Nuclear Renaissance Ahead

America’s reliance on nuclear power is poised to rapidly expand
given a new generation of more affordable small modular reactors
(SMR). In this episode of Grid Talk, host Marty Rosenberg talks
with Maria Korsnick who is the President and CEO of the Nuclear
Energy Institute. The conversation focuses on how SMRs can
deliver carbon-free energy. 


“We are about 90 gigawatts of generation today so it will be an
additional 90 gigawatts of generation and because we’re talking
more small modular reactors, that 90 gigawatts could turn into
about 300 SMRs that would be added to the grid,” said Korsnick.


According to Korsnick, nuclear power will increasingly replace
fossil fuel generation plants that contribute to climate change
and nuclear power is needed to supplement solar and wind
power. 


“Imagine nuclear really forming the backbone of that
clean-energy, highly-reliable grid upon which the intermittent
resources can also be added.”


The 300 small reactors built out in the next two decades would
triple the number of nuclear power plants in the nation and help
lower the cost of transitioning away from carbon.


“It’s very, very clear when you add nuclear to the mix, the
overall system cost is reduced.”


Maria Korsnick has been NEI’s President and CEO since 2017 where
she draws on her engineering background, hands-on experience in
reactor operations, and a deep knowledge of energy policy and
regulatory issues to increase understanding of nuclear energy’s
economic and environmental benefits among policymakers and the
public.


Korsnick previously served as the NEI’s COO. She has been in the
energy industry since 1986 working in various roles for
Constellation Energy and then Exelon Nuclear.

Korsnick holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from
the University of Maryland and has held a senior reactor operator
license.