Primer: Nuclear Power
Nuclear power is power generated from the splitting of atoms, which generate heat, which boils water, and finally activates turbines to create electricity. In the 1950s, nuclear power was explored as an alternative to fossil fuels and after the energy crisis in the 1970s, many countries invested large amounts into nuclear power plants.
Proponents of nuclear argue for its cleanliness and reliability. Nuclear power is very clean, as it does not emit greenhouse gases nor pollution, while Harvard Chan School of Public Health reported that nearly 1 in 5 deaths are due to fossil-fuel related air pollution. Burning fossil fuels is not only detrimental to our planet, but also to our personal health. Nuclear is also more dependable and expendable than other forms of renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Plants require less maintenance, can operate for nearly 2 years before being refueled, and can produce power at maximum efficiency for over 90% of the year. Investing in nuclear would allow for rapid decarbonization and lessen the United States’ enormous contribution to the increasingly existential problem of climate change. It also would allow for a decreased dependency of large oil-producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia. France is a clear example of nuclear success, as they have 56 operating nuclear plants today providing 70% of the country’s electricity.
Nuclear plants do produce nuclear waste as a byproduct, which can resist decay for tens of thousands of years, however the vast majority of it can be recycled into these plants. Additionally, experts have explained that spread of radioactive waste would be “an easier problem to solve” than climate change as a whole.
The anti-nuclear camp argues against nuclear power proliferation because of a concern about its relation to nuclear weapon proliferation. They believe that if nuclear energy development knowledge became widely available, it would open the door for countries to develop nuclear weapons, as well.
Furthermore, mistakes in handling and harvesting nuclear power have severe repercussions, as exemplified by disasters such as the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011. In the first case, poor reactor design and human error caused an explosion that destroyed the reactor, spread harmful radioactive material throughout Ukraine and other parts of Europe, and displaced over 200,000 individuals. In the latter, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused radioactive leaks and the displacement of over 150,000. Many exclusion zones still remain in place in both Okuma and Chernobyl and the disasters have caused fatal spikes in cancer, radiation sickness, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Come join our debate this Monday at 7pm in Scott Hall!
"Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1" by NRCgov is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.