Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels has certain advantages—for example, it doesn't produce greenhouse gases or smog emissions. But nuclear power produces significant risks, as exemplified by the disaster at Fukushima and earlier accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. RAND has evaluated the operations of nuclear power plants in Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the United States to explore the benefits of nuclear energy in relation to the threats posed by nuclear power plants.

Dissertation
A Proposed Decision Framework for DoD Investment in Nuclear Energy Technology: Focused on Microreactors at DoD Locations in the U.S.
Proposes a decision framework to help DoD decisionmakers determine whether an investment in nuclear energy technologies is worthwhile.
Oct 5, 2022
Journal Article
Estimating Nuclear Proliferation and Security Risks in Emerging Markets Using Bayesian Belief Networks
Estimating future nuclear proliferation risk using expert elicitation.
Jan 21, 2022
Journal Article
Pathways to 2050: Scenarios for Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy
Climate change is among the most profound challenges of all time, and the private sector is an essential partner in any decarbonization pathway. Timely business leadership can help ensure choices that are beneficial for both companies and society as a whole.
Jun 4, 2019
Report
Technological Lessons from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
How was technology used to address the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan? Lessons from this event can help inform preparation for and response to future emergencies.
Jun 1, 2016
Report
Overcoming Obstacles to Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies
If nuclear fission is to play a big role in the future of the U.S. energy supply, a more cost-effective type of nuclear power plant must be commercialized. But there are barriers to commercializing next-generation nuclear reactors. How can policymakers overcome them?
Aug 31, 2015
Commentary
Ebola and Syria's Chemical Weapons Show U.S. Can Leave Nothing to Chance
There are key takeaways from the Ebola outbreak, Syria's chemical weapons, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The U.S. and its international partners should view these events as learning opportunities that could help improve preparedness and response capabilities before the next crisis strikes.
Jul 9, 2015
Commentary
Breaking Down Nuclear Waste as a Two-Part Issue
The U.S. Department of Energy is now planning separate repositories for commercial waste and the waste from the military's nuclear weapons production instead of disposing of both in the same repository as originally intended. Decoupling different parts of the nuclear waste problem is a small but positive step forward.
May 5, 2015
Testimony
The Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2013
The Nuclear Waste Administration Act (S. 1240) appears to strike a balance between the competing values of public accountability and insulation from political influence, write Lynn Davis and Debra Knopman.
Aug 14, 2013
Commentary
San Onofre Risk Factors
The ongoing effort to open a spent fuel repository in the U.S. demonstrates the magnitude of the technical and political challenges of such an undertaking, writes Tom LaTourrette.
Jun 20, 2013
News Release
Examining Different Forms of Organizations for Managing and Disposing of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive ...
A federal government corporation and an independent government agency are the two most promising models for a new organization to manage and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States.
Jan 11, 2013
Report
Examining Different Forms of Organizations for Managing and Disposing of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste
A federal government corporation and an independent government agency are the two most promising models for a new organization to manage and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States.
Jan 11, 2013
Research Brief
Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Radioactive Materials
RAND researchers describe the attributes of potential organizational models and the steps needed to choose the form of a new organization charged with managing and disposing of commercial and defense high-level radioactive materials.
Jan 11, 2013
Multimedia
Nuclear Energy after Fukushima
At this March 2012 program, physical scientist Tom LaTourrette discusses the pros and cons of nuclear energy, and sheds some light on lessons learned in the year since Japan's nuclear disaster in Fukushima.
Mar 8, 2012
News Release
Attention to Societal Priorities Can Help Guide Nuclear Waste Management Policy
To break the impasse over how to deal with spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants, policymakers should focus on how various waste management strategies address societal priorities related to nuclear energy.
Nov 15, 2010
Testimony
Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies
Testimony presented before the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future on November 15, 2010.
Nov 8, 2010
Report
Attention to Societal Priorities Can Help Guide Nuclear Waste Management Policy
To break the impasse over how to deal with spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants policymakers should focus on how various waste management strategies address societal priorities related to nuclear energy.
Nov 5, 2010
Journal Article
Informed Public Preferences for Electricity Portfolios with CCS and Other Low-Carbon Technologies
Public perceptions of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and other low-carbon electricity-generating technologies may affect the feasibility of their widespread deployment.
Sep 1, 2010
Commentary
Dialogue Can Stop Iran at the Nuclear Threshold
Published commentary by RAND staff: Dialogue Can Stop Iran at the Nuclear Threshold, in the Financial Times.
Apr 4, 2006
Report
Nuclear Power in Eastern Europe: Learning or Forgetting Curves?
Nuclear Power in Eastern Europe: Learning or Forgetting Curves?
Jan 1, 2004
Report
Managing Waste With and Without Plutonium Separation
This study examines whether reprocessing and plutonium recycle will make radioactive waste management more effective and economical.
Jan 1, 1999

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Nuclear Energy

A Proposed Decision Framework for DoD Investment in Nuclear Energy Technology: Focused on Microreactors at DoD Locations in the U.S.

Estimating Nuclear Proliferation and Security Risks in Emerging Markets Using Bayesian Belief Networks

Pathways to 2050: Scenarios for Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy

Technological Lessons from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Overcoming Obstacles to Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies

Ebola and Syria's Chemical Weapons Show U.S. Can Leave Nothing to Chance

Breaking Down Nuclear Waste as a Two-Part Issue

The Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2013

San Onofre Risk Factors

Examining Different Forms of Organizations for Managing and Disposing of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive ...

Examining Different Forms of Organizations for Managing and Disposing of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste

Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Radioactive Materials

Nuclear Energy after Fukushima

Attention to Societal Priorities Can Help Guide Nuclear Waste Management Policy

Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies

Attention to Societal Priorities Can Help Guide Nuclear Waste Management Policy

Informed Public Preferences for Electricity Portfolios with CCS and Other Low-Carbon Technologies

Dialogue Can Stop Iran at the Nuclear Threshold

Nuclear Power in Eastern Europe: Learning or Forgetting Curves?

Managing Waste With and Without Plutonium Separation

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