Is Nuclear a Value?
Nuclear disaster or nuclear savior – I’m still not quite sure if I’m truly ready to move forward with this. I’m beginning to think it’s mainly because I’m largely uninformed on the subject. It surprised me to realize just how little I actually knew about the nuclear world. I did well in school, kept up with the news, and listened to what my peers had to say. I even have a master’s degree, yet when it comes to nuclear energy or technology, my knowledge felt surprisingly limited.
Is that intentional, or has no one noticed?
The last reactor to come online in the 90’s was Watts Bar 1, located in Spring City, Tennessee. It is a pressurized water reactor type, with its operating license currently set to expire in 2035. With just ten years remaining on this license, many questions arise: What will happen during this final decade of licensed operation? Will the reactor continue to function smoothly, or are there significant changes anticipated? Furthermore, is the end-of-life designation for a nuclear reactor truly the same as the end of its useful operational life, as we might consider for other types of industrial equipment? These considerations are important in understanding the future prospects and management of such critical energy infrastructure.
Not the actual Watts Bar One but an image of what I image.
From a facilities point of view, managing and operating a nuclear facility undoubtedly represents a significant step up from handling standard commercial properties. The heightened complexity, stringent safety requirements, and intensive operational demands combine to create a far more challenging and critical environment to oversee effectively. This makes the role not only more demanding but also essential for ensuring both safety and smooth functionality.
In essence, the infrastructure can be understood as nothing more than a large generator, much like all other nuclear reactors around the world, but it operates by using an expensive and long-lasting fuel source. After the major incidents at Three Mile Island in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986, the Watts Bar One plant was already in its commissioning phase and moving steadily toward startup. Given the recent history and public concerns at the time, it was almost certainly under intense scrutiny and subjected to strict regulatory oversight before they finally flipped the switch to “on.”
But then comes the incredible technological advancement of small modular reactors, which are quite different from the traditional Pressurized Water Reactors and Boiling Water Reactors. There are also Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors, High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors, and Graphite-Moderated Reactors—each designed as efficient electrical generators. It’s truly fascinating to see how these innovations push the boundaries of energy production. I like to think of this progress much like the evolution of car engines. Early engines ran on dirty, oily fuel; then came coal, diesel, leaded gasoline, unleaded fuels, racing fuels, ram intakes, and fuel injection systems—all advancing steadily to squeeze the maximum power out of the least amount of fuel possible.
Advancing past the carbon heavy fuels will happen, has happened, now we plot the course forward to educating the public in process and procedure uses.
The question, as of writing this, is how have we, the public, learned to embrace and incorporate nuclear energy into our daily lives, ultimately making the nuclear future our future? It is estimated that around 5 million deaths a year are caused by emissions from fossil fuels, along with another 1.3 million deaths linked specifically to fossil fuel-powered vehicles (according to data provided by the World Health Organization). This stark reality shifts the conversation from “how safe is nuclear?” to the more nuanced question of “how safe are the people using nuclear technology?” The answer, quite realistically, is that it will take time to fully understand and manage these risks. Much like the early days of automobile use—when accidents related to design flaws and improper use were sadly common—progress only came after legislation, improved standards, and increased public awareness made things safer. Fortunately, we’ve already faced and learned from a handful of setbacks in nuclear design, operations, and decision-making. The next big challenge will be capturing all of that critical knowledge and experience to ensure safe, effective scaling for the future.
Small modular reactors represent a promising and seemingly ideal next step in the ongoing evolution of nuclear energy use. They effectively eliminate many of the large-scale concerns traditionally associated with nuclear power by offering a smaller, more advanced, and potentially much safer alternative. As the demand on the power grid continues to grow rapidly, it is increasingly clear that both coal and hydroelectric power will likely struggle to keep pace with evolving generation needs. In my view, adopting a combined energy strategy involving solar, wind, and nuclear power could ultimately be the most effective and sustainable solution moving forward. For instance, installing solar arrays over sites where nuclear waste is securely entombed could maximize the use of otherwise underutilized land, turning potential liabilities into productive assets. Additionally, imagine designing cities with integrated wind tunnels—specially constructed and engineered to optimize natural wind flow—thus generating clean, renewable energy to power urban life with careful and thoughtful intentional design. Such a multifaceted approach could reshape how we think about energy production and urban planning simultaneously.
Windy Corridor Living
The technology doesn’t have to be an either-or choice between nuclear and renewable energy; instead, it can be a collaborative partnership that leverages the unique strengths and advantages of both sources. From a facilities management perspective, wind power could effectively serve as the reliable backup energy source when the nuclear plant undergoes its seasonal shutdown for essential maintenance and inspections. This means the relationship between the two isn’t just a simple on/off switch but rather a well-coordinated main and backup system that ensures a continuous, stable, and reliable power supply throughout the entire year, meeting energy demands without interruption.
The Windy Corridor Living community could provide a diverse range of amenities, including enjoyable activities such as kite flying for children, making it a fun and engaging environment for families. Additionally, residents could benefit from more affordable electricity costs, thanks to a new generation of power gadgets specifically designed to harness wind energy efficiently and sustainably.
Encouraging the next generation of engineers to deeply understand the complex and multifaceted concepts of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission will be absolutely vital in shaping highly skilled tradespersons. These individuals must be capable of competently operating the intricate machinery, managing the precision valves, and carrying out essential maintenance tasks with confidence and expertise. These tradespeople will serve as the crucial counterparts to the engineering teams who design the models, working hand in hand and collaborating closely with them to bring innovative and groundbreaking solutions to life. A diverse array of skilled professionals—including machining technicians, electricians, high voltage electricians, HVAC cooling water specialists, process pipe fitters, and welders—will all play indispensable and interconnected roles in building the advanced technology and robust infrastructure needed for the future.
