I’m going to use this last post to bring everything I’ve covered in my last four posts together in order to demonstrate just how complex the issue of nuclear power is. First, however, I’d like to point out that, for the moment, nuclear power is here to stay. The US has the largest nuclear power industry in the world, and while nuclear energy only accounts for 20% of the electricity we consume each year, we still produce more nuclear energy than France and Japan (second and third in nuclear energy production) combined. There are currently 62 nuclear reactors operating in 31 US states, and plans for 13 more. Quitting nuclear power at this point would not only mean economic loss in the form of the investment that has gone into this infrastructure, but we would also have to come up with another way to supply one fifth of the electricity we consume every year.
On the other hand, it is common knowledge nuclear power plants can be dangerous in many ways. What we have to decide is weather or not the risk is worth the reward. So here, again, are arguments on both sides of the issue.
Pro: A lot of the arguments against nuclear power stem from misconceptions and misunderstandings of how, exactly, nuclear power works. Understand an issue before you form an opinion of it. Make an informed decision based on facts, and recognize propaganda (both for and against nuclear power) when you see it.
Pro: Nuclear power is environmentally friendly. While some people are still debating weather or not it is on the same level as wind or solar, nuclear energy produces far fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels do. Nuclear energy also has a smaller land footprint than other forms of green energy, taking up less space per kilowatt of energy. Finally, nuclear energy is reliable, producing electricity even when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.
Con: Radioactive materials can harm the environment. The process of producing nuclear power is fraught with opportunities for radioactive materials to enter the environment: from uranium mining to disposal of radioactive waste, and the possibility for contaminated water escaping the plants. In addition to the health effects of being exposed to radioactive materials, the heated water released from power plants can change the temperature of local lakes and streams, sometimes with adverse effects on the ecosystem.
Con: Nuclear reactors are a security threat. Nuclear power plants have the potential to cause serious damage, spreading radioactive contamination across large distances and affecting millions of people. This makes them tempting targets for terrorists. Having nuclear power plants is a liability to the communities that surround them.
Pro: Public involvement in the planning of new power plants integrates them into communities. Communities near sites of new nuclear power plants are heavily involved in the planning of future plants. These communities usually display overwhelming support for their local nuclear power plant and they feel they have a stake in its wellbeing.
Con: Nuclear power can lead to nuclear weapons. Several countries, including North Korea, have started nuclear power programs, then used them as springboards to create nuclear weapons. This kind of militaristic leap could be avoided in the future if nuclear power were no longer an option.
Con: Murphy’s Law. The potential danger posed by radioactive material to humans and the environment is huge. The health effects are severe and diverse, and contaminated land can be unusable for decades at least. Accidents will happen – that’s inevitable – weather they’re due to bad technology, human error, or natural disaster. It’s a risk that can be diminished, but will never go away.
Pro: Technological advances. This technology is becoming safer and more efficient with every new nuclear power plant that is built. Current designs have proven they can survive some of the worst circumstances nature can throw at them, and can only get better. Many people consider nuclear power the energy source of the future because pursuing this science could lead to even greater technological breakthroughs in the future.
The issues surrounding nuclear power are complex, and cover the fields of sustainability, environmentalism, national security, health, politics at all levels, and hard science. Ultimately, we are going to have to find a balance among the pros and cons listed above to determine how we will deal with nuclear power in the future.