GEC Report Finds 80 Coal Plant Sites Suited for Repowering with Nuclear

Some U.S. environmental justice communities have historically benefited from jobs in mining coal and running coal plants. But as these plants close, the communities are getting left behind and continue to experience legacy effects of air, land, and water pollution. Policymakers, nuclear developers, and coal plant owners need to ramp up their engagement to help these communities prosper in a rapidly transitioning energy system. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are one option for providing cleaner energy and comparable jobs to communities around the country.

With data from our friends at the University of MIchigan’s Fastest Path to Zero initiative, we analyzed the 300-odd U.S. coal plants where units have retired since 2010 or will retire by 2045. When we removed sites with environmental hazards, state nuclear restrictions, and generation of either too much or too little power, we found as many as 80 sites that make the most sense to explore repowering with advanced nuclear energy. 

Check out the full report to see how many of these sites are in your state, and let us know what you think!

• Landing page
• Executive Summary
• Full Report

West Virginia Takes Another Look at Nuclear

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, Jessica is presenting on how advanced nuclear energy could work for West Virginia. The state’s long ties to coal made local leaders wary of nuclear energy and contributed to several statewide restrictions against building nuclear plants. Now, however, some state lawmakers are giving nuclear a second look. Several of them will speak at the information session hosted by the Ohio River Valley Institute, West Virginia Rivers, West Virginia Climate Alliance, and the West Virginia University College of Law Center for Energy and Sustainable Development. The program will run live for the public from 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm ET.

Register here: Feasibility of Advanced Nuclear in West Virginia

Jessica on What a Progressive Approach to Nuclear Looks Like
 

Jessica hit the Canadian podcast airwaves over the weekend to share more about her scholastic path to nuclear, the collective’s origin story, the big takeaways of our coal-to-nuclear report, and what industry needs to do—and not just say—to change public perception on nuclear. 

Listen to Jessica in conversation with “The Rational View” host Al Scott 
 

Good Energy Collective is making the progressive case for nuclear energy in a just, climate-friendly future. We invite you to chip in if you are able and share broadly with your networks.