Pro and Con of Nuclear Power essays

Pro and Con of Nuclear Power essays Nuclear Power has produced more controversy than any other energy technology. Because nuclear reactors are fueled by, and produce highly radioactive material, the risks they pose are more apparent. Two major accidents, at Three Mile Island in 1979 and at Chernobyl in 1986, have increased public concern about nuclear power safety. (1) The most evident argument for Pro Nuclear Power deals with economics. Nuclear power plants have saved billions of dollars. Throughout the world, nuclear power has made us less dependent on oil and fuel. America's 103 nuclear power plants provide 20 percent of our electricity in a manner that produces no harmful air pollution. (2) Energy shortages hare becoming a bigger problem all around the country. Without these nuclear power plants the cost of electricity would increase greatly. Some countries even rely on no more than nuclear power. We would also decrease the amount of pollution considerably, which is always helpful, because of the problems we face with it. Another supporting argument would be waste can be stored in isolated areas underground where it will cause no harm to the environment, and can be removed later after Radioactivity has gone down. (2) There is also less waste produced by nuclear power than there is by the burning of fossil fuels. There is enough available Uranium to run the current nuclear power plants for well over 100 years, and other types of nuclear fuel to use well beyond that. (3) On the other hand, there are also many downfalls to using nuclear power. Even with the energy problems we have to face there are safer ways of dealing with this problem. Nuclear plants are on the average only 75% to 80% reliable. (4) The cost to run the nuclear power plants is also rising, and that doesnt even include all the money the government is spending on research. The waste produced has to b ...