down the cost to build new reactors by standardizing designs, establishing supply chains and gaining project experience.
Nuclear Fuel
Today’s U.S. nuclear reactors run on uranium fuel. Uranium is a naturally occurring element that has a few different forms called “isotopes.” Over 99% of uranium found on earth is uranium-238. The other 0.7% is uranium-235, which is the main fissile uranium isotope that produces energy during a chain reaction. Current nuclear reactors use low-enriched uranium or LEU, which is enriched up to 5% with uranium-235. Enrichment increases the amount of uranium-235 present in fuel to help reactors sustain a chain reaction.
Many advanced nuclear reactors will use slightly higher enriched uranium fuel called high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU. This fuel is enriched between 5 and 19.75% with uranium-235. HALEU will help advanced reactors achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles, increased fuel efficiency and reduced nuclear waste.
Yes, Utah currently hosts the only fully licensed and operating uranium ore mill in the United States. The White Mesa Mill is located in San Juan County and can produce more than eight million pounds of uranium per year under the current license. The mill accepts uranium ore from mines to create triuranium oxide, or “yellowcake.” This material is used to create nuclear fuel for reactors.
Nuclear Waste
Producing power with nuclear energy creates a small amount of waste. Typically, the term “nuclear waste” refers to used nuclear fuel (also sometimes referred to as ‘spent nuclear fuel’). This is simply fuel that’s been used in a reactor for about 5 years, after which it no longer efficiently sustains a chain reaction. Contrary to popular depictions in pop culture, nuclear waste is not a green, glowing goo: The fuel is solid when it goes in the reactor and solid when it comes out. Despite being labeled as “waste,” used nuclear fuel still holds a ton of energy potential and could be recycled into fresh fuel for reactors.
Nuclear reactors also produce what’s called ‘low-level waste.’ These are things like debris, tools, clothing or equipment that are slightly radioactive. Low-level waste makes up the vast majority of the waste by volume, but it’s more straightforward to manage. Utah hosts a commercial low-level waste treatment, storage and disposal facility in Tooele county.
Once nuclear fuel is considered “used,” it is removed from the nuclear reactor and placed in thick, steel-lined concrete pools filled with water to cool. It takes about two to five years for the fuel to cool before it can be transferred to dry storage casks. These casks are made of steel and concrete and provide secure, long-term storage. Currently, all of the nation’s used nuclear fuel is stored safely and securely at the sites where it was generated. There are more than 70 sites in 35 states hosting used nuclear fuel and it can be safely managed at these sites for the foreseeable future.
Yes, Utah stores nuclear waste but it’s not actually used nuclear fuel. Used nuclear fuel is high-level radioactive waste. Utah stores Class A radioactive waste at the Energy Solutions facility in Clive. This is the lowest level of radioactive waste and includes items like gloves, safety glasses, shoe covers and medical waste such as syringes.
Nuclear fuel is a solid when it goes into a reactor, and a solid when it comes out, so it cannot leak like a liquid. All the commercial used nuclear fuel in the U.S. is stored safely and securely in steel and concrete casks at the sites where it was generated. These casks go through rigorous testing to make sure they are durable and can withstand the worst natural disasters. They are also routinely monitored at nuclear waste sites. Other low-level radioactive waste is packaged in waste containers that go in thick concrete vaults sealed with an impermeable membrane. These vaults are frequently monitored. The waste in these vaults typically loses radioactivity in 30 years or less.
Nuclear Energy in Utah
Governor Cox rolled out Operation Gigawatt, which aims to double our energy production over the next 10 years. To achieve this, we’re looking at current and new types of energy sources. One new source we’re exploring is advanced nuclear energy, which could help address future energy and economic challenges in Utah. It could also bring new jobs and economic opportunities to communities across our state. This doesn’t mean we’re abandoning other energy options like solar and wind or prematurely closing our coal plants. Nuclear energy could complement these resources by providing reliable, around-the-clock power. We’re currently exploring nuclear energy along with other energy technologies for the state. We want to fully understand the benefits and drawbacks of these technologies before we build them here in Utah.
Hiring locally isn’t just a talking point for the nuclear industry, it’s a priority. Nuclear companies work with local labor unions, colleges, universities and workforce programs to identify and train locals for jobs at nuclear facilities. The state is already working with local educational institutes and companies to address gaps in degree and training pipelines for nuclear energy jobs. We’re also working with Hi Tech and Idaho National Laboratory to establish nuclear energy workforce initiatives that will ensure the proper training centers exist ahead of potential new nuclear projects.
You don’t need to be a nuclear engineer to work at a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants create a mix of short-term and long-term jobs. During construction, they employ many skilled trades, such as laborers, welders, electricians, and heavy equipment operators. Once operational, these plants provide long-term careers for engineers, technicians, welders, security personnel, and reactor operators, among others. Not only that, nuclear energy workers can earn on average 50% more than those in other energy fields.
Nuclear Energy 101
Nuclear energy is produced by splitting atoms apart. The process of splitting atoms is called fission. We design nuclear reactors to sustain and control nuclear fission. This allows us to generate clean, reliable electricity for generations.
Both fission and fusion produce energy from atoms. However, they are very different physical processes. Fission happens when a neutron strikes a larger atom, which causes it to split into two smaller atoms. Additional neutrons are released, causing a chain reaction. The heat produced during fission creates steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity. Fusion is the same process that powers the sun. It occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, releasing a lot of energy. However, it is much more difficult to harness fusion for energy because it requires extreme pressure and temperature. All nuclear reactors in the U.S. today are fission reactors, but there have been recent breakthroughs in fusion research and development.
Nuclear energy has been generating abundant, reliable energy for communities and businesses across the nation for more than 70 years. Today, nuclear energy makes up around 20% of our electricity in the U.S. and nearly half of our clean energy. There are currently 94 operating nuclear reactors across 28 states. These reactors produce power more than 92% of the time, which makes nuclear energy the most reliable source on the grid. Nuclear reactors can also operate for up to 80 years, making them a steady, reliable source of power for generations to come.
Safety
The U.S. has been operating nuclear power plants safely for more than 70 years. These power plants are actually some of the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the world. They are built with multiple layers of physical barriers to prevent the release of radiation and handle the worst case scenarios. They must be able to withstand the worst natural disasters ever recorded in the area, plus an extra safety margin just in case.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the independent federal agency in charge of making sure nuclear reactors are safe in the United States. They grant licenses for the construction and operation of nuclear reactors and evaluate the safety and the security of sites once the nuclear plants are in operation. The Environmental Protection Agency also plays a role by setting limits on the amount of radiation that workers, the public and the environment can be exposed to. The NRC helps enforce these limits at nuclear power plants. If the NRC believes a plant is unsafe, the agency will order it to shut down.
The United States has a long record of safely operating nuclear reactors. In our 70+ years producing nuclear energy there has only been one major nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. Even then, the safety systems and protocols worked as intended. The reactor shut down, no injuries or deaths occurred, and the radiation released was just 1 millirem above natural background levels, which is about the same as a few extra days of normal living. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) quickly implemented sweeping improvements in operator training, emergency planning, and plant design following the accident. The NRC has also implemented measures to further protect U.S. nuclear plants against extreme weather events following the earthquake at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan in 2011.
Future, advanced nuclear reactors continue to build on safety by incorporating passive safety features that allow them to shut down and remove excess heat without human intervention. Many will also operate at lower pressures and can be built below ground to provide physical security and stronger protection against extreme events.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sets strict safety standards in the United States to make sure the nation’s nuclear reactors are built to handle the worst nature can throw at them. Nuclear power plants must be able to withstand the worst natural disasters ever recorded in the local area, plus an extra margin of safety.
All U.S. nuclear reactors are designed to withstand earthquakes and other major natural disasters. They use a ‘defense-in-depth’ approach that means there are multiple independent and redundant layers of safety. Nuclear power plant sites constantly monitor for seismic activity to make sure reactors can safely operate. Future, advanced reactors go even further by incorporating passive safety systems that allow them to shutdown and remove heat without human intervention. Advanced reactor developers are also integrating seismic isolation systems into reactor foundations for added resilience.
No, a nuclear reactor cannot explode like a nuclear bomb. In fact, their purposes and designs are fundamentally different. Nuclear weapons are designed to release as much energy as possible in an instant, whereas nuclear reactors do the exact opposite. Nuclear reactors carefully control the release of heat from fission to generate electricity safely and steadily for decades. Nuclear reactors also use entirely different fuel called low-enriched uranium, which cannot explode like a bomb. Nuclear weapons, on the other hand, use much higher quantities of enriched uranium or plutonium in a concentrated form. Even the byproducts released from a reactor are different, and their designs incorporate safety at every step to prevent the release of radiation.
Living near a nuclear power plant exposes you to almost no radiation. If you live within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant you would only receive about 0.01 millirems of radiation. That’s less radiation than you would get from walking through a Utah canyon. Radiation is actually a natural part of our environment. It comes from our soil, air, food and even our own bodies. The average person receives about 620 millirems of radiation each year. About half of that comes from natural sources like the sun, soil and rocks and the other half from manmade sources like medical X-rays, smoke detectors and televisions. So living near a nuclear power plant exposes you to thousands of times less radiation than natural background radiation.
Nuclear Reactors
There are 94 operating nuclear reactors in the United States. These reactors are large, light-water reactors, which means they use water as both a coolant and a neutron moderator. These reactors operate on about 1 square mile of land and produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity—enough to power about 1,000 homes. ‘Advanced reactors’ is a broad term for new nuclear reactors that come in a range of shapes and sizes. These reactors can generate anywhere from a few to more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Advanced reactors use different fuels, materials and coolants and have different safety features from current reactors. They also offer enhanced safety and efficiency over current technology and are more flexible to build and operate, which provides important energy options for communities
Current large, light-water reactors use quite a bit of water for cooling. However, most of these reactors use closed-loop systems that recycle the cooling water in the plant to reduce overall water use. The good news is that advanced nuclear reactors are being designed to use far less water. Even advanced water-cooled reactors like some small modular reactors will use significantly less water than today’s reactors. Other designs will use alternative coolants like molten salts, liquid metals or gases like helium to significantly reduce or eliminate water for cooling. Some of these new nuclear technologies will even use less water than other power plants, like coal and natural gas.
Building a nuclear power plant is a multi-year effort that requires significant upfront investment. It takes about seven years to build a current large, light-water nuclear reactor. That might seem daunting, but once built, these reactors have very low operating costs and can run for up to 80 years.
Advanced nuclear technologies are changing the game. These next-generation designs require fewer components, are faster to build, and use modular construction techniques that allow parts to be prefabricated off-site for better quality control and shorter construction times on-site. However, many of these designs will be first-of-a-kind and could carry risk of cost and timeline overruns. Repeat deployments could help bring down the cost to build new reactors by standardizing designs, establishing supply chains and gaining project experience.
Nuclear Fuel
Today’s U.S. nuclear reactors run on uranium fuel. Uranium is a naturally occurring element that has a few different forms called “isotopes.” Over 99% of uranium found on earth is uranium-238. The other 0.7% is uranium-235, which is the main fissile uranium isotope that produces energy during a chain reaction. Current nuclear reactors use low-enriched uranium or LEU, which is enriched up to 5% with uranium-235. Enrichment increases the amount of uranium-235 present in fuel to help reactors sustain a chain reaction.
Many advanced nuclear reactors will use slightly higher enriched uranium fuel called high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU. This fuel is enriched between 5 and 19.75% with uranium-235. HALEU will help advanced reactors achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles, increased fuel efficiency and reduced nuclear waste.
Yes, Utah currently hosts the only fully licensed and operating uranium ore mill in the United States. The White Mesa Mill is located in San Juan County and can produce more than eight million pounds of uranium per year under the current license. The mill accepts uranium ore from mines to create triuranium oxide, or “yellowcake.” This material is used to create nuclear fuel for reactors.
Nuclear Waste
Producing power with nuclear energy creates a small amount of waste. Typically, the term “nuclear waste” refers to used nuclear fuel (also sometimes referred to as ‘spent nuclear fuel’). This is simply fuel that’s been used in a reactor for about 5 years, after which it no longer efficiently sustains a chain reaction. Contrary to popular depictions in pop culture, nuclear waste is not a green, glowing goo: The fuel is solid when it goes in the reactor and solid when it comes out. Despite being labeled as “waste,” used nuclear fuel still holds a ton of energy potential and could be recycled into fresh fuel for reactors.
Nuclear reactors also produce what’s called ‘low-level waste.’ These are things like debris, tools, clothing or equipment that are slightly radioactive. Low-level waste makes up the vast majority of the waste by volume, but it’s more straightforward to manage. Utah hosts a commercial low-level waste treatment, storage and disposal facility in Tooele county.
Once nuclear fuel is considered “used,” it is removed from the nuclear reactor and placed in thick, steel-lined concrete pools filled with water to cool. It takes about two to five years for the fuel to cool before it can be transferred to dry storage casks. These casks are made of steel and concrete and provide secure, long-term storage. Currently, all of the nation’s used nuclear fuel is stored safely and securely at the sites where it was generated. There are more than 70 sites in 35 states hosting used nuclear fuel and it can be safely managed at these sites for the foreseeable future.
Yes, Utah stores nuclear waste but it’s not actually used nuclear fuel. Used nuclear fuel is high-level radioactive waste. Utah stores Class A radioactive waste at the Energy Solutions facility in Clive. This is the lowest level of radioactive waste and includes items like gloves, safety glasses, shoe covers and medical waste such as syringes.
Nuclear fuel is a solid when it goes into a reactor, and a solid when it comes out, so it cannot leak like a liquid. All the commercial used nuclear fuel in the U.S. is stored safely and securely in steel and concrete casks at the sites where it was generated. These casks go through rigorous testing to make sure they are durable and can withstand the worst natural disasters. They are also routinely monitored at nuclear waste sites. Other low-level radioactive waste is packaged in waste containers that go in thick concrete vaults sealed with an impermeable membrane. These vaults are frequently monitored. The waste in these vaults typically loses radioactivity in 30 years or less.
Nuclear Energy in Utah
Governor Cox rolled out Operation Gigawatt, which aims to double our energy production over the next 10 years. To achieve this, we’re looking at current and new types of energy sources. One new source we’re exploring is advanced nuclear energy, which could help address future energy and economic challenges in Utah. It could also bring new jobs and economic opportunities to communities across our state. This doesn’t mean we’re abandoning other energy options like solar and wind or prematurely closing our coal plants. Nuclear energy could complement these resources by providing reliable, around-the-clock power. We’re currently exploring nuclear energy along with other energy technologies for the state. We want to fully understand the benefits and drawbacks of these technologies before we build them here in Utah.
Hiring locally isn’t just a talking point for the nuclear industry, it’s a priority. Nuclear companies work with local labor unions, colleges, universities and workforce programs to identify and train locals for jobs at nuclear facilities. The state is already working with local educational institutes and companies to address gaps in degree and training pipelines for nuclear energy jobs. We’re also working with Hi Tech and Idaho National Laboratory to establish nuclear energy workforce initiatives that will ensure the proper training centers exist ahead of potential new nuclear projects.
You don’t need to be a nuclear engineer to work at a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants create a mix of short-term and long-term jobs. During construction, they employ many skilled trades, such as laborers, welders, electricians, and heavy equipment operators. Once operational, these plants provide long-term careers for engineers, technicians, welders, security personnel, and reactor operators, among others. Not only that, nuclear energy workers can earn on average 50% more than those in other energy fields.