By: John Gilleland, Ph.D, Chief Technical Officer
This election season has been one of the most divisive in recent history. And yet through the constant barrage of loudly stated opinions, there are still serious issues that voters care about. Close to our heart and that of many voters continues to be the need for responsible energy policies. The most recent data from Gallup reveals that more than 50 percent of Americans worry about the availability and affordability of energy.
Our next president, regardless of who it is, will need to pay attention to the energy debate. But we all know this is not problem specific to the United States; it is a global challenge.
The worldwide effects of climate change are very real and growing. More must be done, both here at home and around the world. Leadership from the next president and continued movement by the next Congress is important, as much of the world looks to the United States for leadership on such issues.
Energy policies that encourage investment in zero-carbon technologies and enhance innovation in these areas are key. These efforts must break the barriers for low-carbon, safe nuclear technologies that will help with the aforementioned issues of energy affordability and demand.
We are making progress. Just a few days from now, the landmark Paris Agreement – uniting world leadership behind ambitious efforts to combat climate change – will enter into force. This is an important step, given recent research by the World Energy Council (WEC) that shows global energy demand will peak by 2030. Policies that enable faster commercialization of zero-carbon technologies, like advanced nuclear, can mitigate climate effects and meet this growing energy demand.
Enacting forward-thinking energy policies now will greatly prosper future generations. Companies like TerraPower are developing real solutions to make this a reality. We encourage the new administration and other world leaders to help us keep the lights on for generations to come.
