Press Mention Chattanooga Times Free Press December 4, 2023
Topical Mention
US energy secretary says new small nuclear reactors must be built to meet global climate pledge
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U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited the Tennessee Valley Authority's Oak Ridge site to announce plans for America's first new generation of small modular reactors. Granholm stated that small modular reactors are essential to meet the nation's net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 and carbon-free power by 2035, as well as to support the global commitment to triple nuclear power by 2030. TVA plans to build up to four small modular reactors on the 935-acre Clinch River site.
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US energy secretary says new small nuclear reactors must be built to meet global climate pledge
December 5, 2023
by
Dave Flessner
| Updated December 5, 2023 at 9:30 p.m.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — A half century after pulling the plug on an earlier nuclear reactor design, the Tennessee Valley Authority is preparing the same Clinch River site to build America's first new generation of small modular reactors that a top Biden administration official said will be needed to curb global climate change.
"The United States has a goal of getting to net zero (carbon emissions) by 2050 and carbon free power by 2035," U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday during a visit to the Oak Ridge site where TVA is planning up to four small modular reactors. "We're not going to be able to do that and meet the goals that our world leaders expressed over at the COP28 (United Nations climate summit) to triple nuclear power by 2030 without small modular reactors."