{"id":83,"date":"2025-12-08T23:35:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/?page_id=83"},"modified":"2025-12-19T18:20:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:20:26","slug":"korsnick-lecture","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/home\/duke\/korsnick-lecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Korsnick Lecture"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A New Landscape for New Nuclear<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Tomorrow’s Nuclear Energy<\/em> lecture series<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oct. 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m.<\/strong>
Stewart Center Fowler Hall<\/strong>
Presented by Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute<\/p>\n\n\n

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World leaders across the political spectrum are recognizing that adding reliable, scalable, carbon-free nuclear energy generation is crucial to addressing climate and energy security needs. As demand for the technology grows, nuclear is now on the same playing field as other carbon-free sources like wind and solar\u2014ready to reduce emissions and support the clean energy grid of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-lecture summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the nuclear industry,\u201d said Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reasons for this excitement are not just technological but also economic, Korsnick explained in her lecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Korsnick noted that the existing nuclear fleet already accounts for nearly 20% of all U.S. electricity. More advanced reactors in development, such as small modular reactors, show promise in expanding nuclear power\u2019s contribution to nationwide electricity generation. If 300 new small modular reactors are built over the next 25 years, the U.S.\u2019s nuclear power output would double, Korsnick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased construction and operation of nuclear reactor plants in the coming decades could generate hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of jobs. The Nuclear Energy Institute estimates that up to 75% of the workforce for the fossil fuels industry could transfer to the nuclear power industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jobs in building and operating advanced nuclear reactors will be available to the current generation of college students. Korsnick emphasized the importance of this generation in becoming the workforce nuclear power needs to help unlock a zero-carbon future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to use every clean energy source at our disposal. Nuclear is the most reliable and scalable source we have,\u201d she said. \u201cShutting down nuclear power plants endangers both climate goals and energy security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Korsnick described how recent legislation on both the federal and state level is giving a boost to the nuclear power industry. She pointed out that bills Congress has passed since last fall are unprecedented in their support of existing nuclear reactors and the development of more advanced technology. In addition, more than 100 bills supporting nuclear power are moving through state legislatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese shifts in policy have provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity for nuclear development across the country \u2013 and it is one that we cannot afford to miss,\u201d Korsnick said. \u201cThere are really no red states and blue states when it comes to heating homes and keeping businesses running.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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