Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Nuclear Power


Nuclear Power
            In the world today, many of the natural resources that are being used for energy are being consumed at quick rate. Whether these resources diminish or not, America will be in need to seek an alternative energy source to generate electricity for heat and light. The answer to this energy based crisis is the use of nuclear energy power plants. Although many believe that the use nuclear power is risky and unreliable because it can cause harmful accidents in power plants, they don’t realize that our modern technology can strive for a safe and precautious use. Its production of small amounts of nuclear fuel makes it an efficient and long lasting investment. There is no doubt that nuclear energy will have its pros and cons, but it will strive for a huge success in American society as a good alternative source.
            In most cases, people question the adoption of nuclear energy in their regions because of safety concerns regarding accidents. Many of them are aware of the horrific nuclear disaster that took place in Fukushima, Japan; therefore they don’t want a similar disaster to occur in their country. As a result of this accident, the government can acknowledge the lessons learned from this disaster and set safety regulations to prevent another disaster. First of all, it will be necessary to” adopt risk-informed regulations, strengthen management systems so that such decisions made are based on safety, and assess information on risks posed by natural hazards” (Encyclopedia Britannica). With these three basic rules implied by the governmental force, the use of nuclear power will be a safer and more guaranteed procedure for society itself. This doesn’t mean that nuclear energy will be perfect, because every energy source has its ups and downs; it just signifies that it will be regulated at its most sincere manner.
            Aside from the other sources of energy, nuclear power has certain advantages that will be more productive in the near future. We don’t want our energy to vanish, or else this means no electricity. Therefore we need other and more productive energy sources that will get the best out of our investment. For instance, if we use limited amount of less fossil fuels, such as coal, it lower the emission of greenhouse gases. Since the fossil fuels consumption rate is greater than its production rate, the resources will be reduced and the prices will tend to rise which may become inaccessible for the population. If the use of coal and oil is reduced, it serves as a change to stop global warming and its disastrous effects. Knowing that they emit carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere, causing climate change, the use of nuclear power plants reduces that emission.
            If the nuclear plants used today depended on such fossil fuels, it is said to produce about 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. Those properly functioned power plants release less unwanted substances into the earth’s atmosphere than those functioned by coal. Through nuclear fission, it produces about a million times more energy per unit than fossil fuels. Less uranium is needed to produce the same amount of energy used in fossil fuels like coal and oil.




 "Nuclear Power." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/421749/nuclear-power>
            "Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2015. <http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Nuclear_Energy>.
Brain, Marshall, and Robert Lamb. "How Nuclear Power Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power4.htm>.
"Nuclear Energy." Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Power. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://nuclear-energy.net/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nuclear-energy.html>.

                       



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