The Breakthrough Institute offers a thorough, well-referenced analysis of how a global economy can not only survive without Russian energy, but thrive.

"Keeping Nuclear Power Online

The domestic and international dialogue on nuclear energy has evolved over the last decade, drawing increasing support for civilian nuclear power from scientists, scholars, activists, and thought leaders. Nations like Japan, the United Kingdom, and France have in recent years recommitted to their domestic nuclear power programs and to further nuclear deployment in the future.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine has turbo-charged this evolution.

• Sustain the operating fleet of power reactors and safely recommission closed nuclear power plants
• Prioritize scheduled maintenance for temporarily offline nuclear reactors and promptly restart operations

To reduce dependence on Russian fossil energy, reconsidering premature nuclear plant closures will have the most immediate effect in Europe. Nuclear power is the largest source of low-emission electricity in the EU. In 2021, several reactors were taken offline for maintenance and safety checks. Returning these reactors to safe operations in 2022 is of vital importance. Coupled with the start of commercial operations for the completed reactor in Finland, the EU can increase its nuclear power generation by up to 20 TWh in 2022.

"A temporary delay of European nuclear closures and continued safe operation of these facilities could prevent an increase of almost 12 bcm per year in EU natural gas demand. The additional 20 TWh of clean power produced via the restart of several nuclear reactors that were offline for maintenance in 2021 and the start of operations of the new reactor in Finland correspond to a further reduction of roughly 4 bcm of gas. If the plant owner/operator decides to close or extend the shutdown of a reactor (as was the case in Germany), the government must consider the needs of its collective society over the economic decisions of a utility and can incentivize or subsidize safe continued operation. Lengthy relicensing processes should be waived or put on hold for reactors that are still operational. They are formalities and should not be used as a smoke screen—especially for reactors with decades of operational experience.

"Through successive energy crises in Europe, Germany remained committed to shutting its nuclear plants. That may be changing. The threat of dependence on energy imports from a hostile Russia appeared to convince some German policy makers to consider reversing course. Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the German economic minister briefly expressed openness to the idea of keeping Germany’s last three operating nuclear power plants on line. South Korea also recently pivoted towards a national energy policy more open to nuclear energy. Policy makers should encourage these reversals by other nations and support the continued operation of nuclear plants that are scheduled to be prematurely decommissioned, including those currently operating in Belgium and the United States.

"Plans to prematurely close US nuclear plants should be reconsidered urgently, and actions by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that undermine progress toward achieving carbon emission goals—in particular, the recent NRC actions to reverse prior power reactor license renewal decisions—cannot continue.

"It is time for the Biden administration to invoke its powers and establish a National Directive to not only ensure continued operation of the currently operating nuclear power plants (including the endangered Palisades and Diablo Canyon nuclear stations), but also bring recently closed plants (e.g., Indian Point Unit 3, Pilgrim, Oyster Creek, Fort Calhoun, Vermont Yankee, and others in SAFSTOR or DECON status) back into service."