subject: Benefits of Nuclear Energy - StudentScholarships.org [print this page] Author: Drew Backley Author: Drew Backley
There is a great deal of myth about nuclear energy. The fact is people are scared of nuclear power because people are not educated about the true benefits. The world community uses nuclear power and for good reasons. It is emissions free, reliable, and very cheap. It will lower our dependence on foreign energy and create a whole new job market. The likelihood of nuclear meltdown is minimal and with current design, it is even safer than ever. Nuclear Energy is going to the future and we as Americans need to educate ourselves and embrace it.
Most people dont know that nuclear power already makes up 19% of our national power grid according to the American Nuclear Society. The problem is that our electrical demand is rising due to recent innovations in computer technology. The truth is that the chance of meltdown is so distant most serious scientists discount it. There hasnt been one in 20 years, thanks to increased safety measures and better technology. However they do not discount the waste product. Any energy industry has a byproduct. Whether it is green house gases from coal or oil plants, or flooding from hydro electric plants, there will always be a downside to even the cleanest forms of power generation. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, In 2004, U.S. nuclear power plants prevented 3.43 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 1.11 million tons of nitrogen oxide, and 696.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the earths atmosphere. Its better to create a repository in an isolated mountain in the desert than to burn a hole in our ozone layer with green house emissions. Many leading environmentalists back nuclear power such as Stewart Brand, Patrick Moore, and James Lovelock.
The jobs created will have an effect on the American economy. With more professionals in the work force, unemployment rates will drop. But the cost to maintain the nuclear plant drops the overall energy production cost. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, The average electricity production cost in 2004 for nuclear energy was 1.68 cents per kilowatt-hour, for coal-fired plants 1.90 cents, for oil 5.39 cents, and for gas 5.87 cents. Though the cost of safety regulation and oversight are substantial, it is still the cheapest source of energy. This also removes much of the foreign dependence on energy and drops our utility bills. That is very important because its saving Americans hard earned dollars. Particularly in California, saving money is crucial. The cost of living is skyrocketing and especially younger couples and adults who have children in college dont have the extra money to burn on utilities and gas.
As our dependence on electricity increases, so do the political debates of where it will come from. From the economic and social standpoints, nuclear power is bullet proof. The positive effects of nuclear power are huge or it wouldnt even be a consideration. New jobs, cheaper energy, lower dependence on foreign sources, and almost no pollution. If youre thinking it sounds too good to be true, well there is a downside and it is the focus of a much heated debate. Yucca Mountain is going to be an absolute top of the line site with no expense spared. It will be organized, monitored, and regulated. People with an agenda will paint any picture to inspire fear of the unknown. These groups are preying on ignorance and if they have a better solution, they should come out with it.
Nuclear power is safe, clean and efficient. If people have questions, then they need to educate themselves before making rash judgments. Ive never read any opponents of nuclear power concede anything good about nuclear power. But those groups have no hang-ups about enjoying the benefits. The bottom line is that we need to lower our dependence on foreign energy sources to become fiscally independent. America needs to get real about nuclear power and embrace the future of emissions free energy for the 21st century.About the Author:
