Nuclear Energy | Non Renewable Energy: Eco20/20

Nuclear Energy: Non Renewable Energy

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Nuclear energy is not what is once was. Many people are afraid of the word alone. We must realize that in order to fix our air we must look at every resource that is available.

Nuclear energy is a non-renewable source. Despite it being finite, it is one of the cleanest producing energy sources. There are different models of nuclear reactors. Nuclear gives us the possibility to create large energy reserves at roughly the same cost as coal. The big difference between coal and nuclear is that nuclear power plants do not pollute the air. There are advantages and disadvantages to nuclear power. Read on, you will be amazed at some of the information. We are not here to change minds; we ask that you keep an open mind. There are dangers associated with Nuclear energy plants. The benefits may out way the costs of nuclear energy. We must make an educated decision. Therefore, we were very careful with how we picked information.

Nearly 20 percent of the United States energy consumption comes from nuclear power plants. Yet, a nuclear facility has not been built since 1973. In 2005 a US Department of Energy (DOE) task force co chaired by former Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) chairman Richard Meserve and former New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu recommended that the Federal government help revitalize the US nuclear power industry.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute in the 2008 Appropriations Bill, Congress allotted 970 million dollars toward the funding of various nuclear energy programs.

Energy Companies are asking for government funds. General Electric has stated that unless there are government incentives no nuclear plants will be built.

According to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, between nine and 19 companies are preparing applications for nuclear power plants. If all 19 are built it would provide enough electricity for 15-19 million U.S. homes.

There are many different kinds of Nuclear reactors. Nearly all of them create electricity by the use of nuclear fission. Research indicates that there are more then enough uranium reserves to meet our energy concerns for the foreseeable future. The major concern around nuclear reactors, stem from the waste that is produced by them. The more technology advances, the better the reprocessing of uranium rods become. Less toxic materials are left over due to reprocessing.

The World Health Organization says three million people are killed worldwide by outdoor air pollution annually from vehicles and industrial emissions, and 1.6 million indoors through using solid fuel. In the United States, fossil fuel waste kills 20,000 people each year.

Nuclear does not nearly have the same negative effect as other resources. Nuclear power plants produce 2000 tons of nuclear waste a year. Though this sounds like a lot, 100,000,000 tons of waste is produced from coal production. Nuclear is the world's largest source of emission free energy. Nuclear is much safer than fossil fuel. A National Cancer Institute study, showed no increase in the incidence of childhood leukemia in surrounding countries after start-up of nuclear facilities. It creates no harmful air pollutants and its waste is safely stored.

The immediate concern of carbon free emissions and clean air is vital. France gets 80% of its energy consumption from nuclear reactors. According to a 60 minutes article, France has the cleanest air of any industrialized nation and the cheapest electricity in all of Europe. The United States must take a serious look at nuclear facilities, it may be the quickest way to wean ourselves off of coal.

Nuclear is sustainable inasmuch that uranium is three times more abundant that silver. A great study on nuclear power has been compiled by MIT, it discusses the pros and cons in depth to nuclear power energy. The issues that arise on sustainability are the waste produced from the nuclear leftovers of which there will need to be some serious research and development.

Another legitimate concern is the public perception of nuclear. The Chernobyl disaster and the Three Mile Island incidents have had a long lasting impact on our nuclear outlook. The reactor used in Chernobyl was a design used only in the former Soviet Union. It has never been and will never be used in the United States. The U.S. regulatory agencies are very careful in overseeing nuclear reactors. The advancement of nuclear facility technology would make the Three Mile Island possibilities a thing of the past.

There is also the concern about vulnerability of nuclear plants to attack. This is a serious concern and all measures should be taken. However, this concern should not impact the way we look at nuclear energy. It is a clean, sustainable, non-renewable energy source.