Citizens+Per+7-8

SHOULD //COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA// BE THE NEXT LOCATION FOR A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT?? 

﻿LETS REVIEW THE FACTS

=__Safety__=

Pros:[[image:http://topnews.in/law/files/nuclear_power_plant1.jpg width="187" height="152" align="right"]]

 * ====Strict safety regulations at power plants are put in place to prevent any accidents.====
 * ====The nuclear material is stored in steel containers.====

Cons:

 * ====Risk of a nuclear meltdown====
 * ====On April 26, 1986 A nuclear power complex in Ukraine, called Chernobyl, backfired killing many people.====
 * ====[|History in the Making: Meltdown at Chernoby]====
 * ====If the material falls into the wrong hands it could be dangerous.====
 * Someone could make a bomb out of it.
 * ====The plant could be a target for terrorists.====

=**__Health__**=

Pros:

 * ====It is not harmful to live near a nuclear power plant. - [See Graph Below] -====

Cons:

 * ====If the power plant explodes, harmful radiation will be released threatening our communities health.====
 * Examples are . ..
 * ====Cancer====
 * ====Birth defects====
 * ====Hair loss====
 * ====Damage to the central nervous system====
 * ====Death====
 * ====Workers can get radiation poisoning from working in the plant====

Pros:[[image:http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/D41DB314-E7F2-99DF-3D6ACEC215A9A006_1.jpg width="148" height="178" align="right"]]

 * Nuclear energy is an inexpensive source of energy.
 * More job oppurtunities for our community.
 * Advancement in technology = increase in electricity.

Cons:

 * ====It is costly to support all of the safety regulations which will add to what tax payers have to pay.====
 * ====The price to build a nuclear power plant is between 3 and 5 million dollars.====
 * The costs of building a nuclear power plant has been increasing over the years.
 * As of 2009, the price is 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.
 * In the 1970's, the price was .01 cents per kilowatt-hour.

=__Environment__=

Pros:

 * ====Nuclear energy has lower emissions which doesn't contribute to our ozone problems.====
 * The government is currently trying to find ways to recycle the waste.
 * Eliminates airborne wastes.

Cons:

 * ====The left over nuclear material does not decompose fast enough, causing it to build up over time.====
 * ====Radiation is released into the atmosphere.====



=__Our Opinion__=
 * ====We, as concerned citizens, lean more towards __NOT__ having a nuclear power plant in Council Blu[[image:http://www.publicartandpractice.com/images/bayliss_large_1.jpg width="256" height="204" align="right"]]ffs, IA. Although there are several good reasons to have it, such as more job opportunities and cheaper sources of energy, there are also a lot of counteractive points. We vote to not take the risks of a nuclear power plant in order to protect the future generations of our community.====



__RESOURCES:__ __[]__ __[]__ [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []