Nuclear Energy Institute

("Nuclear Power in the World Today"). The question remains whether or not nuclear power is a viable option for the future of the world’s energy requirements especially in light of the recent Fukushima facility disaster. Nuclear power offers many advantages compared to traditional means of energy productions, however its shortcomings are quite apparent and severe as well. This argument remains the reason why the industry hasn’t exactly prospered in the United States over the last 30 years.

Nuclear power is an alternative energy source with the visage of being clean and reliable, but also dangerous. Nuclear power as an energy source emerged after 1956, and is formed in a process called nuclear fission, in which a nucleus of an atom is split resulting in a large output of usable energy (World Nuclear Association). The decision to pursue the path of nuclear energy and to what extent is a highly debated topic in which experts are forced to weigh the risks and the rewards. The outcome of the nuclear energy debate can result either in a seemingly limitless supply of clean energy, or the decimation of hundreds of thousands of innocent human and animal lives due to nuclear meltdowns.

Nuclear power has been extensively criticised by health and environmental experts, and the public. Accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, dominate public opinion regarding nuclear energy. And indeed, when things go wrong, nuclear can be disastrous. Nuclear power is not a long-term solution. However, in terms of trying to reduce our carbon footprint, nuclear is far better than coal. Until we have appropriate energy storage, we won’t be able to fully rely on renewable energy. But if we are to meet the expectations set out in the Paris Agreement, we need nuclear. At least for now.

Firstly, the atomic incidents of Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Chernobyl in Russia are often mentioned as examples for nuclear plants being unsafe. In both cases failures of workers led to a meltdown in the reactors and increased radiation in the surrounding area (Henderson 12-17). And as the recent disaster in Japan shows, a nuclear crisis cannot only be caused by human mishaps, but also by unpredictable and untamable natural hazards. Consequently, nuclear crises cannot be predicted or prevented completely. Nuclear plants are, furthermore, considered uneconomical because in the eighties the construction costs of nuclear plants were underestimated and exceeded the estimation by $100 billion (Henderson 103). Therefore, the nuclear power opponents are arguing that nuclear power is burdening the American economy unnecessarily. According to the nuclear physicist Jeff Eerkens, antinuclear groups are also claiming that nuclear power is not necessary for the future since renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power will be providing sufficient energy for the United States, and are at the same time much cheaper than the costly nuclear power plants (Eerkens 20). Over all, opponents consider nuclear power to risky and inefficient to “deserve further support from U.S. taxpayers” (Henderson 104).

From an environmental standpoint, environmentalists feel that nuclear energy would be a good thing for the world. Mark Lynas, a British environmental activist said, “Anyone who still marches against nuclear today is in my view just as bad for the climate as textbook eco-villains like that big oil companies” (Van Munster 789). Ever since the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the power of atomic energy, the words ‘atomic’ and ‘nuclear’ have been Janus-faced prefixes. To people on the outside looking in, they match atomic and nuclear up to be danger, death, and destruction. Then there is other people that have the more positive perspective and see it as a strong sense of achievement and a promise of energy abundance. Nuclear energy and its positive utility could serve humans in many ways, such as in the medical, agricultural, industrial fields, and last but not least, the electricity through the nuclear power plants. Energy resources are important in any country, but nuclear electricity is one of the best ways to strengthen a country’s energy security by diversifying its resources and increasing energy supply options (Durrani 183). In developing countries like Pakistan, they desperately need ways to develop and secure their energy resources to sustain their economic growth. Unfortunately, the sustainability of their economic growth is at risk due to the energy

Nuclear power plants are a safe, clean and reliable source of energy production. They are uniquely qualified to meet the growing demand for energy in the USA.

Nuclear power was the world’s fastest growing form of energy in the 1990’s. However, presently it is the second slowest growing worldwide. Considering that nuclear power accounts for eleven percent of the world’s energy supply, one must ask what happened [Nuclear Power]. Why is it that the growth of nuclear power has almost completely stalled? The simple answer is that after meltdowns such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, many people are afraid of nuclear power plants, which causes great opposition to the expansion of the industry. Unfortunately, most people are not well informed about nuclear energy; many do not take the time to view its positives and negatives.

Throughout history, the source of energy that powers the world has advanced alongside technology. The power on which civilization thrives has to be in accordance to the demand at which it is required. As technology evolves, objects from which energy can be extracted can expanded exponentially. In the status quo, the United States is trying to limit the greenhouse gas emissions instead of just switching power sources which is the wrong direction they should be going in. [Thesis] Instead of wasting their time and money investing in burning coal as their main source of power, countries and their governments need to assist in the transition to a more cost effective and efficient form of energy in the form of nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy was likewise discovered to be useful in naval tactics and in sourcing electricity. As technology has significantly advanced and knowledge has expanded beyond measures, the realm of nuclear engineering has indeed achieved scientific milestones. In practice of modern times, nuclear energy is manufactured within power plants, capable of supporting an outstanding amount of electricity (World Nuclear Association). However, this limited method of energy production is thought to be dangerous. Nuclear engineering is certainly one complex subject and is foreign to the majority of the world population. Within a nuclear power plant, reactors are employed to force uranium ions to undergo the process of nuclear fission; nuclear fission is the separation of atoms, the smallest unit of matter. This splitting of uranium ions releases energy, thus, producing usable heat. Heat is crucial to not only nuclear energy production; rather, heat is necessary in all power plants. Such will then become the steam that gyrates turbines. These turbines are coupled with electromagnets which, finally, yield electricity (How Nuclear Reactors Work). One foremost flaw of nuclear power is the consequential radioactive waste that must be monitored for a long while following disposal. Nevertheless, as resources upon this planet are surely depleting, original forms of energy production are mandatory. In consideration of such, nuclear power plants have proved to be both efficient

Nuclear energy is the process of creating useful heat and electricity. The nuclear power debate is a controversy about the deployment and use of nuclear fission reactors to generate electricity from nuclear fuel for civilian purposes. The debate over the expansion of the nuclear energy program has been prominent over the last 4 decades. The debate really escalated during the 1970s and 1980s, when it "reached an intensity unprecedented in the history of technology controversies", in some countries. It is important for the expansion of human life and improving life as we know it. I firmly believe that we need to keep using and expand the use of nuclear energy due to the fact that it eliminates fossil fuel pollutants, it is sustainable and cost effective, and it improves overall human quality of life.

As the demands for energy increases, the United States needs to determine how it is going to meet the need. A range of options is needed for future generations and nuclear power is one suitable option. As with any option, it comes with its strengths and weaknesses. Presently, sixty-six percent of the United States energy comes from fossil fuel, while only nineteen percent comes from nuclear power; however, fickle oil prices are a sign that the era of abundant and cheap transportation fuel is ending. As the global necessity for electricity rises, the United States needs to turn to nuclear power as their solution.

The nuclear power plant has no home in our new advanced environment. Once upon a time, nuclear energy was a well and efficient way to produce energy, but it's 2018, not 1951. Over the course of history, the nuclear power plant was one of the first ways of using energy for commercial use. Especially with so many new inventions like the TV coming out, such energy like nuclear energy was amazing. Yet in the 21st century, it is nothing but a nuisance to our clean environment. It causes too many problems and no solutions. That is why nuclear energy should be one of the last results for energy. More environmentally healthy and safer solutions should be pursued. The nuclear power plant is an inadequate way to harvest energy due to its waste, cost, and accidents, yet some would argue that it is an efficient way to obtain energy.

As each year passes, more and more electricity will be made as a result of increased nuclear power plants around the world. The economic benefits of nuclear energy are equally advantageous as the environmental aspects.

The world's natural resources are being consumed at an alarming rate. As these resources diminish, people will be seeking alternative sources by which to generate electricity for heat and light. The only practical short-term solution for the energy/pollution crisis should be nuclear power because it is available, cleaner and safer.