It is within this background and strategic environ-
ment that nuclear energy is examined. The national
security interest areas of energy independence, ener-
gy security, climate change, economics, public health
and safety, and nuclear terrorism and proliferation are
considered. Aspects of sustainability are considered
within each area.
Energy Independence
During the January 26, 2009, White House address,
President Obama stated: “Today, I’m announcing the
first steps on our journey toward energy indepen-
dence, as we develop new energy, set new fuel effi-
ciency standards, and address greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions” (Obama 2009). The concept of energy in-
dependence can be expressed in terms of absolute or
strategic energy independence. Absolute energy inde-
pendence means a country produces all of its own en-
ergy, which was largely the case in the United States
prior to 1950, as reported by the American Energy
Independence (AEI) website (AEI 2010). Strategic en-
ergy independence means a country allows imported
energy, but only if the imported energy does not create
vulnerability, such as economic, political, or military
vulnerability (AEI 2010). For example, strategic energy
independence might be achieved by the United States
while importing petroleum from Canada and Mexico,
whereas it would not be achieved when dependent on
imports from the Middle East. It has been argued that
U.S. energy policies under Presidents Nixon, Ford,
and Carter, which were influenced by the Arab oil
embargo of 1973, eventually lead to strategic energy
independence for the United States during the period
from 1982–1985 (AEI 2010).