Comparison of Green Energy and Nuclear Energy

The United States of America has officially bought into the concept of global warming and climate change. The President of the United States Barrack Obama has issued a challenge to the scientific community. He wants 80% of the US energy generation to be from clean green technology by the year 2035. Currently the United States creates about 15 to 20% of its energy through green methods such as natural gas, hydroelectric, solar and wind.

Nuclear energy requires a substantial upfront investment to build the power plant, around five to ten billion dollars. Once that investment is made nuclear energy is one of the safest most efficient means of energy generation that human beings have come up with thus far. So why is it that nuclear energy is not promoted in the United States as a measure to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels which are a finite resource and most of which have a significant environmental impact? How does nuclear energy compare to the other green energy methods?

Nuclear energy generation causes zero greenhouse gases or acid rain effects. This puts it a step ahead of any fossil fuel technology currently available, even the green ones like natural gas and clean coal when it comes to managing harmful emissions.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for solid waste. However, solid waste is more condensed and manageable than emissions. Nuclear plants do create liquid waste that needs to be stored for a very long time. While America does have a very developed disposal/storage program paid for by the proceeds from selling the energy generated by nuclear plants it does not have the capacity currently that would allow for a significant increase in the number of nuclear power plants within the United States. The costs of decommissioning and waste disposal are fully reflected in the price of nuclear energy.

This liquid waste does place nuclear energy behind the true green technologies like solar and wind. Both solar and wind have zero by-products associated with their method of energy generation.

Nuclear power is currently the most efficient means of power generation technology available hands down. There is no comparable green technology currently.

One might guess that the fear of a nuclear explosion plays a large part in the demonization of nuclear energy but the fact is that there has never been a nuclear explosion from a nuclear plant on American soil. The chances of one ever occurring are incredibly remote due to all of the safety precautions taken. Unfortunately it is not only the fear of an accidental explosion that reduces enthusiasm for nuclear energy. The fear of giving the enemy, whoever they may be, a target for sabotage is ever present in post 9-11 America.

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• Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Isn't as Efficient as You Think
• Micro Nukes May Save the Field of Nuclear Energy
• Is Nuclear Power Clean Energy?
• Comparison of Green Energy and Nuclear Energy
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