Nuclear energy is facing some difficult challenges as well as numerous opportunities in the years ahead. This presentation will discuss the importance of nuclear energy in meeting global climate change targets, the difficulties experienced by some currently operating plants and some ideas to preserve these important national assets. It will also cover recent advances in advanced reactors, including small modular reactors. It will also briefly include a discussion of a new project by the American Nuclear Society to identify the Nuclear Grand Challenges that would lead to significantly improving the delivery of nuclear science and technology solutions for the betterment of humankind.