by David Kramer

Created on: July 02, 2010   Last Updated: July 03, 2010

Global warming is a concern of many today. As a result, alternative energy solutions are in the spotlight to find ways of reducing the carbon dioxide levels put into the air from traditional forms of energy generation, like coal. Nuclear energy is considered by some to be an alternative for reducing carbon emissions.  This article describes why it is not the answer to global warming.

The theory of global warming is that humans are producing more carbon output, specifically carbon dioxide, and causing the planet to warm up.  Carbon dioxide is a natural by-product of most combustion processes.  It occurs when animals and we breathe, it occurs in fires natural to human made, and it occurs in burning coal or other hydrocarbon fuel sources like methane or gasoline.

Nuclear energy and coal plants work in the same process.  Heat is generated to develop steam, which is then used to turn a turbine that turns a generator to produce electricity.  The difference between the two is how heat is generated.   In coal plants, burning the coal generates heat.  This produces a number of hazardous emissions, including carbon dioxide.  In nuclear plants, heat is generated by bombarding atoms with neutrons and splitting them, which creates it’s own form of hazardous materials.

Nuclear plants are far more efficient.  Nuclear plants, pound for pound, produce far less waste products.  Contrary to popular belief, a nuclear plant is not like a nuclear bomb in that a nuclear plant will not explode like a nuclear bomb.  A nuclear plant can melt down by producing enough heat it will burn through the core of the station and release radioactivity into the environment, but there are many controls and redundant controls in place to prevent that from happening.

Between the two options, nuclear is a much more environmentally friendly alternative as long as the waste products are contained.  Health-wise, if one had to make a choice, it would be wiser to live next door to a nuclear plant than a coal plant in that a coal plant sends a large quantity of it’s waste by-products into the atmosphere.

The question remains as to whether or not nuclear power is the answer to global warming.  If global warming is indeed true, it can help.  The deeper question is whether or not global warming is an issue and if it is an issue, what is really creating it? 

There have been millions, if not billions of dollars spent researching

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