Nuclear 101
Overview
Nuclear energy represents a powerful and reliable cornerstone of America’s all-of-the-above energy strategy. This technology harnesses the energy found within the nucleus of an atom to provide a steady supply of electricity. Through nuclear fission, uranium atoms split, releasing heat. Much like traditional power plants, nuclear facilities use this heat to create steam, which then spins turbines to generate electricity for our homes and businesses. What sets nuclear apart is its ability to provide this 24/7 baseload power with zero carbon emissions, as it produces electricity without burning fuel. By understanding these fundamentals, we can better appreciate how nuclear energy secures our grid and supports American energy independence.
The United States is currently the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, with commercial reactors consistently generating about 18–20% of the nation’s total electricity. As of 2026, approximately 94 commercial reactors are operating at over 50 power plants across 28 states, providing essential energy for millions of Americans. These facilities are reliability leaders, boasting a “capacity factor” of over 92%, which simply means they run at full power almost 24/7 to provide a consistent and stable supply for the electrical grid. This robust operating landscape ensures that nuclear energy remains a primary contributor to a diverse and resilient domestic power portfolio.
Investing in nuclear power bolsters energy independence that can shield our electric grid from foreign market volatility. This technology serves as a major economic driver, creating high-paying jobs and generating vital tax revenue that supports the growth and stability of local communities. The expansion of nuclear energy, including the development of flexible Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), demonstrates a commitment to innovation and land-use efficiency. By championing reliable and domestic power sources, Energy Right ensures that our energy future is built on a foundation of economic strength and national security.
Nuclear Basics: Turning Atoms into Electricity
At its most basic level, a nuclear power plant works like a giant steam engine. Instead of burning coal or gas to create heat, it uses nuclear fission—the process of splitting uranium atoms—to generate the heat needed to boil water and create steam.
The Core Components
Whether it is a massive traditional plant or a modern SMR, most facilities share these essential parts:
The Reactor Core
The “heart” of the plant, where uranium fuel is stored, and atoms are split to create heat.
Control Rods
Safety devices made of neutron-absorbing materials (like boron) that can be raised or lowered into the core to speed up, slow down, or stop the reaction instantly.
Coolant
Usually water, which flows through the core to carry the heat away so it can be used to make steam.
Turbine and Generator
The steam pushes the blades of a giant turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity for the grid.
Containment Building
A thick, steel-reinforced concrete dome designed to protect the reactor and keep any radiation safely sealed inside.
Nuclear power plants generate heat through nuclear fission. The process begins in the reactor core. Atoms are split apart -- releasing energy and producing heat as they separate into smaller atoms. The process repeats again and again through a fully controlled chain reaction.
Control rods made of neutron-absorbing material are inserted into the core to regulate the amount of heat generated by the chain reaction.
Reactor coolant water picks up heat from the reactor core. Reactor coolant pumps circulate this hot water through a steam generator, which converts water into steam.
The steam is used to drive a turbine, which generates electricity.
Throughout the process, the pressurizer keeps the reactor coolant water under high pressure to prevent it from boiling.
Traditional Plants vs. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
While the basic science is the same, SMRs represent a major technological leap in how we build and operate nuclear power.
Land Use Impacts
Nuclear energy is characterized by its remarkable spatial efficiency, producing massive amounts of electricity on a compact physical footprint. A typical facility requires a relatively small area of land to house its reactors and support infrastructure, making it an ideal solution for regions where land conservation is a priority. Nuclear facilities require cooling to keep the reactors safe and absorb the heat produced during the reaction. Typically, a nuclear plant is built near a large body of water, like a lake or river, but man-made reservoirs can also be constructed near a project to provide the water necessary for cooling. This high energy density allows local governments to generate significant power while preserving the surrounding landscape for agriculture, wildlife habitats, or other community uses. This efficiency is further enhanced by Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which feature a significantly reduced physical profile and can often be sited on retired industrial land or integrated into existing power grids with minimal new
land disturbance.
The management of spent fuel is also handled with extreme spatial efficiency. To put the volume into perspective, all the used nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. nuclear energy industry over the last 60 years could fit on a single football field at a depth of less than 10 yards. Currently, this material is safely stored on-site in steel-lined concrete vaults or dry casks. Because the volume is so small, it does not require expansive landfill space or large-scale industrial acreage, allowing the facility to maintain a contained operational area.
Responsible land use for nuclear energy further includes the careful stewardship of water resources and long-term infrastructure planning. Modern designs—particularly SMRs—utilize advanced cooling technologies, including “dry cooling” or passive systems, that significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for large external water sources. Furthermore, because nuclear plants can operate for 60 to 80 years, the land remains productive for generations. This longevity avoids the need for frequent clearing of new sites, providing a stable, long-term economic partnership with the host community.
Economics
Nuclear energy serves as a uniquely powerful economic engine due to its role as a firm, baseload power source that provides the reliable energy density required for modern industrial growth. Unlike energy sources that fluctuate with external conditions, nuclear power plants provide a steady “capacity factor” often exceeding 90%, ensuring that high-energy industries can operate around the clock without the need for massive backup systems. This reliability creates a massive windfall for the surrounding area, as a single plant can provide hundreds of high-paying, multi-generational jobs for local residents. These facilities also contribute millions in annual tax revenue, which helps fund local schools, roads, and emergency services for decades.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) change the game by making nuclear power much easier to afford and build. Instead of building one massive, custom plant that takes a decade to finish, SMRs are built in parts in a factory and then shipped to where they are needed. This factory-style assembly makes the process faster and more predictable, much like building a car on a production line. Because they are smaller, companies don’t have to spend billions of dollars all at once. They can start with one small unit to begin making money, then add more units later as they need them. This makes nuclear energy a realistic option for smaller towns and private companies that couldn’t afford a traditional giant power plant.
Model Ordinance
If a company ever proposed an SMR, it would go through extensive federal and state review and public process by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and other agencies. These reviews cover safety, water supply, seismic activity, and emergency planning. NO Virginia county has no authority over those processes.
If an SMR were ever proposed, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would oversee design, operation, and safety requirements, including any potential evacuation planning.
definition
Small modular nuclear reactor facility. A utility generating station, also referred to as SMR, which includes a nuclear reactor that produces electrical energy of less than 300 MWe. The reactors are modular in form, having been fabricated elsewhere and transported for assembly at the facility location.
requirements of an smr project
- Allowed by CUP, not by right
- 65 dBC noise limit, measured at property line
- Construction considerations: Traffic, timing and noise
- Decommissioning Plan
- Meaningful Community Engagement
- Emergency Planning alongside local, state and federal
- Facility must comply with state and federal regulations
- Water Considerations
- FAA considerations
requirements of an smr project
300 ft, increase setbacks to 500ft with buildings over 60ft.; consideration of cap to building height
- Setbacks: for transmission substations– 200ft setback and buffer
- Adjacent to commercially-zoned property - 35 feet buffer and setback
- Adjacent to arterial roads - 150 feet buffer and setback
- Adjacent to collector or local roads – 100 feet buffer and setback
- Interstate and limited access road - 50 feet buffer and setback
- Along roads providing general circulation within the conceptual master plan, 35 feet buffer and setback
- Consideration around nearby residents: sites should be typically sited near low-density residential areas or not at all
Myth Busting
Myth: SMR’s are not safe
- Their smaller size means they produce less heat, reducing the risk of overheating.
- SMRs are designed with advanced safety features that allow them to be safely turned off and restarted, unlike conventional reactors.
- They are less vulnerable to external threats such as earthquakes and meltdowns.
- SMRs require fewer operators and safety officers, and their simpler designs minimize the chances of mechanical failures.
- The small size of SMRs reduces the impact of potential incidents.
Myth: Nuclear Energy Is Dirty
Nuclear power is considered a “clean” energy source because it produces almost no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making it a carbon neutral option for electricity generation compared to fossil fuels. The “exhaust” you see rising from the curved towers of a plant is actually just water vapor used for cooling.
Myth: Nuclear Plants Emit Dangerous Levels of Radiation
Power plants do not emit more radiation than you receive naturally each year from the sun. Strict nuclear safety protocols mean that most of a plant’s radiation is blocked by the specifically designed steel and
concrete structures.
Resources
- Duke Energy Nuclear Myths
- U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy
- Excelsior Nuclear Myths
- Goochland, VA Ordinance
- National Laboratory of the Rockies
- NEI How a Nuclear Reactor Works
- Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium
- Department of Energy Advanced SMRs
- Dominion Energy: Nuclear Facilities
- Virginia Strategic Plan for Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Workforce
- The Economic Impact of the Nuclear Industry in the Southeast United States
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Nuclear Engineers
- NEI Virginia Fact Sheet
