| ead use of nuclear energy will eradicate a large | | | | in fact, an environmentally friendly form of renewable |
| portion of fossil fuel use. A nuclear fission reaction | | | | energy; despite the reservations of the |
| produces massive quantities of power which pushes | | | | environmentalists. The volume of waste material is |
| scientists to develop technology with which to | | | | comparatively small and secure storage and |
| harness this energy. | | | | technologies for the long term disposal of these |
| Nuclear power plants are amazingly efficient and | | | | wastes are being developed. |
| produce relatively small amounts of waste. A nuclear | | | | Splitting atoms releases energy in the form of heat |
| power plant generates electricity with an efficiency | | | | and light. The design of nuclear power plants is such |
| rating of 80 of the power used to produce the | | | | that the enormous amounts of power released is |
| fission reaction. When measured against the | | | | harnessed to generate electricity. The possibility of a |
| efficiency of an oil-fired plant, 38, it is astounding, | | | | nuclear power plant exploding like a nuclear bomb is |
| indeed. Nuclear fission produces small amounts of | | | | nonexistent. This is due to the fact the specialized |
| waste material. The controversy over the use of | | | | conditions and enriched plutonium requisite do not |
| nuclear power stems from the conundrum of what | | | | exist inside a nuclear power plant. Nuclear meltdown |
| to do with the waste produced by the nuclear power | | | | has occurred in the past, most notably the Chernobyl |
| plants. The waste is in the form of radioactive gas. | | | | incident, yet the risks are also very low. Nuclear |
| After containing the gases, they must be sealed and | | | | power has been in use since the 1950’s and |
| permanently stored because the radiation in these | | | | there are more than 430 nuclear reactors in 33 |
| gases remains active and deadly for thousands of | | | | around the world. When seen in the light of these |
| years. The hazard of contained nuclear waste being | | | | facts, nuclear meltdown is, indeed, a rare occurrence. |
| released is very low. When contrasted with the | | | | Neglect has been ascertained to be the main cause |
| volume of carbon monoxide released into the | | | | of most nuclear accidents. At this time, six states in |
| atmosphere daily by the millions of cars on the earth, | | | | America generate over half of their electrical energy |
| this is amount seems to dwindle. Radiation is certainly | | | | demands through nuclear power. |
| more deadly than carbon monoxide, however, it is | | | | Nuclear power can be a boon in the suppression of |
| also far easier to contain and store. Nuclear power is, | | | | fossil fuel use; but only if we allow it to. |