Given that there are two sides to every argument with advantages and disadvantages of the continued use of nuclear energy, and given the risks versus the benefits of nuclear power as presented in the lecture and the reading material thus far: Are you concerned with the continued use of nuclear power in our US energy portfolio? Why or Why not?
After reading about nuclear energy I find that having nuclear power has value and should continued to be included in the U.S. energy portfolio.
Today, the U.S. currently has over hundred nuclear power reactors in several states that generate nuclear energy for electricity for homes and businesses; most of these stations are located in the Midwest and along the East Coast, with just four located on the West Coast (earthquakes?). We all read about the catastrophe at Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant back on March 11, 2011 in which the Tohoku earthquake disrupted the plant and the entire plant had to be shutoff. However, like more statisticians would say, what are the risks of that happening to the U.S. or elsewhere in the world so soon afterwards (EIA 2012)?
According to the World Nuclear News (2012) China is not afraid and is installing nuclear reactors as 27 new reactors will be online by 2015. The EIA (2012) mentions that the U.S. was the top nuclear generating country (out of 31), making nearly 800 billion KWh in 2011. This means economic profit for this country so the concept of shutting down is highly unlikely due to political input. Nuclear waste may be hazardous but not if stored and processed accurately; most of the commercial waste is (stored in water pools or dry casks not buried at the site) near the nuclear site. On the positive side of nuclear energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NCR) reported receiving applications to create 27 new reactors, which will provide over 15 gigawatts of nuclear capacity between 2010 and 2035.
The World Nuclear Association (WNA 2012) mentions that the global population is currently at over six billion people and will reach nine billion by 2050; as the population grows, energy supply must also. Fossil fuel is dirty and unsustainable, while nuclear energy is cleaner energy. As alternative and renewable energies are researched, the technology is improved, safety features are enhanced, and operating procedures are documented and regulated making nuclear energy safer to use.
References:
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2012. What is the status of the U.S. nuclear industry? http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/nuclear_industry.cfm (accessed June 13, 2012).
World Nuclear Association (WNA). 2012. The central challenge: decarbonizing energy. http://www.world-nuclear.org/outlook/clean_energy_need.html (accessed June 13, 2012).
World Nuclear News. 2012. Latest Chinese nuclear milestone. http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Latest_Chinese_nuclear_milestone_1306121.html (accessed June 13, 2012).
After reading about nuclear energy I find that having nuclear power has value and should continued to be included in the U.S. energy portfolio.
Today, the U.S. currently has over hundred nuclear power reactors in several states that generate nuclear energy for electricity for homes and businesses; most of these stations are located in the Midwest and along the East Coast, with just four located on the West Coast (earthquakes?). We all read about the catastrophe at Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant back on March 11, 2011 in which the Tohoku earthquake disrupted the plant and the entire plant had to be shutoff. However, like more statisticians would say, what are the risks of that happening to the U.S. or elsewhere in the world so soon afterwards (EIA 2012)?
According to the World Nuclear News (2012) China is not afraid and is installing nuclear reactors as 27 new reactors will be online by 2015. The EIA (2012) mentions that the U.S. was the top nuclear generating country (out of 31), making nearly 800 billion KWh in 2011. This means economic profit for this country so the concept of shutting down is highly unlikely due to political input. Nuclear waste may be hazardous but not if stored and processed accurately; most of the commercial waste is (stored in water pools or dry casks not buried at the site) near the nuclear site. On the positive side of nuclear energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NCR) reported receiving applications to create 27 new reactors, which will provide over 15 gigawatts of nuclear capacity between 2010 and 2035.
The World Nuclear Association (WNA 2012) mentions that the global population is currently at over six billion people and will reach nine billion by 2050; as the population grows, energy supply must also. Fossil fuel is dirty and unsustainable, while nuclear energy is cleaner energy. As alternative and renewable energies are researched, the technology is improved, safety features are enhanced, and operating procedures are documented and regulated making nuclear energy safer to use.
References:
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2012. What is the status of the U.S. nuclear industry? http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/nuclear_industry.cfm (accessed June 13, 2012).
World Nuclear Association (WNA). 2012. The central challenge: decarbonizing energy. http://www.world-nuclear.org/outlook/clean_energy_need.html (accessed June 13, 2012).
World Nuclear News. 2012. Latest Chinese nuclear milestone. http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Latest_Chinese_nuclear_milestone_1306121.html (accessed June 13, 2012).
No comments:
Post a Comment