The existing nuclear fleet is essential in giving the Joe Biden administration time to expand the capacity of renewable generating sources, the White House’s climate czar said Tuesday.
Nuclear energy provides a “very stable baseload” of electricity generation, national climate adviser Gina McCarthy said at a virtual event hosted by the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy Tuesday.
“It’s going to be essential in a number of areas to continue [nuclear energy generation] while we build out our transmission system and look for other opportunities,” McCarthy said.
The Biden-supported CLEAN Future Act classifies nuclear energy as a clean energy source, opening the industry up to government grants and subsidies.
Biden’s climate czar added Tuesday that she didn’t think nuclear would be a long-term generator, even with federal financial assistance.
“I don’t expect those old ones to be around a long time, but I do expect them to be safe,” McCarthy said.
