While in France, the relaunch of nuclear energy is largely based on the highly publicized construction program six new high power reactors, known as EPR 2, in the United States, the strategy is completely different. Across the Atlantic, the renaissance of civilian nuclear power consists mainly of increasing power and keeping the 94 reactors of the historical fleet, the largest in the world, in operation as long as possible. The latest illustration to date: the Monticello reactor in Minnesota just got the green light from the US nuclear watchdog to operate until 2050, or for a total of 80 years.
