About Nuclear Energy
	Worldwide, 439 nuclear plants provide about 15 percent of the world’s electricity production. Nine countries rely on nuclear energy for at least 40 percent of their total electricity, with France leading the way at nearly 80 percent.   France adopted nuclear energy decades ago as the best way to be energy independent since the country produces no coal or oil. France, a country about the size of Texas, has 59 reactors and the lowest electric bills in Europe.   Yet the U.S. is the largest nuclear energy producer in the world with 104 nuclear plants in 31 states. U.S. nuclear plants generate about 20 percent of the country’s electricity production.   The oldest U.S. operating plant is located in Oyster Creek, New Jersey, which began operations in 1969.
	Nuclear makes up the largest percentage of electricity generated in six states in 2007:
			Vermont	74%
			South Carolina	51%
			New Jersey	51%
			Connecticut	49%
			Illinois	48%
			New Hampshire	46%
	Clean Energy
	The generation of nuclear energy produces no greenhouse gases or air emissions. Together with renewable energy options, nuclear energy is critical to meeting our environmental and energy goals. In 2006, U.S. nuclear plants prevented carbon dioxide emissions equal to taking 99 percent of all passenger cars off America’s roadways.
	Efficient and Reliable Energy
	Over the past two decades, nuclear power plants have achieved increasingly higher capacity factors with the same or greater levels of safety. The average capacity factor for U.S. plants in operation in 1980 was 56 percent; in 1990, 66 percent; and in 2007, 92 percent.
	Affordable Energy
	Since 2001, nuclear power plants have achieved the lowest production costs between coal, natural gas and oil. Fuel costs account for 27 percent of the overall production costs of nuclear power plants. Fuel costs for coal, natural gas and oil, however, account for more than 75 percent of the production costs.
	Public Supports Nuclear Energy
	A national poll conducted in June 2008 by Zogby shows 67 percent favor nuclear energy, 23 percent oppose and 10 percent are undecided.