Nuclear power capacity is expanding around the world. Currently, there are dozens of nuclear power plants under construction with even more planned. Last week, India reported that it would construct 10 more nuclear power plants while Japan has moved to restart two nuclear reactors. China is building many plants that will start to come online in the next few years.
Even after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, nuclear power is in demand because it remains a relatively environmentally friendly and economical way to generate electricity. While nuclear ambitions are increasing across the globe, stateside things have really come to a standstill.
The US is the world's largest economy and it is the world's third most populous country. Its nuclear power plants are aging and so far there has not been a concrete effort to replace them. According to NPR, five plants closed in the last 5-years, and five more will shut in the next decade.
So, what gives? America's nuclear power industry faces slowing demand for electricity, and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables. But, while the US is a dominant economy, global nuclear power demand can grow rapidly even without America's participation.
Nuclear power growth is being dominated by the developing countries, in particular, India and China. Together, these two countries' have over eight times as many people as the US. Also, unlike in the US, demand for electricity is growing as the people in these countries move up the wealth chain, creating a greater demand for electricity. The other major factor: while in the US there are viable alternatives to nuclear power for electricity generation, in these developing countries, in many cases nuclear power is the best option.