The United States is the world’s leading supplier of nuclear energy, being responsible for 33% of the world’s electricity generation (Wikipedia, 2017). The U.S. itself is a prominent user of nuclear power, currently with 100 commercial nuclear power plants in use (Rinkesh, 2009). Since 2015, nuclear power has supplied the U.S. with 19.5% of its total electric energy. One of the nation’s largest nuclear power disasters was the Three Mile Island incident in 1979. The nuclear meltdown, which was composed of failures in the non-nuclear secondary system and a stuck-open relief valve, resulted in vast amounts of nuclear reactor coolant to be spilled (Wikipedia, 2017). While the accident resulted in no deaths or injuries of any workers or members of the nearby community, it has been deemed as one of the leading contributors to the decline of nuclear power use ever since.

Largely because of the Three Mile Island meltdown, new regulations were placed upon the nuclear power industry, and anti-nuclear activism was quickly propelled forward. One of the most prominent arguments towards not using nuclear power is the issue of radiation. Nuclear power plants emit subatomic radioactive particles traveling 186,000 miles per second, which if they were to strike certain cells in someone’s body, can lead to cancer and genetic diseases (Cohen). Another key issue with the use of nuclear power is the nuclear waste that develops as a result. There are multiple levels of dangerous waste, and different ways of disposing of them; low-level and intermediate-level waste makes up the majority of the waste generated (97%) (WNA 2016). For these wastes, the World Nuclear Association claims they are disposed of in near-surface repositories spread out over many countries. They also state that high-level waste is kept in safe storage facilities, and whose amounts are relatively small (WNA 2016).

One of the strongest arguments in favor of the use of nuclear power is the fact that it reduces the amount of energy being supplied through fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Less burning of fossil fuels means less CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere, thus lowering the emission of greenhouse gasses. Another advantage is the limited amount of fuel that is required to provide energy through a nuclear plant. This result is significantly less resources needed for the extraction of nuclear fuel, as well as transport and handling. There are various other factors that make nuclear power a more reliable option in providing energy: the plants are compact, covering only the length of approximately a football field, it has a relatively stable cost, including costs of operation, and they provide a very powerful and efficient energy source. However, the most supported argument is the non-existent amount of greenhouse gases they emit into the atmosphere, which is substantially different from other sources of energy.

The pros and cons of investing in nuclear power in the United States will be discussed in the upcoming slides. Its efficiency and environmental stability will be covered, as well as issues of its waste production and dangerous maintenance practices.

 

Rinkesh. “Advantages of Nuclear Energy.” Conserve Energy Future. N.p., 13 May 2017. Web. 19 May 2017. <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/advantages_nuclearenergy.php>.

Cohen, Bernard. “Risks of Nuclear Power.” Nuclear Power Risk. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2017. <http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/np-risk.htm>.

“Javascript Required!” Radioactive Wastes – Myths and Realities : World Nuclear Association – World Nuclear Association. N.p., Feb. 2016. Web. 19 May 2017. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-wastes-myths-and-realities.aspx>.

“Nuclear Power in the United States.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 May 2017. Web. 19 May 2017. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_States>.