| The applications of nuclear reactors as our main | | | | dollars it is hard to imagine that money will be left over |
| power source for the future is a huge subject of | | | | for research which could make plants cheaper and |
| debate, named The Nuclear Debate. The generation of | | | | more efficient. To get an idea of the scope of building |
| nuclear power from nuclear fuel for civilian purposes is | | | | that would be necessary if we wanted to count on |
| a quest that 21 one companies are taking on for the | | | | getting 80% of our energy from nuclear fission, we |
| first time since 1973. The Nuclear Regulatory | | | | would need thousands of new plants. Nuclear |
| Commission reports they will seek permission to build | | | | development is therefore conceivable on the scale |
| 34 power plants from New York to Texas. Multi billion | | | | necessary only if it is backed by inappropriately large |
| dollar investments that were riding on the choice of an | | | | economic subsidies in the form of taxpayer funded |
| energy source are now being funneled into new | | | | research and development and risks. |
| nuclear energy projects costing several billion dollars | | | | Public subsidies and tax expenditures involved in |
| for each plant. | | | | research and security. The decommissioning of a |
| Supports claim new nuclear plants are needed | | | | nuclear facility has unforeseen potential costs as we |
| because of the variable needs for different amounts | | | | do not know what it may cost to dispose, safely of |
| of energy to be stored and released at different times. | | | | the nuclear waste and the taxpayers might pay for |
| This is also known as base power. Hydroelectricity | | | | this risk. With new nuclear plant building beginning again, |
| comes close with it?s man made dam control that | | | | alternative energy source development advocates are |
| allows us to release more power as needed but as | | | | also worried about the lack of research and |
| the natural conditions must be in place the potential for | | | | development for other power sources. Because of |
| stored nuclear power is so much greater. Nuclear | | | | the massive power potential of nuclear energy there is |
| energy supporters claim back up sources are | | | | a danger that there could be a lock-in effect or the |
| necessary with other forms of energy like wind and | | | | creation of market entry barriers for other sources of |
| solar because they fail to produce a constant supply | | | | energy like solar and wind energy. Other competing |
| or surplus of energy that is offered by nuclear power. | | | | energy sources still receive large direct production |
| The primary environment impacts of nuclear power | | | | subsides and tax breaks in many nations. |
| come from Uranium mining, radioactive emissions and | | | | As long as the subsidies continue to be given for |
| heat waste. The greenhouse gas emissions produced | | | | alternative energy sources while we enter a new ten |
| thru the nuclear fuel cycle are only a fraction of those | | | | year nuclear energy plant construction period, energy |
| produced by fossil fuels. However, new nuclear power | | | | solutions can come from many alternative sources |
| plants are considered unfavorable by anti-nuclear | | | | both corporate and homespun, yet none with as much |
| organizations because of the initial cost of constructing | | | | energy potential and on the massive scale of nuclear |
| them and the fact that a new plant will take 10 years | | | | energy development. |
| to build. Because each plant costs several billion US | | | | |