Premium Essay

Nuclear Energy Cons

In:

Submitted By AUSTINxOBRIEN
Words 580
Pages 3
Does radiation-poisoning sound pleasant to you? My guess would be no. An easy way to avoid radiation poisoning is to not have our power sources come from nuclear power. Despite popular belief nuclear energy is actually quite terrible for the environment. Another reason I’m against nuclear energy is because contrary to popular belief it’s actually quite expensive. My primary reason I’m against nuclear power is because in my opinion it’s just too risky. If your looking for an alternative energy source nuclear power just isn’t the way to go. Many people don’t realize how bad nuclear energy is for the Earth. To start with in order to dig up the uranium needed for nuclear power we would have to disrupt the natural ways of many indigenous tribes to obtain it from underground. Just to add to that fact I would like to mention that there is only enough uranium around to last roughly 80 years. The main problem here is that waste last anywhere from 200 to 500,000 years before it becomes stable and safe again. The deposit in Yucca mountain is close to contaminating underground water deposits which would be a catastrophic event and damage the US’s water supply. From what I can tell nuclear energy has a long way to go until it becomes a safe alternative. The event in Chernobyl proves my point seeing as it’s a ghost town and will likely stay that way for quite some time.

Believe it or not money does run the world and the economy doesn’t agree with nuclear power. The main reason nuclear power is so expensive is just the construction cost of making the power plant. The construction cost is so high due to complicated radiation equipment and procedures. High subsidies and guaranteed loan rates are also a setback involving money concerns. Waivers are required to limit liability of the companies in the event of an accident. Aside from that nuclear power is a centralized power

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Energy

...People are always discussing how to make better use of nuclear energy, so people should learn more about what nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are. Nuclear fusion is two or more atoms of small mass synthesize a relatively large atom. For example, deuterium and tritium occurs nuclear interaction with each other under certain conditions, such as high temperature and high pressure. They can generate neutrons and helium -4. Rather, nuclear fission is an atom of large mass that is divided into two or more relatively small atoms. The principle of atomic bombs and the current nuclear power plants is both according to the nuclear fission. In the process, both of them will release huge energy, but the nuclearfusion releases greater energy....

Words: 1186 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Pros And Cons Of Future Nuclear Energy

...I believe that the future nuclear power plant in the East Pennsboro Township, should not be built. The current effects of both the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants are something to consider before the construction of this power plant. While TMI was safely decommissioned, we learned during TMI’s years of service that accidents can happen and the disadvantages still outweigh the advantages of nuclear energy. As you know the chain reaction caused a meltdown and radiation leak throughout the plant. Also, many wrong decisions during the management of the Chernobyl nuclear plant caused a big nuclear explosion, just like in Fukushima where the operations done by the staff were highly questionable. Even with the advanced technology we...

Words: 302 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Engineering Ethics

...Opposition to nuclear power stations in Germany was generated by widespread agreement that nuclear power was not in the best interests if Germany society. This is reflected in legislation. However, if a significant proportion of Germany’s electricity supply is sourced from France – in particular, from nuclear power stations that are situated close to the German border – are there moral issues, or is this simply a cruel irony? Answer: By giving up nuclear power at this period of time would mean that Germany would have to rely heavily on non-renewable resources, such as coal, and on buying electricity from France. The electricity produced by France is mostly from their nuclear power stations, which are situated close to the German border. If we look back at the Chernobyl disaster, not only parts of Ukraine were affected but many parts of Belarus were affected too. So, if there happened to be a nuclear station accident in France, then, Germany would be affected too. Therefore, in my opinion, Germany has made the decision to quit from nuclear power too early as mentioned by the president of Germany, Ralf Gueldner, "A quick and rash exit from German nuclear power would raise costs for the whole economy, make us miss climate goals, raise our reliance on fossil fuels and make our power supply less secure, meaning more power imports and problems with network stability," (Pidd, 2011). The operating standards in French nuclear power stations are not necessarily those that would apply...

Words: 339 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Wehi

...four different topics. I have underlined some of the words and phrases that link the ideas. Although the main ideas come from the ebook, it is sometimes necessary to expand on them and add examples; this is part of the practice. 1. Nuclear Power Benefits: Nuclear power stations have several benefits. Firstly, nuclear power is a relatively sustainable energy source, meaning that it can be used to produce electricity without wasting limited natural resources like coal, oil or gas. Secondly, nuclear power stations are cleaner than fossil fuel power stations, and could help to reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming. Finally, with improvements in nuclear technology, the risk of accidents is being reduced. As a result, many countries are now considering nuclear power as a solution to high oil and gas prices, increasing demand for electricity, and worries about pollution and climate change. Drawbacks (disadvantages): On the other hand, opponents of nuclear power worry about the safety of power stations. The Chernobyl disaster was an example of the dangers of a nuclear accident, and safety fears mean that the building of new nuclear power stations is unpopular; nobody wants to live near one. Apart from the risk of accidents, nuclear waste disposal is a significant problem as there is currently no way to decontaminate radioactive material. Waste has to be contained and stored, which is expensive and raises security issues. Another worry is that terrorists could steal...

Words: 1002 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Thermodynamics

...consist of energy not being able to be formed or demolished. Energy is all around and it is made up of everything no matter if it’s the smallest particle or biggest. Being that energy can reorganize itself, it will always change from one form to another. The second law of thermodynamics would consist of the entropy; if it is not in a thermal balance then it will almost always increase. You can say that in the second law would state that if a room is not cleaned it will perpetually become more messy and unsystematic with time. The third law of thermodynamics would be that when a entropy reaches a constant value as it approaches zero. Fossil Fuel pros and cons, the pros of using fossil fuel is that we are able to develop new technology to harness energy from this natural source. Fossil fuel is cheap and there are no other things needed to gather energy from this fuel, it is considered being a reliable source of energy. Think about load-based needs, fossil fuel is more preferred then other sources of energy that are consider being unreliable. The cons of using fossil fuel are that it contributes to the worsening of global warming. Fossil fuel is not an environment-friendly source of energy even dough it is consider a natural source. It is the main contributors in global warming due to it releasing high amounts of carbon. Nuclear energy unlike fossil fuel does not release smoke in the atmosphere. It is ran off electricity by splitting atoms in a sequence of nuclear reactions, better...

Words: 864 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Acid Rain

...Energy Tammy Malugen Professor Trena Woolridge Environmental Science and Sustainability SCI201-1501B-15 When you were a child you always heard the phrase “turn off the lights!” or “close the door you weren’t raised in a barn!” The Law of Conservation of Energy is the corporeal code that the entire extent of energy in a method is perpetual, even though energy is different from some form to a different or moved from one purpose to another; this can too be called the first law of thermodynamics. What this means is that since you cannot destroy energy but you can transform it into another form of energy. By using energy efficient appliances doesn’t mean you don’t use energy it just means that that energy is being converted into a different form of energy within your home. There are many forms of energy: Fossil Fuels, Nuclear Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Power, Water (hydro) Power, and Bioconversion (biofuel). Fossil Fuels:  In 2007, “The U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA)” has determined that 86.4% of the main energy depletion that can be traced back to non-renewable sources. Pros: Well Developed: the reason fossil fuels is used is because it is the one that is well developed and has been used all around the world Cheap and Reliable: this is cheapest source of energy and the most reliable to use for the base-load. Cons: Contribute to Global Warming: this source of energy is not “green” and contains high amount of carbon Non-Renewable: Fossil fuels are a...

Words: 1535 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Process Analysis

...Paper Alternative Energy The continued use of the planet’s fossil fuels will eventually come to an end and will require an ultimatum to be made. Other sources of energy must be found to sustain this dependency that society has created, so it can continue to fuel our everyday needs. Although scarcity is a leading factor in the search for newer resources, the damaged caused by fossil fuels need to be reversed, including pollution and global warming. Every day there are more and more advancements, innovations, or even inventions of new alternative resources that need to be taken advantage of to maintain a stable and reliable source of energy. Alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen energy are more durable and efficient to be used as a substitute for current natural resource uses. Foremost, fossil fuels have been a primary source for energy for years, and had some major consequences alongside them. Pollution is no new name to the harm our environment receives and it comes from the burning of fuel. As well as pollution being created, global warming, which is a huge debate in today’s society, is also caused by burning fossil fuels (Rinkesh “What are fossil fuels”). Not only does it damage our environment, but it causes health problems for its wildlife and our own lives. These hazardous effects will have a long term duration and require a cleaner solution and that is natural resources (Rinkesh “What are fossil fuels”). These alternative energy sources would...

Words: 1230 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Sources of Energy

...Sources of Energy The law of conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy stored in a system will be constant throughout time. Since energy remains constant in a system, it cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be converted into other forms of energy (Law of Conservation, n.d.). Other forms of energy use include fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, water (hydro) power, and bio-conversion (biofuel). There are both pros and cons in using these various forms of energy. Fossil fuels are a common source of energy used that are naturally occurring substances found on the surface of the earth. It is a non-renewable source of energy. One major advantage of fossil fuels is their availability. They can easily be found on the surface of the earth. However, depletion of this non-renewable source of energy is increasing because of the demands. Therefore, in the future there will a high demand and a low supply of fossil fuels (Energy.gov, n.d.). Nuclear energy is a controversial non-renewable source of energy. According to Maehlum, about twenty percent of the entire electricity generation is produced using nuclear energy. Generating electricity at a nuclear power plant is relatively low in costs as well as low in pollution. However, the nuclear waste is potentially harmful to both humans and the environment (Maehlum, 2013). Solar energy is a renewable energy source. As long as there is sunshine, solar energy will be available. Solar...

Words: 796 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Fossil Fuels

...use of different energy which include fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, water (hydro) power, and bioconversion (biofuel) these laws could allow the possibility of tax incentives. The use of different types of natural energy can pave the way for a greener earth. Although, some may argue that there are pros and cons of such energy. In this paper we will be discussing these pros and cons as well as two provisions of the Energy Policy Act, 2005, including its tax incentives. 1.) The law of conservation of energy states that energy may neither be created nor destroyed (The law of conservation of energy, n.d). 2.) The pros and cons of fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, and coal. The pros are its high efficient, cheaper than non-conventional forms of energy because it is easy to extract and process them and it the potential to power the entire globe. The cons are Fossil fuels are believed to be the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, responsible for global warming and climate change. It is also believed that coal mining creates earthquakes. The biggest con of all is that they are non-renewable. Nuclear Energy creates little amount of CO2 and it can generate a great amount of electrical energy in one single plant. But these plants produce radioactive waste; the energy source is uranium which there is limited supply. Also nuclear power plants could entice terrorist to attack. Solar energy is renewable source of energy, its clean, provides...

Words: 676 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Oil Alternatives

...Oil Alternatives Examine the changing importance of three energy alternatives to oil [20 Marks] 1200 words. Correct citations. Oil has been an important resource for humanity for centuries. It is easily accessible and efficient and over time has been extremely versatile in its uses. Today oil is used for fueling cars, cooking food, cosmetics, lubricants, paintings, organic chemistry, etc. For a long time oil has been the primary and main provider of energy, but due to increasing environmental effects, scarcity, and global inflation, it seems as if it will not last much longer. This essay will highlight the growing importance of three alternatives of oil that may rise to prominence in the future: algae biofuel, nuclear energy, and hydroelectric power. The first alternative that will be discussed is algae biofuel. In essence algae biofuels are the same as normal fuels except that the components of the fuel are organic and biological rather than fossil fuel based. Production is caused through a series of chemical reactions and is nontoxic and renewable. Algae sources can be re-replaced through more farming. The standard production method consists of planting lots of algae pods and letting them interact with the sun and bacteria to create oil. (Howstuffworks) Although this method releases a lot of CO2 it is all taken back again through growing more algae. This is of the many advantages of algae biofuel. Firstly its production yield far surpasses that of other variations...

Words: 1436 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Keystone Pipeline Case Study

...What is the Keystone XL Pipeline? What could be transported in it if built? Provide a reasonable argument for why this pipeline should be built. Provide a reasonable argument for why this pipeline should not be built? (use the Internet to help you on this research) (12 points). Keystone XL Pipeline is projected to be the safest and most advanced oil pipeline operation in North America. It is said to provide infrastructure to North American oil producers, produce jobs, create long-term energy independence and boost the American economy. Running 1,179-miles, and having a 36-inch-diameter, the pipeline transporting crude oil would begin in Hardisty, Alberta, and would extend all the way to Steele City, Neb. Argue for: Along with transporting oil from Canada, the Keystone XL Pipeline will support the oil production in the United States by allowing American oil producers more access to the large refining markets found in the American Midwest and along the U.S. Gulf Coast. This construction project will also create almost 50,000 indirect and direct jobs. This pipeline also has monetary benefits for local and state governments by paying states hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes. The Keystone XL Pipeline will transport 830,000...

Words: 821 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gun on Gun

...1: Mechanical energy: potential energy (object not moving) vs. kinetic energy (object moving) Chemical energy: stored in bonds between atoms in a molecule 2: Electrical energy: results from the motion of electrons Nuclear energy: stored in the nuclei of atoms, it is released by either splitting/joining of atoms 3: Thermal energy: heat = internal energy in substances, the vibration and movement of atoms and molecules within substances Electrical energy: results from the motion of electrons 4: Kilowatt hour (kWh) = 1,000 watt hours, unit of energy. Ex: Using a 60 watt light bulb for 1,000 hours consumes 60 kilowatt hours of electricity. 5: The major resources used for energy globally are oil. In the US they are petroleum, coal, and natural gas. 6: 3 fossil fuels -Coal: Produced by decomposition of ancient organic matter under high temperature and pressure (non-renewable) -Oil: Produced by decomposition of deeply buried organic material under high pressures and temperatures for millions of years (non-renewable) -Natural Gas: Produced by decomposition of deeply buried organic material under high pressures and temperatures for millions of years (non-renewable) 7: Net energy= the usable amount of high-quality energy available from a given quantity of energy resource. Ex: coal, oil, natural gas 8: Second law of thermodynamics- when energy is converted from one form to another, a less useful form 9: oil- used to manufacture paints, medicines, plastics and is used in cars...

Words: 994 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Nuclear Energy

...with the sufficient supply of energy in this currently developing world. However as the supplies of oil which is the major source for energy is decreasing and people are becoming more environmentally cautious, a new mean to supply energy are in high demand. Thus, nuclear energy seems to be the ideal alternative source of energy. Mel Schwartz (2011) mentioned that nuclear energy has generated approximately 17% of the world electricity for nearly 1 billion people (p. 706). In the Encyclopedia Britannica described that, “Nuclear energy, also called atomic energy, energy that is released in significant amounts in processes that affect atomic nuclei, the dense cores of atoms” (“Nuclear Energy”, 2013). The term nuclear energy includes nuclear fusion, nuclear fission and nuclear decay (radioactivity). Nuclear fission is the main method used in providing the nuclear energy as is provides the most energy compare to nuclear fusion and nuclear decay. In order to provide a large amount of energy, nuclear power plant is built. By using the heat energy gained from nuclear reaction, it drives the steam turbines which in turns generate the electricity. Nuclear power plant could be environment friendly as it emits low amount of carbon dioxide. The nuclear waste should not be overlook as it has a very long term impact to the environment. PHYSICS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY Nuclear energy can be formed either by nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or nuclear decay. Nuclear fission is the splitting apart...

Words: 1393 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Energy

...Energy Fletcher Hinton Environmental Science Dr. Sandra Flemming April 6, 2012 Abstract This paper will discuss energy use and how it is conversed to do what it needs for the population using it. This paper will give an explanation on how energy use is dictated or regulated by law according to the energy policy act of (2005). Energy use is a major problem the world has today, resources are becoming scarce because of our consumption level is more than can be replenished in the amount of time we need it. The law of conservation of energy states that the quantity of energy stored in a system will be constant throughout time. (Law of conservation of energy, n/d) Since energy is stored it is constant it cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be converted into other forms of energy like solar energy, needs the sun to produce and harvest its energy. There are other forms of energy that can be used for our consumption and they are; fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, and coal, nuclear energy, Solar energy, Wind power, Water (hydro) power, Bioconversion (biofuel). Although, they can help produce energy there are pros and cons to using them for energy consumption. The fossil fuels for one are the most widely used source of energy used because of its reliable resources that can be converted. The con is it will run out because our consumption is more than the resource can produce. Nuclear energy produces 1/6 of the worlds electricity and it doesn`t produce greenhouse...

Words: 571 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ms Rhonda Montgomery

...Thermodynamics and Types of Energy Rhonda Montgomery American Intercontinental University Abstract The energy act 2005 addresses issues having to do with energy usage covering fossil fuels, nuclear power and the efficiency of energy and includes two major provisions, tax incentives for the advanced energy saving technologies with the second provision being to set standards for the minimum efficiency with a set of smaller efficiency provisions. The laws of thermodynamics are the study of energy and the ability of energy to be able to do work. Physicists were involved with studying the flow of heat from machines and the chemical changes that accompanied the work, obtaining its maximum efficiency, a machine that has the ability to run off of its own heat. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy and matter cannot be created or destroyed with the second law stating that it is impossible to take away heat from a reservoir and positive work with the energy moving away from the source not being able to flow from cold to hot. In order to have a continual flow of heat there must be energy present. In order to have a continual flow of heat there must be energy present. The third law of thermodynamics states that all processes will stop when the temperature reaches an absolute zero and with this the molecules will then not move and as a result the production of energy will be stopped. Scientific...

Words: 1113 - Pages: 5