Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Power

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Are you concerned about the state of how we generate energy? If so, the decisions made about energy sources should be of interest to you. Nuclear power is one of the world’s most used energy resources derived from nuclear reactors. Many homes, industries, and companies use nuclear power. Today nuclear power rivals several other renewable and nonrenewable resources of energy because it is cost competitive and carbon free. Nuclear power is beneficial to society because it is relatively low costing, environmentally friendly, and a reliable energy source.
Nuclear power was not always used for energy production. According to Nuclear Illinois, nuclear power was only used in making bombs before 1945 and during World War II. “In December 1942, under …show more content…
Nuclear power is a base loaded power source, meaning that it can generate dependable power on a consistent basis satisfying minimum demand. Why Nuclear Energy? Nuclear power is so secure because it is not subject to change due to weather conditions, unpredictable fuel cost fluctuations or over-dependence on foreign suppliers (10 Important Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Plants). In the article “Why Nuclear Energy” by National Energy Institute, Americans use nuclear power ninety-four percent of the maximum possible making it the highest used energy source. Nuclear power plants are good investments for the long run making it cost competitive (Diaz, 2011). In the article “10 Important Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Plants” by Green Garage Blog, uranium, the energy source of nuclear power plants, are relatively less expensive to obtain than other fuel sources since it can easily be refined from rocks. It also addresses that nuclear power plants last for up to sixty years, eliminating the need of spending more money in making new power plants. Environmentally, nuclear power limit the effects of global warming accounting for three fourths of the worlds carbon-free power making it the largest contributor (Diaz, 2011). Less money is spent addressing the pollutants of nuclear power. Overall nuclear power produced an abundance of reliable …show more content…
Initially, nuclear power plants cost the most in in start-up costs (Diaz, 2011). In the article “10 Important Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Plants” by Green Garage Blog, it states, “building nuclear power stations require a large amount of money since they need special materials and equipment that can handle nuclear energy. Constructing them also require a large amount of time, which means it takes years before a new plant can become operational.” Realistically, no nuclear power plant is safe from an accident. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on March 11 2011 is a recent example that clearly illustrates how dangerous nuclear energy can be. Large amounts of radioactive waste by products of the nuclear energy are harmful to humans and the environment. According to “10 Important Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Plants” by Green Garage Blog, “waste have high temperatures and emit large amounts of radiation so, if they are improperly disposed and dumped in forests, lakes, and other areas, they can easily pollute the land and bodies of water and destroy plants and animals in the vicinity.” Nuclear power will not reach its full potential if it remains a finite resource. Uranium right now is an abundant resource but, just like fossil fuels, uranium will undoubtedly deplete (Maehlum, 2013). Most importantly, it can be very dangerous and adversely affect human health and the environment when there is a nuclear
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