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mand is also due to the lower CO2 emissions profile of natural Another issue is increased regulatory burdens due to new gas(it produces approximately half the CO2 emissions as that or expected rules from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission produced by coal,on average). (NRC)and EPA. In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi As for electric generation usage,natural gas can be used to accident in Japan,the NRC issued several safety-related rules generate electricity in a variety of ways.The most basic natural which have a large cumulative cost.The cumulative effect of gas-fired electric generation consists of a steam generation unit, these regulations will impose significant additional costs with where natural gas is burned in a boiler to heat water and pro- minimal safety upgrades,both of which could be a challenge for duce steam,which then turns a turbine to generate electricity. the nuclear power industry. Gas turbines and combustion engines are also used to generate The construction of new,large-scale,nuclear facilities also electricity.In these types of units,instead of heating steam to faces challenges,such as the ability of the owners to get financ- turn a turbine,hot gases from burning fossil fuels(particularly ing and the regulatory approvals necessary to move forward but, natural gas)are used to turn the turbine and generate electricity. despite these challenges,three new large nuclear facilities are Despite these benefits,concerns with natural gas include either operating or close to operating as of this writing.These significant historic and anticipated price volatility,infrastructure new facilities have moved forward because nuclear energy pro- costs,the need for additional pipeline construction in certain duces no CO2 or air emissions(e.g.,SO2 and NON),and is an parts of the country,the need for operational and scheduling extremely reliable source of base-load generation once the power modifications for natural gas delivery to electric generators, plants are up and running. limitations on natural gas storage capabilities,and emissions. A promising new technology that might spur even more new nuclear is that of small modular reactors(SMRs).These smaller Nuclear scale plants are less expensive and require less infrastructure. Nuclear was responsible for 19.5 percent of total U.S. Several APPA members are actively exploring deployment of this generation and 17.1 percent of total public power generation technology. in 2015.The main challenge associated with existing nuclear facilities is the disposal of nuclear waste,which has been a highly Oil politicized issue.Nuclear facilities also have high capital costs Oil was responsible for 0.7 percent of total U.S.generation and given the complexity of the units and safety features that must 0.1 percent of total public power generation in 2015. In the be included and monitored on an ongoing basis, continental United States,oil is primarily used for emergencies, Natural Gas Consumption by Sector Batson CA4 u.:Feet 12 WC MOO 7 scc S .',1/►' 2S o tau 196tI 19;o ta8ti 490 2e00 �(7tCk —Natural abs Consumed by the Residental Sector Natural Gas Consumed by Me C;xnrnemal Sector —Natural Gas Consumed by the In/Arabia!Sector,'rotat Natural Gas Consumed by the Transporat on Sec to%Total --Natural Gas Consumed by the Elerdiic Penner Sector Source:U.S.Energy Information Administration PubUcPower.org 21 203