Nuclear Power - Is It As Green As They Say It Is?
Although nuclear power is efficient and responsible for about 25% of the world's electricity production, it is flawed in many respects:
1 - It is expensive:
Nuclear power plants are definitely not a cheap investment. At around six to twelve billion dollars each - just for installation - taxpayers have subsidized billions of dollars to keep the utilities afloat. This money could have been invested in cleaner renewable energies instead.
2 - Does not aid global warming:
Nuclear is seen as a relatively clean alternative energy. But that is complete nonsense! While the reactor may not emit green-house gases, the rest of the activities certainly do. How do you think the uranium is mined and transported? How do you think the reactor was built? And all the building material transported? That's right - trucks and machines - all of which emit carbon into the air.
What's more is these reactors take years to be fully operational - wasting precious time in our fight against global warming. We could have used that time and money more wisely, such as improved research and development in solar and wind power.
3 - What happens to all that radioactive waste?
20 to 30 tonnes of highly radioactive waste is produced by just one nuclear plant every year. This excludes what the authorities like to call "low" level radioactive waste produced in the rest of the supply chain - such as during the enrichment process.
4 - Any accident would be catastrophic:
Nuclear power plants are not as safe as they are said to be. They could easily be attacked and even if an accident happened, there are no realistic evacuation measures in place. Furthermore, thanks to the Price-Anderson Act, a utility company is liable for only $10.8 billion as opposed to the real potential damage of $600 billion! Who will be picking up the rest of the bill? The working-class taxpayers - that's who!
5 - Low-level radiation causes cancer:
Nuclear supporters are completely wrong in believing that radiation levels near reactors are "safe". What they do not know is that these level are only "safe" for healthy, white men. Children, who are more prone to cancer from radiation, are not even considered.
We have also been misled about how safe it really is to "dispose" of all this radioactive waste. There is no scientific proof to show where the safest place to dump the waste is. And more nuclear plants would make the problem worse. There are only so many "safe" storage facilities. Any additional waste would have to be either burned or dumped in landfills - leading to air and water pollution.
6 - Nuclear technology sets the stage for atomic weapons:
A country's national security always feels at threat when extremist countries start harnessing nuclear power. Just think about Israel attacking Syria's so-called nuclear site back in 2007, and how uneasy America was when Iran was developing its own nuclear program. Nuclear power sets the stage for the production of atomic bombs, so as long the number of reactors increases, the likelihood of terrorists getting their hands on nuclear weapons increases.
7 - There are greener energy solutions:
There already so many better, cheaper, "greener' ways to produce electricity today, that we are surprised nuclear power is still invested in so heavily. Why not spend those billions of dollars building more wind farms and solar power stations instead, and invest more in the technological advancement of these renewable energies?
But while we wait, it is possible to start harnessing renewable energy at home. What's more is, it does not cost very much and is rather simple to implement. Various solar and wind power guides have already become available, which you can see in our reviews section.
1 - It is expensive:
Nuclear power plants are definitely not a cheap investment. At around six to twelve billion dollars each - just for installation - taxpayers have subsidized billions of dollars to keep the utilities afloat. This money could have been invested in cleaner renewable energies instead.
2 - Does not aid global warming:
Nuclear is seen as a relatively clean alternative energy. But that is complete nonsense! While the reactor may not emit green-house gases, the rest of the activities certainly do. How do you think the uranium is mined and transported? How do you think the reactor was built? And all the building material transported? That's right - trucks and machines - all of which emit carbon into the air.
What's more is these reactors take years to be fully operational - wasting precious time in our fight against global warming. We could have used that time and money more wisely, such as improved research and development in solar and wind power.
3 - What happens to all that radioactive waste?
20 to 30 tonnes of highly radioactive waste is produced by just one nuclear plant every year. This excludes what the authorities like to call "low" level radioactive waste produced in the rest of the supply chain - such as during the enrichment process.
4 - Any accident would be catastrophic:
Nuclear power plants are not as safe as they are said to be. They could easily be attacked and even if an accident happened, there are no realistic evacuation measures in place. Furthermore, thanks to the Price-Anderson Act, a utility company is liable for only $10.8 billion as opposed to the real potential damage of $600 billion! Who will be picking up the rest of the bill? The working-class taxpayers - that's who!
5 - Low-level radiation causes cancer:
Nuclear supporters are completely wrong in believing that radiation levels near reactors are "safe". What they do not know is that these level are only "safe" for healthy, white men. Children, who are more prone to cancer from radiation, are not even considered.
We have also been misled about how safe it really is to "dispose" of all this radioactive waste. There is no scientific proof to show where the safest place to dump the waste is. And more nuclear plants would make the problem worse. There are only so many "safe" storage facilities. Any additional waste would have to be either burned or dumped in landfills - leading to air and water pollution.
6 - Nuclear technology sets the stage for atomic weapons:
A country's national security always feels at threat when extremist countries start harnessing nuclear power. Just think about Israel attacking Syria's so-called nuclear site back in 2007, and how uneasy America was when Iran was developing its own nuclear program. Nuclear power sets the stage for the production of atomic bombs, so as long the number of reactors increases, the likelihood of terrorists getting their hands on nuclear weapons increases.
7 - There are greener energy solutions:
There already so many better, cheaper, "greener' ways to produce electricity today, that we are surprised nuclear power is still invested in so heavily. Why not spend those billions of dollars building more wind farms and solar power stations instead, and invest more in the technological advancement of these renewable energies?
But while we wait, it is possible to start harnessing renewable energy at home. What's more is, it does not cost very much and is rather simple to implement. Various solar and wind power guides have already become available, which you can see in our reviews section.
About the Author:
So stop supporting nuclear power and learn to make your own power at home. But before you get the wrong advice, have a look inside the best diy energy manual - Earth4Energy - for free NOW! You can also read an in-depth Earth4Energy Review here.
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posted by SolveItQuick at
9:47 AM
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