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Welcome to the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Web site. Our mission is to support the nation’s diverse nuclear energy programs. The purpose of this Web site is to provide information on our goals and activities and also to provide useful information about nuclear energy.
A plentiful, reliable supply of energy is the cornerstone of sustained economic growth and prosperity. Nuclear energy is an important source of energy in the U.S. , supplying 20 percent of the nation’s electricity. More than 100 nuclear plants are operated in the U.S. today to provide base load electricity reliably, affordably and without air pollution or emissions of greenhouse gases
Increasing the use of clean, safe nuclear power is a key component of the President's Advanced Energy Initiative and a key objective of the President's National Energy Policy. As such, a important priority of this office is to support expanded use of nuclear energy in the U.S. through programs such as Nuclear Power 2010 and through implementation of incentives enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that encourage building new nuclear plants in the U.S.
In February 2006, President Bush proposed a broad initiative in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership or GNEP aimed at stimulating an international regime that will support a large-scale increase in nuclear energy production for generations to come without increasing risk of nuclear proliferation and while reducing the volume and toxicity of nuclear waste requiring ultimate disposal. To achieve this vision, the U.S. has proposed an international fuel leasing regime where all countries can enjoy the benefits of nuclear energy without the need for all countries to invest in fuel enrichment or processing facilities. In conjunction with this, we are also working with international partners to develop advanced reactor and fuel treatment technologies that can consume the long-lived elements contained in used fuel while recovering their energy content.
As you explore this Web site, I hope you find the information useful that explains why nuclear power is a necessary part of our current and future nuclear energy mix, and what the Department of Energy is doing to support its development and use in the U.S. and abroad.
If you have any questions or comments concerning the Web site, please send them to the NE Webmaster.
Thank you for your interest.
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