| In a world where the threat of global warming is | | | | 1% of the energy available in uranium is able to be |
| looming over the future of our planet, it is becoming | | | | captured by thermal reactors. This energy makes up |
| more and more important to look into renewable, | | | | between 11% and 18% of the total energy available |
| alternative forms of energy. With energy use | | | | in the world. Developing technologies that would allow |
| growing at a rate of 3% per year, soon it will be | | | | us to capture more of this available energy, is at |
| inevitable to explore our options. Though it has been | | | | least 15 years away, but with incentives, these |
| under much scrutiny in the past, the advantages of | | | | advances could be a realistic part of our future. The |
| nuclear energy make it one form of powering our | | | | potential is not the only part of the advantages of |
| planet that should strongly be considered. By reducing | | | | nuclear energy. |
| emissions, the production of nuclear energy would in | | | | Uranium, the source of nuclear energy, is available in |
| turn reduce the effects of global warming. In | | | | large quantities in Australia. The uranium is reasonably |
| comparison with gas and coal fired power plants, | | | | cheap to mine, and easy to transport to reactors |
| nuclear energy plants create less than 1/100th of the | | | | around the globe, making nuclear energy relatively |
| CO2 created by the traditional power plants. | | | | inexpensive to produce when compared to |
| There are 2 processes in producing nuclear energy- | | | | conventional methods of energy production. The |
| fission and fusion. Fission, which is the splitting of | | | | average finished cost of nuclear energy is between 3 |
| nuclei, creates more than 10 million times the energy | | | | and 5 cents per kilowatt, and the cost has dropped |
| that is created in the burning of fossil fuels. Fusion, | | | | over the last 26 years, while the cost of other forms |
| which is the process of joining nuclei, happens | | | | of energy has risen steadily over the same period of |
| naturally in stars and the sun, and though the process | | | | time. |
| has been recreated by man, it has not yet been | | | | When considering the advantages of nuclear energy, |
| safely controlled. When the ability to safely harness | | | | it is also important to keep in mind the challenges |
| the energy from the fusion process has been | | | | that the process also comes with. Radiation accidents |
| developed, the amounts of usable nuclear energy will | | | | are at the top of the list. Since the 1950's, 17 |
| dramatically increase. | | | | accidents have been reported throughout the world, |
| Nuclear energy can be renewable depending on the | | | | with only a few causing serious illness and death. |
| type of reactor that is being used. Currently, there | | | | While health and public safety are of utmost concern, |
| are 442 reactors operating in the world, 130 of which | | | | we must consider the relatively low accident rates, |
| are in the United States. Another 12 are being built in | | | | and how further advances in technology could help |
| foreign countries. With the current technology, only | | | | prevent other accidents from occurring. |