Nuclear energy is considered clean from an air pollution perspective because it does not produce significant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or other air pollutants during electricity generation. Unlike fossil fuel-based power plants, nuclear power plants do not burn any fuel to produce heat for electricity generation, which means they do not emit carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), or particulate matter.
The primary process in nuclear power generation involves nuclear fission, where the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller nuclei, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This energy is used to generate steam, which drives turbines connected to electrical generators, producing electricity.