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Updated · The Associated Press · Apr 23Nuclear Power Sees Global Comeback Four Decades After Chernobyl
52 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Apr 23
- Nuclear energy is experiencing a global revival, forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, as countries seek reliable, low-carbon power sources.
- Over 400 reactors are operating in 31 countries, with about 70 more under construction; the US, China, and France are leading the expansion.
- The resurgence is driven by energy security concerns, climate goals, and improved safety, though debates over safety, waste, and costs remain.
Europe once shunned nuclear power. What is forcing its dramatic U-turn back to the atom? Nuclear power is back in favor, but can its massive costs ever compete with cheaper renewable energy? As AI’s energy thirst grows, can new nuclear reactors be built fast enough to power the tech boom? After Chernobyl and Fukushima, can new reactor designs truly guarantee safety against accidents or attacks? As the US and China race for nuclear dominance, who is winning the global battle for energy influence? Small reactors promise a nuclear revolution, but who will control the critical HALEU fuel they require?