Nuclear power is a significant part of the clean energy toolbox in an effort to fight climate change, notably because nuclear power does not release any greenhouse gas emissions in its operation. It's also seen as a particularly useful resource because unlike solar and wind, nuclear power is dispatchable and not intermittent-- nuclear could serve as the clean source of baseload generation. Concerns exist surrounding economics and many people's fears about nuclear technology (though plenty of arguments are available for why such fears are largely unfounded), but all the same the U.S. nuclear fleet is poised as a part of the climate change fighting paradigm in the utility sector.

But are the almost 100 nuclear reactors across the United States ill-prepared for the effects of climate change and vulnerable to being rendered useless by the very climate situation they're touted as being able to solved?

That's the question asked by a recent Bloomberg article that graphically highlights how many of the existing nuclear plants are located near significant flood zones-- areas where floods will become more severe and frequent if the effects of climate change aren't mitigated. The Bloomberg review specifically found that "54 of the nuclear plants operating in the U.S. weren't designed to handle the flood risk they face. Fifty-three weren't build to withstand their current risk from intense precipitation; 25 didn't account for current flood projections from streams and rivers; 19 weren't designed for their expected maximum storm surge. Nineteen face three or more threats they weren't designed to handle."

Is the current placement of nuclear reactors in the United States short-sighted and at risk of putting a significant source of U.S. carbon-free energy in danger? Is this an opportunity for the small modular reactor push to tout its ability to be located in non-flood zones? Are there safety measures that can be taken to fortify those nuclear plants in areas where flooding could interrupt their production? Let's discuss in the comments...