Is nuclear energy a reliable source of electricity?
Nuclear energy is proven to be a stable, reliable way to produce electricity for Texas and for the country. Texas’ two nuclear plants, South Texas Project and Comanche Peak, have been safe, consistent producers of inexpensive electricity for three decades. The nation’s 104 nuclear units supply about 20 percent of the electricity used in the United States. Power plant reliability is measured by capacity factor—the percentage of electricity actually produced, compared to the total potential electricity that the plant is capable of producing. The average capacity factor for U.S. nuclear plants was 89.9 percent in 2006, compared to coal at 71.1 percent, wind at 30.3 percent and solar at 18.8 percent. Plus, nuclear energy comes from an abundant supply of relatively low-cost uranium that is mined in countries that are friendly to the United States, such as Canada and Australia. Nuclear operations are not effected by changing weather conditions or the fluctuating price of Middle Eastern oil.
