Scientists+Per+3-4

=How Nuclear Energy Works =  Nuclear energy is created by placing a radioactive element, such as Uranium, in a reactor where it goes through the process of fission. Fission is where the Uranium atom's nucleus is split, causing a chain reaction. The split particles go off in the form of radioactive particles, or radiation. Fission causes a great deal of heat, which turns water in the reactor to steam, which turns a turbine that creates energy.

=Radiation =  Radiation particles are pieces of the original atom that has deteriorated. There are three main particles of radiation particles: Alpha Particles, Beta Particles, and Gamma Particles. Alpha Particles, however damaging, are non-penetrating, while gamma particles, which are extremely penetrative, do a very small amount of damage. Beta particles are right in the middle, being moderately penetrative and doing a moderate amount of damage. Radiation can cause radiation sickness in large, serious doses, or in smaller, but still significant, can kill you over time by giving you cancer. Even if it is harmful, radiation leaked from the lead and concrete lined walls of a nuclear power plant is insignificant, and thus, not a concern.

=Other Safety Issues =  Safety is a big part of nuclear energy, and one that is stressed in every Uranium using plant in the world. Not only are the chances of a nuclear meltdown (where the heat inside the reaction chamber is greater than the amount the chamber can withstand) slimmer than a supermodel, but with all the fail-safes installed in every corner of the plant, every chance in the world is on your side that you're town is not going to dissolve in a mushroom cloud.

=The Environment =  Nuclear energy's impact on the environment is significantly lower than the impact that Coal and Oil burning have on our planet. The only byproducts of nuclear   energy are steam and nuclear waste. Nuclear waste may sound like an incurable illness on our planet, but in fact, it is very simple to store. Waste is currently stored in sites like the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) where it will not only be sealed in the chambers of an old salt mine, but it will sit undisturbed for the amount of time needed to reach safe levels.

=Current Uses =  Today, nuclear power is the dominate force powering much of Europe, especially in countries like France and Ukraine (even after the Chernobyl disaster). Nuclear energy only powers slightly more than 20% of America's energy, with more resources dedicated to the polluting practices that are Oil and Coal burning than the clean solution that is Nuclear Energy.

=//Based on the joint decision of the scientists, we have decided that a nuclear power plant would be an overall positive improvement to the fine city of Council Bluffs. //=



Counter argument:
With the construction of a nuclear power plant, there would be an unknown amount of radiation to the surrounding area. As well as the workers and people of Council Bluffs.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Response:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> National and international anxiety about nuclear power stems directly from a fear of release of radioactive material and its consequences on people and the environment. The problem, however, is that there is a huge information gap between specialists on the exposures from nuclear power and the public. When one looks at the 1991 report by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, (UNSCEAR) one would see that the routine generation of nuclear electricity releases only negligible amounts of radioactive materials to the environment. "The average dose any individual in the world receives each year from all of the activities in the peaceful nuclear fuel cycle is less than 0.1 percent of the inevitable exposures he or she receives from natural radiation sources, such as cosmic rays and radon emitting building materials"

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Counter argument:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What will the City do with the very dangerous waste that is left over from the energy process?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Response:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Another drawback that is often associated with the use of nuclear energy is that of nuclear waste. There is a huge misunderstanding that the waste created by nuclear energy is more "dangerous" than that of other means of producing electricity. The truth of the matter is that radioactive waste from nuclear energy may be dangerous for thousands of years, while wastes resulting from the burning of coal, remains dangerous forever. The reason for this is because the toxicity of these stable elements does not decrease over time as does the toxicity of radioactive materials.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Counter Argument:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The incidents at Chernobyl and "the three mile island" were very serious tragedies that occured because of nuclear power plants. How will these accidents be prevented in the future?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Response:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> These unfortunate accidents were the result of poor design and poor safety practices. Today's nuclear power plants are among the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the United States. Multiple layers of physical security, together with high levels of operational performance, protect plant workers, the public and the environment.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Counter Argument:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Nuclear energy is unreliable and inefficient.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Response:
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> This is widely believed, however very wrong. America’s 104 reactors in 31 states have made tremendous production gains over the past dozen years, producing 798.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2009. Nuclear plants can help meet rising electricity demand as our economy and population expand.

Sources: [] [] [] [] Below is a video of an engineer's perspective and experience on why nuclear power generation in the United States is safe and reliable media type="youtube" key="Rs-o40jfBNI?fs=1" height="385" width="640"