Blog Post #3

The Rocky Flats Plant, a former U.S. nuclear weapons production facility located about 15 miles northwest of Denver, caused radioactive
contamination within and outside its boundaries. The contamination primarily resulted from two major plutonium fires in 1957 and 1969.
A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atoms of certain elements. In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released is used as heat to make steam to generate electricity.The principles for using nuclear power to produce electricity are the same for most types of reactor. The energy released from continuous fission of the atoms of the fuel is harnessed as heat in either a gas or water, and is used to produce steam. The steam is used to drive the turbines which produce electricity.The country's 100+ nuclear reactors produced 789 billion kWh in 2013, over 19% of total electrical output. There are now 100 units operable and five under construction. There are many pros and cons for nuclear energy.

  Pros:

Lower carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into the atmosphere in power generation.

Low operating costs (relatively).

Known, developed technology “ready” for market.

Large power-generating capacity able to meet industrial and city needs (as opposed to low-power technologies like solar that might meet only local, residential, or office needs but cannot generate power for heavy manufacturing).

Existing and future nuclear waste can be reduced through waste recycling and reprocessing similar to Japan and the EU (at added cost).

Cons:

High construction costs due to complex radiation containment systems and procedures.

High subsidies needed for construction and operation, as well as loan guarantees.

Subsidies and investment could be spent on other solutions (such as renewable energy systems).

High-known risks in an accident.

Unknown risks.

Long construction time.

Target for terrorism (as are all centralized power generation sources).

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                            Many citizens argue that that bad outweigh the good. However, when we look at the amount of energy our nation is using we must consider that fact that nuclear energy has provided a conduit for other resources to be produced that will benefit the country. They have produced energy to power the world for years that beat out the competition of greenhouses.



http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/USA--Nuclear-Power/
http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/02/nuclear-energy-pros-and-cons/