Nuclear Energy: Is it Worth the Risk?

Trenton Cruise

Background
In todays world the race to find the best alternative energy source is ongoing and it seems to be never ending. With coal being used in vast amounts another resource needs to be found to create energy before the Earths coal reserves have run out. Environmental issues such as the global warming effect have been pinned on the large amounts of coal usage. Nuclear energy is one of the oldest and most prominent alternative energy sources.

What Is Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear energy uses enriched uranium to create energy in the form of heat. This heat is then used to heat water, turning it into steam, that will then turn a turbine creating electricity. This process was investigated after the invention of the nuclear bomb (Outline History).

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2011-03/17/content_22164702.htm

Benefits of Nuclear Energy

The Idaho National Laboratory of nuclear research states that One pellet of uranium creates as much energy as 1780 pounds of coal. Nuclear energy hardly releases any green house gasses such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas. Nuclear power plants require less land to operate due to the fact the fuel is so much more efficient. Nuclear waste can be stored in a fairly safe fashion while there is no real safe location for coal ash to be stored.

Disposal: Coal Ash Waste

Nuclear waste is stored in safe underground locations while coal ash is placed in the backyard of the plant. The chemicals of coal ash could seep into the ground or the ash blown away. This ash contains mercury, lead, arsenic and many other heavy metals.

http://fopnews.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/containinguncertainity-design-for-infinite-quarantine/

http://www.southernstudies.org/2012/08/a-win-for-cleanwater-in-south-carolina-coal-ash-storage-lawsuit.html

Risks with Nuclear Energy

Leslie Lai with The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation claims The waste created from nuclear energy, plutonium, can be used for making nuclear weapons. This is more of an issue outside of the United States. There is the risk for a nuclear meltdown that can destroy a city, like in the case of Chernobyl. The process of nuclear energy degrades the environment. There is not an effective method of disposing of the radioactive waste.

How Does This Relate?

Both sources could be targeting skeptics and also those looking into nuclear energy. These sources tie into my project because they allow room for the question do the benefits outweigh the risks? I believe the answer to this question is yes as the risks of meltdowns and rogue weapons are very uncommon and coal ash is much worse for the population than nuclear waste.

Are they Credible?

This is a credible site, as it is sponsored by a government agency and the research is done by a credible facility. Sponsor- US Department of Energy Facility- Idaho National Laboratory Researches the process of creating nuclear energy The Idaho National Laboratory This is a credible source, but it only list the cons of nuclear energy. This source does not look at how beneficial nuclear energy can be and the potential nuclear energy has. The website was posted by antinuclear energy agency. The cons they listed were very unlikely and out of proportion. Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Questions???
Is their a better storage system being developed? How are plants keeping plutonium from being used in bombs? Is the nuclear power process being made more efficient? How are nuclear meltdowns being prevented?

Works Cited
"Benefits of Nuclear Energy." Benefits of Nuclear Energy. Idaho National Laboratory, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. "Disposal: Coal Ash Waste." Sierra Club National. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. Lai, Leslie. "Nuclear Energy Fact Sheet." Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. "Outline History of Nuclear Energy." History of Nuclear Energy. World Nuclear Association, June 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.