Why should nuclear power plants be prioritized during restoration efforts?

Nuclear power plants should be prioritized during restoration efforts primarily due to their susceptibility to loss of cooling accidents if service is not restored quickly. When a nuclear plant experiences a disruption of power or cooling systems, it can lead to critical safety risks, including overheating of the reactor core. The decay heat generated by radioactive isotopes continues even after the reactor is shut down, necessitating continuous cooling to prevent potential meltdowns.

Restoring service to these facilities quickly is vital to maintaining their cooling systems and ensuring the safety of the plant and environment. This urgency is not as pronounced in other types of power plants, such as fossil fuel plants, which may have different operational protocols regarding startup and safety measures. Therefore, the priority given to nuclear plants in restoration efforts aligns with the paramount importance of public safety and operational integrity.