A nuclear reactor can explode like a nuclear bomb. I share the insight I’ve gained as well as a quote from Bill Gates: “Nuclear energy, in terms of an overall safety record, is better than other energy.”. Nuclear energy presents a safe, clean, and inexpensive alternative to other methods of producing electricity. The use of nuclear energy in place of other energy sources helps keep the air clean and prevents acid rain. Currently, there are no long-term storage solutions for radioactive waste, and most is stored in temporary, above-ground facilities. Nuclear Energy Pros. A plant employee’s family was awarded a settlement after the worker developed cancer, but it is highly unlikely the cancer was caused by the accident. In addition, every plant keeps and updates emergency response plans that are approved by both the NRC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The waste generated by nuclear reactors remains radioactive for tens to hundreds of thousands of years (1). Yet, despite the media hysteria, not one person at the nuclear plant died because of radiation leaks. Nuclear energy has a lot of myths and it makes people wonder if it’s really safe or not for nature and all living beings. The goal is to save humanity. Some of these barriers include the rods that encase the reactor’s uranium fuel, massive steel vessels and piping that contain the fuel rods and cooling system and a highly robust building that houses the reactor, which is made with steel-reinforced concrete that is several feet thick. Related: “Can We Rely on Wind and Solar Energy?” – Alex Epstein. Because it doesn’t to me. Â, But maybe I’m not giving enough weight to the safety argument, so let’s take a closer look at that since no one, not even the most radical environmentalist, disputes that nuclear power produces massive amounts of energy cleanly and efficiently.Â, Safety, like everything else, is a matter of context. The industry formed an independent third party called the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) to set best practices for and conduct regular evaluations of plants’ performance in safety and operations. It’s also cheaper to create, abundant, and safe. The Sierra, Club, one of the anti-nuclear groups that now litigates against nuclear energy, was once a great proponent of it. A single nuclear reactor uses about 13 acres of … Surely that’s terribly harmful.Â, Actually, no. Its main role is to inform and educate Americans on the role of nuclear energy. It would never have occurred in the West. All the more reason to adopt President Kennedy’s definition of conservation. The NRC enforces a vast array of regulations and assigns at least two NRC resident inspectors to every U.S. nuclear energy plant, where they each conduct more than 2,000 hours of baseline inspections each year. A diverse fuel supply provides resiliency and price stability. And just because nuclear pollution is invisible doesn’t mean it’s clean. The deaths that occurred in the area were the result of the tsunami. Nuclear is still Clean, Reliable, and Safe Energy | City Journal A t the heart of the sprawling Indian Point Energy Center, 30 miles up the Hudson River from Manhattan, stands a modest, oblate structure easy to overlook at first glance. Safety is further ensured through highly capable and well-trained operators, licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), as well as detailed written procedures. Rather than solar, wind, coal, oil, or natural gas, however, France most heavily relies on nuclear power, getting around 70% of its power from one carbon-free source. That means that safety is the highest priority and that every decision, step and precaution is grounded in that approach. The U-235 pellets are stacked in 12-foot zirconium alloy tubes, that are resistant to corrosion, radiation and heat, to form fuel rods. Considering the evidence listed above, it is clear that nuclear energy, when handled properly, is extremely safe and good for the environment. Knowing the pros and cons of nuclear energy will help you decide for yourself whether this energy resource is a good decision for our future energy needs and for the planet. Nuclear energy is safe, clean and efficient. Here at the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, we strive to provide power – clean and natural. The United States is the only country to have resident inspectors. But the anti-nuclear movement with the help of their media allies have spent a tremendous amount of time and money obscuring the facts. Con. Nuclear power is also clean in the sense that it produces a lot of energy for its small physical footprint. Three Mile Island in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986, and Fukushima in 2011.Â, There was an accident at the plant, yes, but the amount of radiation that leaked was no more than one might receive taking a chest x-ray. 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