| There are over 400 nuclear power reactors that are | | | | Reasons to Use Nuclear Power |
| up and running on the planet, and believe it or not, | | | | * One of the main benefits of using nuclear power in |
| the number is growing. The whole process of | | | | today's economy, is that it decreases the need for |
| converting uranium into nuclear power is complex, but | | | | foreign oil. By utilizing nuclear power plants to produce |
| it all starts off with a mining operation to extract | | | | a portion of our electricity, we can make headway in |
| uranium ore. Believe it or not, uranium is not hard to | | | | our efforts to switch to alternative fuel sources |
| find, it is actually a pretty common element, more | | | | before the oil supply dries up in a decade or so. |
| common than gold. | | | | * Although nuclear power plants are costly to build, |
| Many people don't realize that our own body houses | | | | they are inexpensive to maintain. This cost efficiency |
| trace amounts of uranium! Canada's actually taken | | | | is good news to taxpayers who, with the economic |
| advantage of this relatively abundant resource and is | | | | collapse of 2008, wish to reduce their taxes and their |
| so far the number one uranium producer in the world. | | | | spending as much as possible in order to just pay the |
| Reasons to Avoid Nuclear Power | | | | bills, never mind saving up for retirement. |
| * Nuclear power is quite costly to manufacture, | | | | * Nuclear power production is not limited by location. |
| specifically considering start-up costs. Nuclear reactors | | | | Unlike coal and oil, the conditions don't have to be |
| are expensive to build. With that in mind, it's not | | | | 'just right' to gather natural resources and produce |
| necessarily an option for all countries. Many 2nd and | | | | power. Uranium can be mined from all over the world |
| 3rd world countries do not have the economic or | | | | and shipped to any local nuclear power plant. The |
| material resources to produce nuclear power. | | | | terrain and weather conditions just don't play a |
| * Another big problem is nuclear waste, which is left | | | | factor. |
| over from the conversion process, typically from | | | | * Carbon emissions are drastically reduced because |
| using fuel. If nuclear waste isn't safely disposed of, | | | | carbon waste is not a by-product of a nuclear |
| there can be a drastic number of health and | | | | reaction. Compared to coal, nuclear power is a cheap, |
| environmental issues that arise as a result. This is | | | | sustainable, efficient, and clean power source; as long |
| perhaps the most important detractor from the | | | | as we can find an efficient way to dispose of barrels |
| popularity of nuclear power. | | | | of nuclear waste. |
| * The third serious issue baring the widespread | | | | The Future of Nuclear Power |
| adoption of nuclear power, is the potential of a | | | | The future for nuclear power appears to be a quiet |
| nuclear power plant to melt down. One could argue it | | | | but strong one. Although there are some areas of |
| is dangerous to run nuclear power plants, simply | | | | the world strongly adverse to nuclear power, the |
| because they could be tampered with. | | | | United States continues to expand development. In |
| If, for example, a terrorist organization was so | | | | general, quick growth isn't a possibility, as building |
| inclined to sabotage nuclear power plants, portions of | | | | costs and time-frames are enormous. |
| that country could become uninhabitable for hundreds | | | | Countries like China, India, and Japan are all developing |
| of years. Nuclear meltdowns can also occur by | | | | nuclear power, but until it becomes cheaper to |
| accident, putting civilians in jeopardy on a constant | | | | construct the reactors, nuclear power won't become |
| basis. | | | | as mainstream as its potential would suggest. |