Major Nuclear Program

Local Project
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A major nuclear program would involve one country – or coalition of countries – planning and building a series of many nuclear power plants as part of a wider coordinated project. Historically, major national or provincial nuclear programs have been the only way nuclear power plants have been built in any significant quantity. For example, France, Sweden, and Ontario each built many similar nuclear plants over the course of 10-15 years, and shut down nearly all of their fossil fuel power plants. Such programs are also the only major historical examples of fossil fuel plants being shut down en-masse. For this reason, some see such nuclear build out as an effective climate solution. On the other hand, these programs would require significant expenditure, and need to both jump through numerous regulatory hoops, and overcome public skepticism linked to the ecological impacts and wider risks associated with nuclear energy.

Gameplay Notes

You must have at least 2 Regulation tags and 1 Society tag in this card's stack to take this action.
Discard 1 card from your hand, then add 2 Clean Energy tokens to your player board for each Nuclear tag in this card's stack.

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Learn More

The history of France’s Nuclear Program (French Embassy in the US)

Take Action

In the US and several EU countries, there are conversations about directly repowering fossil fuel power plants with nuclear reactors, making use of existing turbines and grid connections. Such a program would only happen by national government mandate. If done at scale this could help decarbonize the grid. If you feel nuclear energy might play an especially important role in a green energy transition where you live, you can contact political representatives to urge the implementation of a well considered nuclear program.

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