Nuclear Power of Doom!!

In an era of economic decay and increasing global instability, changes in suitable energy must be made to secure a bright future for the coming generations. With over 5.3 billion tons of carbon pollution emitted annually from burning oil and coal, there has been a push to discover a cleaner, more environmental friendly form of alternative energy (Science News 191). Many forms of energy such as hydro and wind power have been utilized, but none even come near to the efficiency and power of nuclear energy. Even with the fact however, nuclear power has been met with strict criticism of its safety. As scientists began to learn how to use nuclear power to its full potential in the 1950’s and 60’s, the increased fear of radioactive poisoning resulted (Lake 14). The main cause for fear was in the accident at Chernobyl, Ukraine nuclear plant in 1986 (Wheeler 8). Similarly in the previous decade, in 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear plant had a partial meltdown cause much concern in the US (Weeks 24). These early concerns with nuclear power have caused nuclear power to dwindle in productivity to being only used for 8% of the total US, energy (Cooper 3). Even so, with these major drawbacks, new regulations have made containing nuclear waste safer, decreasing safety threats and increasing efficiency. Thus, vastly increasing the number of nuclear power plants in the US during this next, half century will enable the US to become self-reliant from Middle Eastern oil, and employ nuclear power as the major energy source, relieving possible fear of energy shortages and environmental destruction.
The overriding concern for most anti-nuclear activists that have thwarted major increases of nuclear power in the US is the resulting of waste produced. Yucca Mountain in Nevada has long been the major controversy (Weeks 2). With five miles worth of tunnels, holding over 42,000 metric tons of nuclear waste, people fear that this large of an amount of waste could cause major disasters. The reality is that even with this large amount of waste nuclear power incurs, it poses little threat to the environment. In its contained state, nuclear waste emits one ten-thousandth of the radiation natural sources give off (Douglas 4). Also, with new forms of “breeder reactors” are able to salvage uranium that is worth trillions of dollars (4). What this means is that nuclear waste is safe for the public and that waste can even be modified to make profit. Opponents of nuclear power need to realize this fact and accept nuclear power expansion in the US to help increase that amount of power produced and increase the efficiency. In turn, moving away from coal and oil forms of energy will help clean up the environment and atmosphere.
What all anti-nuclear activists need to realize in regards to nuclear power is the sheer power nuclear plants can produce. There have been great advancements in the capacity and safer of plants built in the past two decades (Taylor 8). With the Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) productions can be from 1,000-1,200 megawatts (8). Not only is this form of reactor thirteen times more powerful than previous models it is a lot safer. These new reactor are, “incorporating innovative passive (gravity and pressurized gas) emergency core and containment cooling systems has also been developed. These passive systems replace the electrically or steam-powered pumping systems used in the conventional plants” (9). This shows that with these new models of reactors, more power is created and they are safer too. If the US would build many more ALWR plants than nuclear power production would become the fore front of electrical power. With this move away from oil, natural gas coal than the US could focus on other issues rather than environmental problems. Pressing issues such as health care and immigration could be dealt with whole heartedly.
Another problem that nuclear power activists face is the problem of nuclear proliferation. Many fear that if nuclear power is increased to if full potential and becomes the dominant energy source, than the possibility of nuclear materials falling into the wrong hands could increase. The fact remains that the technology and materials used in creating nuclear weapons is virtually the same in nuclear power plants. Thus, there must be regulations be put on such increases in nuclear power so that terrorists and other radical groups don’t have the capability of making nuclear weapons. The only option is to create international centers that can retain used plutonium so that these materials can’t be taken and used to make nuclear weapons (Abrahamson, Swahn 4). Also restrictions on making weapons usable materials should not be allowed outside of these international facilities (4). Thus without the employment of international center to hold potentially dangerous materials, not large expansion into nuclear power will or can be made. The previous fear will always be prevalent and they will remain until the said centers are built.
What many people need to realize is that nuclear expansion will not happen quick. Building plans take time and money and new regulations such as the ones proposed must be put in place to have unanimous support. Without the majority of the population supporting expansion, opposition, will cause the process to move even slower. However the end result of nuclear expansion will quickly realized and the environment will benefit also from this shift. Coincidentally, with becoming nuclear power dominant, the US will no longer need to be at the whims of Middle Eastern countries for choosing oil prices. Dependence will lower causing the US government to be able to face problems such as the latest recession.