The Deadly Consequences of Shutting Down US Nuclear Plants.

A new analysis shows that shutting down nuclear power plants in the US and replacing them with fossil fuel plants would cause over 5,000 additional deaths each year, with Black Americans disproportionately affected. However, if renewables are present at sufficient levels to offset the loss of nuclear, almost all of these additional deaths can be avoided. The US currently doesn't have enough spare generating capacity to cover all its needs without nuclear power, and shutting down both nuclear and coal would require significant construction.