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Alternative Energy

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Christian A. Damico
Elaine E. Whitaker
ENGL 1101-08
November 17, 2012

The Nuclear Solution

The need for electricity has risen to an all time high, as the number of electronic devices in use increases along side that of America’s growing population, consumption has began to exceed that of production. In order to meet these demands energy needs to be produced in a more efficient and effective manner. Although there is no shortage of renewable resources such as water, wind, and the sun, these resources have yet prove their ability to provide us with the extensive amount of energy we require. On the other hand nuclear power has shown great success and I believe may be the solution to the energy crisis. Nuclear power plants split uranium and plutonium atoms, a process known as fission, to produce high amounts of heat within a reactor, turning water into steam used to power generators (Introduction to Nuclear Energy). Twenty percent of America's energy already comes from nuclear power (Alexander); thus arising an essential question, why have we not expanded this technology? America should turn to nuclear power as its primary source of energy because it will help stimulate the economy, create new advancements in nuclear technology, limit the stress put on our environment, and is much more safe than once believed.
Increasing the number of nuclear power plants would be positive to the economy in an array of ways. Some people argue that the cost of nuclear power plants are more expensive to build compared to fossil fuel or gas based plants (Ferguson), which is true, but the costs to fuel a nuclear plant is far less than it is for oil or gas. “The amount of energy obtained from a 1 pound of U235 (uranium-235) is the same as would result from the burning of 200,000 gallons of gasoline or from the burning of 1,500 tons of coal” (Hughes 66). The facts are simple the

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