The construction of up to 250 new 1,000-MW reactors – or 3,800 small modular reactors – could be part of a clean electricity energy system that could see the US reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, according to a study led by Princeton University researchers.

The study concludes that with a massive, nationwide effort the US could reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 using existing technology and at costs aligned with historical spending on energy.