The American nuclear renaissance has arrived in the nation’s capital. Washington, D.C., households interested in powering their homes with 100% nuclear energy can participate in a new program from Constellation Energy.
The company’s Nuclear-Powered Clean Electricity Plan is a 12-month-long pilot program offered to Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) customers residing in the District of Columbia. Residents can find plans for a year-long plan starting at 11.99 cents per Kilowatt hour (kWh) by plugging in their address and recent utility bill statements. For comparison, Washington-area households, including D.C., paid an average of 17.2 cents per KWh for electricity as of October 2024. Constellation said it plans to expand the program into other cities and municipalities in 2025.
“We’re proud to be the first to offer this zero-carbon energy source to American households. And we can think of no better place to pilot this program than our nation’s capital where nuclear energy enjoys strong bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats alike,” said Kathleen Barrón, Constellation’s chief strategy and growth officer, in a press release.
The District of Columbia is a fascinating backdrop to unveil this pilot program. Many Americans aren’t aware that our nation’s capital has limited energy infrastructure—in particular, no existing coal, natural gas, or nuclear power plants. The city currently imports 98% of its electricity from power plants in nearby states. Per the Energy Information Agency (EIA), D.C. is primarily powered by solar energy (59%), followed by natural gas (24%) and biomass (17%).
In September, Constellation made news when it announced a partnership with Microsoft to resurrect Unit 1 at Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear power station. The project will be renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC).
Support for nuclear energy is rising across the U.S.—with the majority of Americans (56%) now approving of this electricity source. However, building support among women is a challenge. As I noted at RealClear Energy/IWF recently:
Women are likely skeptical of nuclear energy due to memories of Soviet-era nuclear mishaps and the notorious Three Mile Island incident, as well as modern fearmongering from the media and radical environmentalists. But nuclear energy has come a long way since then and is now among the most promising technologies in terms of efficacy, safety, and environmental impact.
Of any electricity source, nuclear is the most reliable one in existence—working for about 93% of the year and boasting a 24/7 baseload. It’s the second largest electricity source after natural gas, supplying 18.6% of current U.S. electricity generation. Additionally, it produces zero emissions and boasts a very tiny environmental footprint to support a 1,000-megawatt (MW) facility.
Both the private and public sectors are bullish about nuclear energy projects. Investors see great promise in nuclear technology—especially the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). The incoming Trump-Vance administration, especially Energy Secretary-designate Chris Wright, is expected to boost nuclear power, similar to the first Trump term.
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