Nuclear+Energy+Inc.+Per+7-8

Advantages: Little Polution: Reliability: Safety: 104 nuclear plants create about 20% of generated energy in U.S. While about 600 coal plants generate only about 46% of the energy generated by the U.S.
 * Coal, Gas, and Oil burning power plants have produced 1/2 of America's pollution.
 * Coal produces Carbon Dioxide which hurts the ozone layer.
 * When soft coal is burned it can create sulfuric acid.
 * Coal power plants have more radiation than nuclear power plants.
 * Fossil fuels are running out and it is estimated that they will be gone in about 50 years.
 * Uranium, which is used in nuclear power plants is estimated to last for about 1000 years.
 * In 1980's France increased production of nuclear power by 300%, Since then France's pollution due to powe plants has decreased by 80-90%.
 * France is able to recycle 95% of the nuclear waste into new fuel.
 * Nuclear power plants dont need a lot of fuel.
 * Don't have to rely on other countries for fuel because Uranium is spread out evenly,
 * Mining Uranium now will reduce the effect of radon on humans in the future.
 * Coal's ashes will increase radon exposures in the future.
 * According to [|www.tripod.com] "The estimates of radon show that it is safer to use nuclear fuel than burn coal."
 * No Americans have died due to nuclear power plant accidents while 10,000-50,000 Americans die per year due to coal power plants.
 * There are barriers that keep the radiation inside the reactor core.
 * Barriers are so strong that even an earthquake or airplane crashing into the building wouldn't destroy them.
 * Sensors are kept inside the reactor to detect increases in radiation.
 * There is an emergency cooling system.
 * Nuclear power plants can not blow up like atomic bombs.



Cons: Costs a lot of money to build. But it will bring in a lot of new jobs that will help the economy. Nuclear Energy has saved Americans about $44 Billion. According to [|www.alternate-energy-sources.com] "In the American nuclear power industry the cost of producing electricity has fallen from 3.63 cents per KW-hr in 1978 to 1.68 cents per KW-hr in 2004." Possibility of a nuclear meltdown. Technology has improved. There has only been one nuclear meltdown in the U.S. It happened because the water to cool the reactor lost pressure due to a faulty valve. Since then better sensors have been created. Mining Uranium has been difficult. But there is still a lot more Uranium than fossil fuels.

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