They also emit less radioactivity than many coal-fired plants. U.S. hydrocarbon reserves are limited. Hydro power is essentially used up. Solar is promising but geographically limited in application and resource intensive. Fusion is many years away and may never be economically competitive.
Uranium reserves are in contrast abundant.
Global markets are energy hungry. Access to nuclear energy thus becomes an important advantage in the worldwide economic foot race. Access to clean and inexpensive nuclear energy promises to speed economic development in the Third World and promote environmental responsibility. Burning wood in mud hearths is neither conducive to economic growth nor does it protect the environment. American nuclear technology is thus critical to ensuring Third World utilization of nuclear power is safe and that nuclear waste disposal is done in a thoughtful way worldwide.