• North Carolina is considering a bill, this bill would label nuclear energy as clean energy.
• The bill will change North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to include nuclear energy listed as a clean energy source.
• Currently, the bill is in the North Carolina House Rules Committee, it is uncertain if the bill will pass the House and Senate.

In North Carolina, there is a bill that is being considered that will label nuclear energy as clean energy. Senate Ralph Hise passed this bill, the Senate Bill 678. 

This bill would amend North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to include nuclear energy as one of the clean energy sources. Currently, the RPS requires utilities in North Carolina to generate 12.5% of its electricity from renewable sources. One of those sources will hopefully soon be nuclear energy.

If the bill is passed, it would make North Carolina one of the first states to label nuclear energy as clean energy. North Carolina is also in a great position to become the leader in nuclear technology, especially if the bill gets passed. According to the DOE, nuclear energy helps power 28 states in the US, and Illinois has 11 reactors, the most in a state.

As an energy source, nuclear energy has one of the lowest death rates per unit of electricity produced. It is second in lowest deaths per unit of electricity produced, at 0.03 deaths per unit.

Labeling Nuclear energy as a clean energy source means there will be a low-carbon source of energy. Nuclear energy, being a zero harmful emission source, doesn’t produce greenhouse gasses, which majorly contributes to climate change. Nuclear energy is a reliable source of energy that’s able to operate 24/7. Additionally, it’s not affected by weather conditions. Which wind power, for example, can be affected by.