Jerry Paul Discusses Nuclear Energy in Op-Ed
Jerry Paul, a former Florida Rep. who served as principal deputy administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, penned an op-ed for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which ran over the weekend.
Throughout the op-ed Rep. Paul touted the benefits of nuclear energy for the country and reinforced that nuclear energy will always be part of our clean energy mix if we want to maintain our quality of life. He writes:
“About 20 percent of the electricity that powers American homes comes from nuclear energy, while about 68 percent comes from greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels like coal. Nuclear plants continuously produce large amounts of electricity and make up about 70 percent of America’s emissions-free generation. Wind and solar make up 8 percent and .01 percent, respectively. Solar, wind and nuclear energy all play a valuable role in our energy mix, but currently, nuclear plants are the only large sources of emissions-free generation that can provide the amount of power we need to keep our homes and businesses running 24 hours per day.”
Rep. Paul also addressed steps that the industry has taken to ensure that nuclear energy facilities remain an important part of the state’s clean energy future:
“Every nuclear power plant in the United States has multiple government inspectors on site, year-round. They are top experts in the field and have unrestricted access to all vital areas of the plant, including plant records. In addition to these daily oversight activities, each plant frequently undergoes multiple evaluations and inspections that include detailed reviews of security, emergency planning, environmental protection, industrial safety, critical plant systems, plant culture and safety processes – all of which are aimed at ensuring the continued safe operation of these facilities.”
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