Putting Your Fears to Rest: Advantages to Nuclear Power
When people hear the words “nuclear power,” many think of death and disaster, such as what occurred at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine many years ago. It is true that we produce nuclear power at a great risk-a total meltdown at a nuclear power plant would affect the entire planet-but there are great benefits to nuclear power as well. By separating fact from fiction and learning the advantages of nuclear power, you can lay your fears to rest; this process is generally safe and is very useful as an alternative to fossil fuel energy.
Like fossil fuels, nuclear power is a nonrenewable energy source. That means that once we use all of the earth’s uranium (the main ingredient in the nuclear power generation process), nuclear power can no longer be created in this way. However, new technologies are being developed to expand the process to use other materials. Nuclear power costs about the same amount of money to produce as power from coal, when you take into account the mining and other labor that has to be done to produce it. Therefore, nuclear power is relatively cost effective when compared to other forms of alternative energy.
The process is also safer than most people realize. Although nuclear meltdown is possible, it is highly unlikely, since each reactor can be stopped if it gets to hot. In the case of human negligence, there are also multiple automated backup systems to stop the reactor if it gets to hot. In the Chernobyl disaster, they did not have such safety systems and the ways in which nuclear meltdown was prevented were overridden by workers who were not well trained. Today, this system is much safer. Workers do not have to worry about health either. Uranium has two isotopes-the radioactive one makes up only .7% of the total uranium. Uranium rods can be handled with just thin protective gloves. Workers also take safety precautions when leaving the plant in order to ensure that no radioactivity leaves the plant.
Nuclear power is also clean. It does not contribute to the greenhouse effect or pollute the air. A very dangerous by-product is created from this process, but what most people do not realize is that this byproduct loses its radioactivity over time. Therefore, by burying the chemical and waiting, it will become less dangerous until eventually it is safe. The amount of waste produced is also very small.
By learning about the process of nuclear energy and the many advantages, you can decide if this is an alternative energy solution that you want to support. Nuclear energy is a great resource if the technology is safe.