Monday, Jun 27, 2022, 10:30 am Nuclear News

Tanya Hamilton is a NC State University nuclear engineering alumna, class of 1991. She has provided our Nuclear Engineering Undergraduate Committee (NEUC) with valuable industry feedback for many years. She moves onto our Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council (NEDAC) starting 2022-23. At the May 2022 Nuclear Engineering Graduation Ceremony, she was our keynote speaker, and was inducted into the NC State Nuclear Engineering Wall of Fame as recognition for her longstanding contributions to the field.

How do you grow a nuclear team? At Duke Energy, we do it by being reliable, innovative, and forward looking. Since 1967, we’ve been growing our nuclear generation to produce life-essential, carbon-free electricity for millions of customers in our communities. Safe, reliable, cost-effective nuclear generation.

Nuclear generation is an essential component of Duke Energy’s overall climate strategy, with the goal of net-zero carbon emissions from electric generation by midcentury. Net zero is achieved when greenhouse gas emissions are counterbalanced and removed from the atmosphere, achieving “climate neutrality.” Duke’s nuclear fleet produces more than 50 percent of the electricity consumed by our Carolinas customers and more than 80 percent of the carbon-free electricity generated company-wide. In 2021, our nuclear fleet matched its record capacity factor of 95.7 percent and avoided the release of 50 million tons of carbon dioxide.

It’s safe to say that the generation landscape has changed. Where once there were questions of how nuclear fits into net zero, now there’s a recognition that to reach net zero, nuclear is essential. The world needs net zero, and net zero needs nuclear.

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