The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recently suggested that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) needs to consider the potential impacts of climate change on nuclear power plants during its licensing decisions. This comes in light of the fact that the current 94 operating commercial reactors in the U.S. were designed for a climate that is now changing, thus presenting potential risks.
Climate change poses several threats to nuclear facilities, which include worsened droughts that affect water supplies used for cooling reactors, as well as sea level rise and storm surge flooding. The GAO has found that the NRC primarily uses historical data, not future climate projections, to assess safety risks, which may not accurately represent the new challenges posed by a changing climate.
Data collected from both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the NRC reveal that most operating U.S. nuclear plants face major hazards that are increasing in frequency and severity due to global warming. These hazards include major hurricanes and related flooding.
Senators Tom Carper (D-Del) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), who are supporters of nuclear power expansion, requested the GAO report. The report identifies six natural hazards exacerbated by climate change that could jeopardize the safe operation of nuclear reactors.
The GAO report has criticized the NRC’s use of historical data instead of climate projection data in its licensing and oversight processes. The report deems this approach inadequate for addressing climate change risks to nuclear power plants. Instead, the GAO recommends that the NRC assess if its licensing and oversight processes adequately address climate change risks. It also advises the NRC to develop a plan to address any identified gaps, and finalize guidance on incorporating climate projections data into its processes.
This report underscores the increasing importance of considering climate change and its impacts in all aspects of government decision-making, particularly in areas as critical as nuclear power plant operation and safety. The NRC’s response to these recommendations will be closely watched and could set a precedent for how other regulatory bodies incorporate climate change considerations into their decision-making processes.
Science4Data is committed to cut through greenwashing and measure real impact. Join the journey to a sustainable future. Your actions matter.
