{"id":2371569,"date":"2024-11-21T07:19:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T12:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-trump-can-make-nixons-nuclear-power-dream-a-reality\/"},"modified":"2024-11-21T07:23:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T12:23:08","slug":"how-trump-can-make-nixons-nuclear-power-dream-a-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-trump-can-make-nixons-nuclear-power-dream-a-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"How Trump Can Make Nixon&#8217;s Nuclear Power Dream A Reality"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-trump-can-make-nixons-nuclear-power-dream-a-reality%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2371569&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In\u200d a recent \u2062appearance on \u200cJoe Rogan&#8217;s podcast, President-elect Donald Trump expressed support for\u2062 nuclear energy, suggesting it is a \u2063preferable alternative to other\u2063 energy sources and showing\u2062 interest in \u200dadvancing the development of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-nano-nuclear-thinks-it-will-be-first-company-to-sell-microreactors-with-2030-target\/\" title=\"Nano Nuclear aims to become the pioneer in microreactor sales, setting a target of 2030.\">small \u2063modular reactors<\/a> (SMRs). This endorsement comes amidst \u200bincreasing electricity demands\u200c driven by the burgeoning AI industry and \u2064the pressing \u2064need for reliable \u200benergy to \u200bbolster the U.S.\u200d economy and regain energy independence. <\/p>\n<p>Historical context highlights that\u200b about\u2063 50 \u2062years ago, President Richard\u2063 Nixon envisioned a\u2062 nuclear\u200d future, aiming\u200c to establish around 1,000 nuclear reactors by the year \u200b2000 as a long-term strategy for energy security, particularly\u200b in response \u200cto the 1973 oil embargo. Nixon&#8217;s plan aimed \u2063to diversify America&#8217;s energy supply and reduce reliance on foreign oil; however,\u200c it ultimately failed\u200c due to \u2062high costs and safety concerns, particularly following the \u200bThree Mile Island and Chernobyl incidents which led to public skepticism and \u2062regulatory obstacles.<\/p>\n<p>Despite \u2062these challenges, the\u2063 need\u2062 for a diversified\u200d energy \u2063portfolio remains\u200b relevant today.\u200d Advancements in nuclear technology, \u2062especially with SMRs, present a\u2064 renewed opportunity for nuclear energy to contribute to the\u200b energy landscape, offering advantages like lower \u200ccosts and enhanced safety. \u200dThe\u2063 potential for nuclear power to meet the needs of major tech companies highlights a significant\u200d shift as the U.S. considers reviving Nixon&#8217;s vision for \u2063a \u2064robust nuclear\u2062 energy\u200c program. This revival would require coordinated \u2063efforts from \u2063policymakers and industry leaders \u2062to overcome existing\u2062 regulatory challenges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>President-elect Donald Trump recently hinted at his support for nuclear energy on Joe Rogan&rsquo;s podcast, calling it &ldquo;better&rdquo; than other energy sources and expressing interest in advancing small modular reactors. <\/p>\n<p>His endorsement comes amid soaring electricity demands from Big Tech&rsquo;s AI products and an urgent need for reliable energy to supercharge America&rsquo;s economic future and restore U.S. energy independence. About 50 years ago, President Richard Nixon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nixonfoundation.org\/2016\/10\/26948\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">envisioned a similar path<\/a>, laying the groundwork to construct, as the Atomic Energy Commission predicted, <a href=\"https:\/\/sgp.fas.org\/crs\/misc\/RL33442.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1,000 nuclear reactors<\/a> across the country by the year 2000. Although Nixon&rsquo;s plan ultimately faltered due to high costs, construction setbacks, and his resignation, today&rsquo;s renewed interest in nuclear raises the question: Are we finally ready to bring <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nixonfoundation\/status\/1751318487879008349\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nixon&rsquo;s nuclear dream<\/a> to life?<\/p>\n<p>In the annals of American energy policy, few moments stand out as boldly as the unveiling of Nixon&rsquo;s nuclear agenda. His plan<em>, <\/em>set against the backdrop of the <a href=\"https:\/\/history.state.gov\/milestones\/1969-1976\/oil-embargo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1973 oil embargo<\/a>, was both a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nixonfoundation.org\/2016\/10\/26948\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">response<\/a> to the immediate crisis and a long-term strategy for the nation&rsquo;s energy security. One allure of nuclear power was its potential to diversify America&rsquo;s energy portfolio and market, providing a backup in case of a crisis in one sector. Nixon envisaged a future where America&rsquo;s cities and industries would be powered by the atom, reducing domestic risks associated with dependence on foreign oil.<\/p>\n<p>The rationale behind Nixon&rsquo;s nuclear ambition was sound. Nuclear power plants serve as a stable and reliable power source, unlike the intermittent nature of renewables such as solar and wind. With modern technological advancements, the safety and efficiency of nuclear plants have significantly improved, making them an even more attractive option for national energy grids.<\/p>\n<p>However, several factors derailed Nixon&rsquo;s nuclear dream. During the Cold War, concerns about nuclear proliferation were already mounting, particularly around civilian nuclear programs that could lay the groundwork for weapon development if nuclear energy expanded into <a href=\"https:\/\/nsarchive2.gwu.edu\/nukevault\/ebb268\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">politically unstable regions<\/a>. These proliferation concerns, combined with environmental fears intensified by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrc.gov\/reading-rm\/doc-collections\/fact-sheets\/3mile-isle.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Three Mile Island accident<\/a> in 1979 and later the <a href=\"https:\/\/world-nuclear.org\/information-library\/safety-and-security\/safety-of-plants\/chernobyl-accident\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chernobyl disaster in 1986<\/a>, significantly dampened <a href=\"http:\/\/large.stanford.edu\/courses\/2017\/ph241\/blackwood1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">public and political support<\/a> for nuclear energy. This climate of skepticism led policymakers to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nucnet.org\/news\/three-mile-island-led-to-sweeping-and-permanent-changes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">impose regulatory hurdles<\/a> on nuclear plant construction that ultimately proved insurmountable.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these setbacks, the underlying need for a robust and diversified energy portfolio remains. Today, as we grapple with the twin challenges of energy security and energy reliability, revisiting Nixon&rsquo;s vision offers valuable lessons. The global landscape has changed, and the need for consistent, reliable, affordable energy has never been more obvious.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Modern advancements in nuclear technology, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/newscenter\/news\/what-are-small-modular-reactors-smrs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">small modular reactors (SMRs)<\/a> and improved safety protocols, have addressed past concerns. SMRs offer the potential for lower capital costs, enhanced safety features, and flexibility in deployment, making them suitable for a variety of settings, including remote areas and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-strikes-blow-to-administrative-state-narrows-epa-authority-to-cap-carbon-emissions\/\" title=\"Supreme Court Strikes Blow To Administrative State, Narrows EPA Authority To Cap Carbon Emissions\">existing power plants<\/a>. SMRs are becoming the reactor of choice for companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/observer.com\/2024\/10\/amazon-google-microsoft-nuclear-power-ai-ambitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Microsoft and Amazon<\/a> that seek to power their AI technologies.<\/p>\n<p>A concerted effort is required from policymakers and industry leaders to realize the potential of nuclear energy. Streamlining regulatory processes, investing in research and development, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/1st-us-ai-executive-order-not-enough-to-compete-with-china-industry-leaders-lawmakers\/\" title=\"US AI Executive Order Insufficient to Match China: Experts, Legislators\">fostering public trust<\/a> through transparent communication and community engagement are of the utmost importance. Additionally, investing in deep geological repositories and recycling technologies will be required to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">provide permanent waste storage solutions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>My colleagues and I at the Texas Public Policy Foundation recently released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texaspolicy.com\/expanding-american-energy-the-case-for-nuclear-revival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">research<\/a> addressing these challenges while also providing a roadmap for policymakers interested in reviving the atomic age. To accelerate the adoption of nuclear energy, we recommend that the U.S. military, with its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admins-104-million-energy-plan-will-see-pentagon-covered-in-solar-panels\/\" title=\"Biden&#039;s 4M energy plan: Pentagon to be adorned with solar panels\">significant energy demands<\/a> and presence in Texas, should lead nuclear technology development through microreactor pilot projects in ERCOT, while Texas streamlines permitting with a centralized contact, federal delegation, and proactive site selection supported by early meteorological and seismic data collection.<\/p>\n<p>Richard Nixon&rsquo;s nuclear vision may have been overly optimistic, but the desire to leverage nuclear power as a reliable and secure energy future remains imperative. As we face the future of increased energy demand, embracing a diversified energy strategy that includes nuclear power is the key to meeting our needs and ensuring a resilient energy grid. Revisiting and updating <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nixonfoundation\/status\/1751318487879008349\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nixon&rsquo;s dream<\/a>, with the benefit of modern technology and lessons learned, will pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      A proud Texan, Greyson Gee is a policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Before coming to the Foundation, he worked with the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. You can find him on X at @greysontgee.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump supports nuclear energy, citing its advantages amid rising electricity demands<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3546,"featured_media":2371570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Nuclear-Plant-Cooling-Tower-Skyline.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[23222,41210,3634],"class_list":["post-2371569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-nixon","tag-nuclear-power","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Nuclear-Plant-Cooling-Tower-Skyline.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3546"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2371569"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2371573,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371569\/revisions\/2371573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2371570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2371569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2371569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2371569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}