by Ryan P

Created on: March 27, 2009

To claim nuclear power to be the "answer" to global warming would not be entirely correct. The effect of global warming is unpreventable, and thus, has no answer. The effects attributed to global warming, I believe, are due to cyclical changes to the intrinsic properties of the Earth and Sun.

Will nuclear energy lessen the human component on climate change? Most certainly.

Nuclear power is a societal godsend. It is clean, efficient, and safe. Allow me to elaborate.

Nuclear power does not pollute the atmosphere. The uncontrolled pollutant produced by nuclear power is heat, which is unavoidable in most power sources. The levels of heat produced are not unreasonable when compared to the heat production of other industries. I find it hard to even consider heat as a pollutant; it is more of a byproduct.

Nuclear power is extremely safe. The first US nuclear power plant was built near the end of 1957. In the half-century since its origin, nuclear power plants on American soil have been responsible for zero fatalities.

Nuclear waste is a valid concern, but waste can be stored. Yucca Mountain, for example, represents a viable option for housing waste. The waste is transported in insulated containers which are sturdy enough to be burned in jet fuel and hit by trains. Waste storage is not scary.

Why wouldn't we want to use nuclear power? The three biggest arguments used against nuclear energy are: the Chernobyl disaster, the Three Mile Island incident, and terrorist attack. Allow me to retort.

The terrible incident at Chernobyl, was indeed, terrible. A nuclear reactor exploded. Should we be worried? No. This reactor was built in the Soviet Union in the sixties. Not the safest of times. After rotting in Russia for twenty years, it exploded. Many people died, but I seriously doubt the death toll comes close to that of people who die mining coal. If anything this incident was a learning experience, however, the lesson is to increase safety, not abandon technology.

Three Mile Island was another bad incident. I reactor split and spilled nuclear material into the surrounding area. The highest amount of radiation anyone was exposed to was about equivalent to a chest x-ray. Scary, but another lesson in safety to be learned.

Should we, as a society, shun technology that may be used against us? Should we cease building planes and tall building for fear that some terrorist may be able to use them against us? No. We shouldn't let that threat be a deterrent on the beautiful technology that is nuclear energy.

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