An atom slams into another, sending a wave of energy outward when it splits. The extremely hot heat wave collides with water, instantaneously turning it to steam. This steam shots up to turn a massive wheel- and electricity is made. This may sound like some cheesy sci-fi movie, but, in fact, is a real process used to make energy around the world. Nuclear power. But many critics and concerned citizens alike argue that it’s not worth it. The controversy around nuclear power only grows each year as the need for clean power increases- but is nuclear power the ‘silver bullet’ to the energy crisis or a risky gamble that we can’t afford to make?
Pros
The first question many ask is why, why use radioactive uranium instead of simple coal or oil? Think of it this way- Nuclear reactors make thirty-five tons of waste each year. Seems like a lot, right? But, coal plants make over 15 tons of waste…per minute. That’s over seven billion tons per year! ( Enc. America 2) Also, reactors release absolutely no emissions – gasses – into the air. That means they don’t contribute to global warming at all. (NEI 2)
Not only are nuclear reactors environmentally friendly, they are also economical, too. The building of a reactor is a big project, so it ads many jobs to the US. By using reactors, we lower our foreign fuel dependence by over 2.1 billion barrels since 1979- that’s billions of dollars that stays in the wallet of the United States. (NEI 2)
Many people who fear nuclear power imagine a nuclear meltdown to be like an atomic bomb – Mass destruction, mushroom clouds, the lot. But really, the truth is, no matter what, that can’t happen. There just simply isn’t enough uranium to explode. (NEI-2, 1) At a nuclear power plant, all disaster scenarios are considered and multiple safety systems are implemented against them. For example, plants have a wide variety of sensors and monitors measuring everything from temperature, water pressure, water level, and many other things. If any of these sense something wrong, the plant will immediately and automatically shut its self down. (NEI-2, 2) Not only that, but there are many physical barriers as well; ceramic pellets that hold the fuel and the waste; fuel rods made of a sturdy zirconium alloy; a large steel, sealed container with eight-inch wall; and last but not least, the massive concrete structure that is the plant itself. (NEI-2, 2) And as proof of its safety, nuclear plants have cause far less deaths then coal burning plants. Coal plants cause 10-100 times more deaths then a nuclear reactor each year. (Enc. America, 2)
Cons
Many, many critics and everyday people oppose nuclear energy, and for good reasons too! Nuclear energy is a relatively new science, filled with potentially disastrous kinks and bugs. First off, even with constant repair, a reactor can only safely function for a maximum of forty years. After that, the building would have developed enough cracks to possibly let deadly radiation to slip out. (SIRS, 2)
All these complaints have ground- after all, nuclear disasters have occurred before. One major accident was the Three Mile Island in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1979. “The failure of a cooling system damaged one of the plant’s reactors and forced operators to vent radioactive steam into the air.” But, that wasn’t even the worse part. If the accident wasn’t handled correctly, the fuel could meltdown and/or an explosion of radioactive gas could occur. Luckily, this disaster was averted, and less radiation was released then you normally receive from soil each year. (Wald, 1-2)
But far less lucky was Chernobyl, Ukraine. During a test, the plant caught fire and shortly after, exploded. Heavily radioactive dust sprayed into the air, quickly covering the area and drifting in the wind. (Chernobyl lacked the concrete walls the US has) ((Enc. America 1-2)) Twenty-eight people dropped dead instantly from radiation overdoses. The long-term effects are far worse; anywhere from 4,300 to over 100,000 people have died from cancer linked to the radioactive dust across Europe. (Wald, 2-3) (SIRS, 2) Many anti-nuclear arguments have used this as an example to give their fears a reality.
Another big argument is over waste. The nuclear waste that contains dozens of radioactive materials, including strontium, cesium, and plutonium – where does it go? The government has made no official disposal site for it. Meanwhile, the waste sits in barrels across the states, or worse yet, gets dumped into rivers, lakes, and oceans. It takes thousands of years for this material to become harmless again. A department of energy official even said that there is more concern on ‘meeting quotas’ then ‘monitoring emissions’. (SIRS 1-2)
Nuclear energy is an emerging science with the possibility to become the main source of power in the U.S.: But it also has the potential for disaster, the deaths of thousands. Nuclear Power is just about controversial as it gets. Hundreds are constantly asking, “Is the risk