NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process

called fission. At the power plant, the fission process is used to generate heat for
producing steam, which is used by a turbine to generate electricity. Today, many
military operations and vessels use nuclear power plants and nuclear energy for
their energy source, and nuclear energy is used in many other capabilities such
that it provides 16% of the Earths energy requirements.
Creating nuclear energy is a complex chemical process that can be very
dangerous. It does however have many advantages. Nuclear energy is more
affordable to create than coal energy, and does not use as much fuel in the
process. It also produces less waste, and does not produce carbon dioxide or
smoke. These benefits mean that nuclear energy is more advantageous than
coal energy, as the production of nuclear energy does not contribute to
environmental hazards or the greenhouse effect.




Pros
- Lower carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into the
atmosphere in power generation.
- Low operating costs (relatively).
- Large power-generating capacity able to meet industrial and city needs (as
opposed to low-power technologies like solar that might meet only local,
residential, or office needs but cannot generate power for heavy manufacturing).
- Existing and future nuclear waste can be reduced through waste recycling and
reprocessing

Cons
- High construction costs due to complex radiation containment systems and
procedures.
- High subsidies needed for construction and operation, as well as loan
guarantees.
- Subsidies and investment could be spent on other solutions (such as renewable
energy systems).
- High-known risks in an accident.
- Unknown risks.
- Long construction time.
- Target for terrorism
- Shipping nuclear waste internationally poses an increased potential threat to
interception to terrorism


Nuclear Energy facts
- Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission (the process of splitting an atom in
two). Nuclear fusion (the process of combining atoms into one) has the potential
to be safer energy because it is produced at a much lower temperature.
However, nuclear fusion technology has not yet been developed to operate
within a large power plant.
- Nuclear energy comes from uranium, a nonrenewable resource that must be
mined.
- Every 18 to 24 months, a power plant must shut down to remove its spent
uranium fuel, which has become radioactive waste.
- 13 percent of the worlds electricity comes from nuclear power plants that emit
little to no greenhouse gases.
- Nuclear energy is being used in more than 30 countries around the world, and
even powers Mars rovers.
- Nuclear power facilities can produce energy at a 91 percent efficiency rate 24/7,
while maintaining the method with the lowest emissions.
- More than 70 percent of Americas emission-free power comes from nuclear
energy sources.
- 1 in 5 households and business in the U.S. are electrically powered by nuclear
energy.
- United States power plants produce 2,000 metric tons of radioactive waste
every year.
- The building of new nuclear facilities creates between 1,400 and 3,500 jobs for
construction workers, and after the facility is built maintains 400 to 700
permanent positions paying roughly 36 to 44 percent more than the average
salary of the surrounding area.
- American nuclear energy facilities are the highest regulated plants in the world,
subject to more scrutinous observations and regulations.