Ahead of the Southern States Energy Board annual meeting this week in Chattanooga, nuclear energy advocates in our region have many reasons to be excited about the future.
Tennessee, TVA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Tennessee Valley Corridor have been leaders in nuclear energy development and deployment for the past 80 years. Stretching from the TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama to the heartbeat of DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex and on to Nuclear Fuel Services in northeast Tennessee, today we have access to some of the most cutting-edge nuclear research, technology, talent and production in the country.
Increasingly, young people are attracted to this expanding field. The University of Tennessee’s nuclear engineering department just enrolled its largest class ever, making it the biggest and best in the nation. Tennessee Tech in Cookeville began offering a nuclear engineering degree this fall. Roane State Community College started a new nuclear technology program last month, and Chattanooga State is reporting a significant enrollment increase for its nuclear power technology program.
Why all the excitement among students? Jobs in nuclear energy are interesting, pay well and have exceptional job security. There are more than 230 nuclear companies in Tennessee located at more than 350 different sites. Students looking at the current and future employment landscape can see an ascending opportunity.
The Pew Research Center recently reported that 56% of Americans, regardless of age, support more nuclear energy in our country. Here in Tennessee, more than 60% of voters support maintaining nuclear energy in the state with an emphasis on next-gen technologies.