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