These wind farms would need about 200,000 acres of land, a precious commodity not always available in or near metropolitan areas with high electricity demand. That means the nation increased its electricity capacity without the added environmental burdens of constructing and operating large power plants. Over the last 40 years, these waste management programs have worked so well they have set an example for effective hazardous material management that is only now becoming the standard in many other industrial activities. We must make informed choices based on a complete understanding of our options and our hard-earned experience. That experience demonstrates that nuclear energy is an important tool in meeting the common goals of energy security and environmental protection.
Nuclear energy helps keep our economy strong and our air clean.
That role will continue as we face the challenges of the new millennium. Since the first oil embargo in 1973, nuclear plants have curbed the emission of 87 million tons of sulfur dioxide and 40 million tons of nitrogen oxide.