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The completion of the new units at the Alvin W. Vogtle electric plant has sparked a debate about the future of nuclear power in the United States. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has declared that the country must triple its output of nuclear energy by 2050 to meet climate goals, despite the challenges faced by the Vogtle plant, which was seven years behind schedule and nearly $20 billion over budget. The Biden administration is championing more Vogtle-size projects and small modular reactors, but experts say that reviving the nuclear industry will require a big new infusion of federal cash. Despite the challenges, the United States is fast losing its dominance over nuclear energy, with other countries like China, India, and South Korea making significant investments in nuclear power.
