| Nuclear Power - The Best Alternative Energy? |
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| Environment - Environment |
| Written by Tim McDonald |
| Friday, 29 May 2009 08:33 |
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Nuclear power has always been seen as a "safe" alternative energy to burning fossil fuels. So much so they today is accounts for about twenty-five percent of worldwide power generation. But here are 7 reasons why nuclear power sucks:
Nuclear power has always been seen as a "safe" alternative energy to burning fossil fuels. So much so they today is accounts for about twenty-five percent of worldwide power generation. But here are 7 reasons why nuclear power sucks: 1 - It is expensive: If you think it costs around $6 - 12 billion just to build one reactor, a lot of wasted tax dollars have been used to subsidize these big utility companies. Why not invest that money in other renewable energy such as wind farms or solar power? 2 - It causes global warming: Nuclear enthusiast argue that reactors emit very little green-house gases. But what they do not realize is all the carbon dioxide released in other links in the nuclear chain. For example - gas-guzzling machines are used to mine the uranium, transport it to the reactors, and help build the reactor itself. Another thing is the installation of a nuclear reactor takes far too long to have any positive impact on global warming. Why not use that money and time instead in the technological advancement of cleaner renewable energies, like solar power? 3 - Radioactive waste: From mining to milling, processing to enrichment, fuel fabrication to fuel irradiation in reactors, large amounts of harmful, long-lasting radioactive waste is produced. In addition to 20-30 tons of high-level radioactive waste per reactor per year, this includes so-called "low" level radioactive waste. 4 - Any accident would be catastrophic: Nuclear power plants are not as safe as they are said to be. They could easily be attacked and even if an accident happened, there are no realistic evacuation measures in place. Furthermore, thanks to the Price-Anderson Act, a utility company is liable for only $10.8 billion as opposed to the real potential damage of $600 billion! Who will be picking up the rest of the bill? The working-class taxpayers - that's who! 5 - Low-level radiation causes cancer: Nuclear supporters are completely wrong in believing that radiation levels near reactors are "safe". What they do not know is that these level are only "safe" for healthy, white men. Children, who are more prone to cancer from radiation, are not even considered. We have also been misled about how safe it really is to "dispose" of all this radioactive waste. There is no scientific proof to show where the safest place to dump the waste is. And more nuclear plants would make the problem worse. There are only so many "safe" storage facilities. Any additional waste would have to be either burned or dumped in landfills - leading to air and water pollution. 6 - Nuclear development aids terrorism: This has been seen at the September 2007 bombing of Syria's suspected nuclear site by Israel, and the controversy over Iran's nuclear program. Reactors will always set the stage for atomic weapons production. So, as long as power plants exist, there will always be tension over the possibility of a nuclear attack. Furthermore, reactors are soft targets for terrorists to get hold of nuclear materials, so the more reactors built, the greater the risk. 7 - There are better power options: What frustrates us is that we we should rather be spending our time and money on the development of safer, cleaner, renewable energy solutions, such as erecting more solar plants and wind farms. Hopefully with Obama's administration, nuclear energy will be phased out and largely replaced with the implementation of renewable energy. But why wait for the country to start looking at renewable energy more seriously, when you can get involved yourself? Many households have discovered how to make their own solar and wind power and become more energy efficient. It is rather simple and inexpensive to do - all it takes is your willingness to learn and take action. About the Author: So forget about nuclear power and learn to make your own power at home. But before you get ripped off, get a sneak peek at the top-rated guide - Earth4Energy - for free NOW! You should also have a look at the in-depth Earth4Energy Reviews here. |