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Nuclear power has been touted as a proven, safe way of producing clean energy, but why isn’t it more widely adopted?

Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images

As the world pushes toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, nuclear power has been touted as the way to bridge the energy gap — but some, like Greenpeace, have expressed skepticism, warning that it has “no place in a safe, clean, sustainable future.”

Nuclear energy is not only clean. It is reliable and overcomes the intermittent nature of renewables like wind, hydro and solar power.

“How do you provide cheap, reliable and pollution-free energy for a world of 8 billion people? Nuclear energy is really the only scalable version of that, renewables are not reliable,” Michael Shellenberger, founder of environmental organization Environmental Progress, told CNBC.

Governments have started to pour money into the sector after years of “treading water,” according to a report by Schroders on Aug. 8.

According to the report, there are 486 nuclear reactors either planned, proposed or under construction as of July, amounting to 65.9 billion watts of electric capacity – the highest amount of electric capacity under construction the industry has seen since 2015.

Nuclear the only cheap, reliable way to produce zero-carbon power in a scalable way: Advocacy group

Only a few years ago, the International Energy Agency had warned that nuclear power was “at risk of future decline.” The report in 2019 said then that “nuclear power has begun to fade, with plants closing and little new investment made, just when the world requires more low-carbon electricity.”

Schroders noted that nuclear power is not only scalable, but much cleaner — emitting just 10-15 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour. That’s competitive with both wind and solar energy and substantially better than coal and natural gas.

Nuclear power is also the second largest source of low carbon energy after hydro power, more than wind and solar combined, Schroders said.

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Shellenberger’s view is that renewable energy is reaching the limits of what it can achieve in many countries. For example, hydroelectric power is not viable in all countries, and those that have them are “tapped out,” which means they cannot exploit any more land or water resources for that purpose.

Nuclear power is a great alternative, with “very small amounts of waste, easy to manage, never hurt anybody, very low cost when you build the same kind of plants over and over again,” he added.

That’s the reason why nations are having a second look at nuclear power, Shellenberger said. “It’s because renewables aren’t able to take us where we need to go. And countries want to be free of fossil fuels.”

Nuclear safety

Twelve years after Fukushima, we’re just getting better at operating these plants. They’re more efficient, they’re safer, we have better training.

Michael Shellenberger

Environmental Progress

In an interview with CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” last week, Adam Fleck, director of research, ratings and ESG at Morningstar, said the social concern around nuclear power is “somewhat misunderstood.”

While the tragedies in Chernobyl and Fukushima cannot be forgotten, using nuclear is one of the safest ways to produce energy, even taking into consideration the need to store the nuclear waste.

There hasn't been a 'significant tragedy' related to nuclear waste storage, says Morningstar

“Many of those [storage facilities] are highly protected. They’re protected against earthquakes, tornadoes, you name it. But there’s a reason why there hasn’t been a significant tragedy or concern related to storage of nuclear waste.”

Shellenberger said: “Twelve years after Fukushima, we’re just getting better at operating these plants. They’re more efficient, they’re safer, we have better training.”

There have been new designs for nuclear power plants that have also enhanced safety, “but really what’s made nuclear safe has been the kind of the boring stuff, the stuff of the trainings and the routines and the best practices,” he told CNBC.

Too expensive, too slow

So, if nuclear has been a tested, proven and safe way of generating power, why isn’t it more widely adopted?

Fleck said it boils down to one main factor: cost.

The extra time that nuclear plants take to build has major implications for climate goals, as existing fossil-fueled plants continue to emit carbon dioxide while awaiting substitution.

Greenpeace

“I think the biggest issue of nuclear has actually been cost economics. It’s very costly to build a nuclear plant up front. There’s a lot of overruns, a lot of delays. And I think, for investors looking to put money to work in this space, they need to find players that have a strong track record of being able to build out that capacity.”

But not everyone is convinced.

A report by global campaigning network Greenpeace in March 2022 was of the position that besides the commonly held concern of nuclear safety, nuclear energy is too expensive and too slow to deploy compared to other renewables.

Greenpeace noted that a nuclear power plant takes about 10 years to build, adding “the extra time that nuclear plants take to build has major implications for climate goals, as existing fossil-fueled plants continue to emit carbon dioxide while awaiting substitution.”

Nuclear-free campaigner says the nuclear industry is a 'high cost, high risk' one

Furthermore, it points out that uranium extraction, transport and processing are not free of greenhouse gas emissions either.

Greenpeace acknowledged that “all in all, nuclear power stations score comparable with wind and solar energy.” However, wind and solar can be implemented much faster and on a much bigger scale, making a faster impact on carbon emissions and the clean energy transition.

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Nuclear power is a “distraction” from the “answer we need” — such as renewables and energy storage solutions to mitigate the unreliability from renewables, said Dave Sweeney, a nuclear analyst and nuclear-free campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation.

“That’s the way that we need to go, to keep the lights on and the Geiger counters down,” he told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Friday.

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Prime Day-2 Green Deals: Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus, GE 2-in-1 washer/dryer, Lectric e-bikes, EcoFlow, Jackery, Aiper, Greenworks, more

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July 9, 2025

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Prime Day-2 Green Deals: Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus, GE 2-in-1 washer/dryer, Lectric e-bikes, EcoFlow, Jackery, Aiper, Greenworks, more

It’s the second day of the Prime Day seasonal savings and we’ve got another jam-packed edition of Green Deals focusing on some of the best discounts we’ve spotted so far, with all the others rounded up in our Prime Day Green Deals hub here, which is regularly being updated throughout the days, so be sure to check back often. Leading our top three picks today is Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Plus Portable Power Station and its bundle packages, which are seeing up to $7,994 in savings to new low prices starting from $2,564. Next, we have GE’s Smart Combo Electric Washer & Dryer with Ventless Heat Pump at its $1,750 low, as well as Lectric’s full Better Than Prime Day sale that is taking up to $654 off e-bike bundles starting from $799. All that and much more are waiting for you below.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

You can save up to $7,994 on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Plus station + bundles at new low prices for Prime Day starting from $2,564

As part of its ongoing Prime Day Sale running through July 13, Anker SOLIX is dropping the prices lower than ever on its new F3800 Plus Portable Power Station starting at $2,564.05 shipped, after using the promo code PDSG5OFF at checkout for an extra 5% in savings – plus, you’ll be getting a free protective cover to boot! We saw this model drop from its $4,799 MSRP to hit a short-lived former $2,649 low in the brand’s early Prime Day sale, which is getting beaten out here by $85. It’s also beating out its current Amazon pricing of $2,699 (usually keeping between $2,999 and $3,899), with the combined 47% markdown here giving you a massive $2,235 in savings at the best new price that we have tracked. And don’t forget about all its bundle options we’ve collected below that are also down at new lows through the weekend.

Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Plus, as well as its standard F3800 predecessor, are the brand’s largest expanding backup units that start at a sizeable 3,840Wh LiFePO4 capacity, with further investments bolstering that capacity up to a 26,900Wh maximum (when six batteries are attached). It has 15 output port options to connect devices, appliances, and vehicles – with the latter being covered by the L14-30R and TT-30R ports for EVs and RVs. You’ll get up to a steady 6,000W power output normally, while it can surge as high as 9,000W when needed. That output even expands when two stations are paired together, raising the rate to 12,000W for home backup coverage.

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In terms of recharging, the F3800 Plus brings an additional method to the table with its 6,000W input it can receive from a gas generator, while its solar input max has increased to 3,200W (from 2,400W). Of course, there’s also the usual AC outlet charging and more to keep it juiced up and running.

***Note: these prices below haven’t had the extra savings factored in yet, so don’t forget to use the promo code PDSG5OFF at checkout to score the very best deals!

Anker SOLIX’s Prime Day F3800 Plus standard deals/bundles:

Anker’s SOLIX Prime Day F3800 Plus home backup bundles:

To also checkout the pricing on its standard F3800 counterpart and bundles, be sure to check out our full coverage here.

GE 2-in-1 smart combo electric washing machine and dryer

Save space or double up with GE’s 2-in-1 smart combo electric washer/ventless heat pump dryer at its $1,750 low

As part of its Black Friday in July Sale, which is running parallel to Amazon’s Prime Day Sale event, Best Buy is offering a returning low price on the GE Profile 4.8 Cubic-Foot Smart Combo Electric Washer & Dryer with Ventless Heat Pump down at $1,749.99 shipped, which is beating out the brand’s direct pricing by $249. While it usually goes for $2,900 at full price, at Best Buy it’s been more recently fetching $2,700, with discounts having kept the costs between $2,000 and $2,200 in 2025. The last time we saw prices fall this low was during Best Buy’s Black Friday sale, with this being the first time it showed up in the new year with $950 in savings at the best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this unit, be sure to check out our original coverage of the deal here.

Lectric XPress 750 e-bike

Lectric’s Better Than Prime Sale offers up to $654 in free gear with e-bikes starting from $799

Lectric’s Better Than Prime Sale is in full swing with up to $654 discounts across its e-bike lineup, which includes the preorder deal on the new XP Trike2 and increased bundles on the new XP4 e-bikes. Sadly, if you were hoping to score the XPedition 2.0 Dual-Battery Long-Range Cargo e-bikes, they are out of stock following the July 4th sale, but the brand has since restocked another popular model, the XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes that come with $336 in free gear at $1,299 shipped. The bundles are the same as the last few sales we’ve seen, which would normally run you $1,635 in full were it not for the usual savings – not to mention the $200 off option for a spare battery to double its range (found on its landing page). All-in-all, you’ll be getting a steel-encased rear cargo rack, fenders to go over both tires, an Elite headlight upgrade, and a suspension seat post. Head below for more on this and the other models seeing savings during this limited-time event.

If you want to learn more about this model or get the full rundown of e-bike deals we’re seeing during this sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

EcoFlow Prime Day power station sale

Power outdoor adventures with EcoFlow’s stations and bundles at up to 62% off in Prime Day savings starting from $199

EcoFlow’s Prime Day Sale is in full swing and lasting through July 11 with up to 62% off its power stations and solar generator bundles – plus, there’s extra savings to score using the promo code EFPDAFF5 at checkout for an additional 5% off your order. Among the many units we’re seeing at some of their lowest rates, a notable standout to cover your trips into the wilds, jobsites, and emergency needs is the DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator bundle that comes with a 500W solar panel (4 x 125W) for $1,281.55 shipped, after using the promo code. This newer package would usually run you $2,699 at full price, with it only available directly from the site. At Amazon, the closest matching bundle you can find gives you the station with a 400W panel for $1,279, meaning you’re getting the brand’s largest portable panel for just $3 more. The combined 53% markdown here gives you $1,417 in savings at the best price we have tracked. Head below for more of the best deals we’re spotting during this sale.

If you want to learn more about this power station or get the full lineup of power station, solar generator bundles, and add-on accessory savings, be sure to check out our full coverage of the sale here.

Aiper Surfer S2 robotic solar pool skimmer

Let Aiper’s Surfer S2 robot worry about skimming your pool while being powered by the sun at new $280 low

As part of its ongoing Prime Day event, the official Aiper Amazon storefront is offering its popular Surfer S2 Robotic Solar Pool Skimmer at $279.99 shipped. It carries a $400 MSRP, but at Amazon, we’ve been seeing it keep down at $340 lately, with discounts usually taking things to $320, and one previous discount to $300 from last month. Today’s deal brings you a new all-time low, giving you $120 off its price tag for the best deal we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this popular model, be sure to check out our full coverage of the deal here.

Jackery Prime Day power station sale

Jackery’s full Prime Day Sale with up to 65% discounts, bonus savings, free gifts, and more sees return and new lows from $89

Jackery has switched over to its full Prime Day Sale through July 11 with up to 65% discounts on power stations, solar generators, and more – plus, there are extra savings, limited stock free gifts, and membership benefits too. Among the offers this time around, we’re seeing returning and new low prices on Jackery’s new HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station and its bundle options, starting from the station on its own at $1,614.05 shipped, after using the promo code PRIME5 at checkout for an additional 5% off, which beats out the Amazon pricing by $85. This new model (also known as the Explorer 3000 v2) hit the market back in May carrying a full $2,499 price tag, and which discounts brought down to $1,699 for the first time during the early Prime Day Sale. That low price is returning here, with the extra 5% savings making things all the better for a second chance at the best pricing we have tracked, saving you $885 in the process.

If you want to learn more about this all-new power station, or browse the full lineup of deals we’re seeing during this sale, be sure to check out our full coverage here.

greenworks pro 2,700 psi electric pressure washer

Greenworks’ Pro-tier 2,700 PSI electric pressure washer falls to new $285 low for Prime Day, more

As part of its ongoing Prime Day deals event, Amazon is offering the Greenworks Pro 2,700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer at $284.99 shipped, which is beating out the brand’s direct pricing by $15. It normally fetches $400 at full price, with discounts having kept above $320 before this week. It fell to $300 at the beginning of Prime Day, but has since dropped lower to this new all-time low price. You’ll be saving $115 off the going rate while the savings last, upgrading your outdoor cleaning game at the best price to date.

If you want to learn more about this model’s capabilities, as well as browse the lineup of electric pressure washer deals we’re seeing, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Volkswagen’s 47% BEV sales jump includes a 24% boost in the US

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4 hours ago

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July 9, 2025

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Volkswagen’s 47% BEV sales jump includes a 24% boost in the US

Volkswagen-EV-sales-Europe
Volkswagen ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen Group‘s global EV deliveries surged by about 50% in the first half of 2025 year-over-year, with 465,500 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) delivered globally by the end of June.

That’s a 47% jump in BEV deliveries from 317,200 in the first half of 2024. BEVs made up 11% of Volkswagen Group’s total global sales, up from just 7% a year ago.

Europe saw the biggest growth in BEVs in H1 2025, where deliveries nearly doubled, up 89%. The US saw solid gains too, with a 24% increase. China was the outlier, with BEV sales slipping 34%, thanks to stiff competition from domestic brands. Even so, Volkswagen Group remains the BEV market leader in Europe, holding onto a 28% share. “One in five vehicles we delivered in Western Europe is now purely electric,” noted Volkswagen Group’s Marco Schubert.

Plug-in hybrids saw a solid boost, too. Volkswagen Group delivered 192,300 PHEVs worldwide in the first half of the year – a 41% jump from the 136,800 sold during the same period in 2024. The latest wave of second-gen PHEVs, with all-electric ranges of up to 143 km (about 89 miles), is helping drive that demand.

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VW Group reports that its best-selling BEVs globally are:

  • Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 84,900
  • Volkswagen ID.3 60,700
  • Audi Q4 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 44,600
  • Volkswagen ID.7 (incl. Tourer) 38,700
  • Škoda Enyaq (incl. Coupé) 38,700
  • Audi Q6 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 36,500
  • Škoda Elroq 34,300
  • Volkswagen ID. Buzz (incl. Cargo) 27,600
  • Porsche Macan 25,900
  • CUPRA Born 22,100

Read more: Say hello to the ID. Buzz AD: VW’s fully autonomous ride is here

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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The new Nissan LEAF EV is already facing production cuts, but that’s not the whole story

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5 hours ago

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July 9, 2025

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The new Nissan LEAF EV is already facing production cuts, but that's not the whole story

New-Nissan-LEAF-EV-production

Nissan is already pulling back production plans for the new LEAF, which is set to launch later this year. As it scrambles to turn things around, this could further complicate Nissan’s recovery plan. And there’s even more going on behind the scenes.

Nissan scales back new LEAF EV production plans

The new LEAF is expected to be one of the most significant factors in Nissan’s comeback. In May, Nissan announced plans to reduce its global workforce by around 15% and close seven plants as part of its restructuring.

Last week, it began talks with workers at its Sunderland, UK, plant, where the new LEAF will be built, over voluntary retirement.

According to a new report from Japan’s Kyodo News (via Reuters), Nissan is already cutting production plans for the next-gen LEAF ahead of its launch later this year. The report cites a shortage of rare earth minerals due to China’s new export restrictions.

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No specific details were mentioned, but a separate Automotive News report claims Nissan is also delaying two EVs that were scheduled to be built at its Canton, Mississippi, plant.

Nissan-LEAF-EV-production
2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan

An internal memo revealed it would delay production by around 10 months. Nissan cited “recent slowing EV demand in the US,” thanks to the Trump Administration eliminating the federal tax credit.

It will now begin production of the Nissan-branded model in November 2028 and the Infiniti-branded version in March 2029.

Nissan-leaf-EV-production
2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)

Nissan spokesperson Kyle Bazemore said, “We’ve made the strategic decision to slightly adjust the production timeline for our EVs at the Canton plant.” It looks like Nissan is adjusting more than just that.

Adding to that, Nissan suspended production of three vehicles made in the US, according to a report from Nikkei on Wednesday. Nissan halted production of the Pathfinder and Murano at its Tennessee plant in May, as well as the Frontier pickup, which is built in Mississippi.

Electrek’s Take

As part of its recovery plan, Re:Nissan aims to cut costs by 250 billion yen as it seeks to return to profitability by the end of fiscal year 2026.

However, if it continues to delay production, Nissan will only fall further behind. The Japanese automaker is already losing market share to EV giants like BYD due to its aging vehicle lineup.

The new LEAF is expected to be a key growth driver over the next few years, with significant improvements in range, style, and charging capabilities. Facing a shortage, how many LEAFs will Nissan be able to build?

Nissan is the latest automaker to adjust its EV plans following Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Honda recently canceled plans to launch its three-row electric SUV in the US.

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