The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Power

In the modern era, humans face a crisis. A crisis that threatens not only the human race, but all of Earth’s life. The constant cycle of burning fossil fuels in order to sustain the global infrastructure pollutes the planet and strains its biodiversity. There are many who oppose the current exploitation of the Earth, seeking environmentally sound, yet economically viable alternatives. Nuclear energy is one such substitute, having ceaselessly improved technology and standards over the past several decades. Within the past few years, nuclear power has presented itself as an ideal power source: clean, safe, and incredibly efficient. It’s because of this that nuclear energy proves that it is ultimately the best current alternative to fossil fuels.

The public’s main cause for concern lies in the possibility of an accident, potentially causing many fatal illnesses as well as costing billions of dollars in damage. In the Chernobyl incident, extensive radiation prompted hundreds of thousands of people to vacate their residences with an additional 110,000 more people leaving after a period of time. In addition, the disaster resulted in $12.8 billion dollars in damages and led to a drastic increase in cancer rates to people involved (Nuclear Energy). Despite advances in technology to mitigate risks, factors such as the deterioration of components, flaws within safety protocols, and lapses in judgment can still facilitate disastrous effects (Nuclear power). Threats to public safety are not limited to potential nuclear reactor meltdowns. Another safety predicament is the lack of effective and permanent nuclear waste disposal. Emissions of radioactive refuse from nuclear power plants and subterranean caches contaminate surrounding areas, such as groundwater, harming people and polluting the water (NPNSS). Numerous propositions have been created for waste disposal, but must first overcome political and public opposition. For example, a proposal to store radioactive waste within Yucca Mountain in Nevada was suspended by President Obama (Nuclear Energy).

The distinction between nuclear energy and renewables, however, is that renewable sources are either unstable or dependent on environmental factors. Solar energy requires sunlight, and is thus ineffective in climates known to be cloudy. Wind energy shares a similar fate, requiring wind, which tends to fluctuate in most locations. Hydroelectric power is limited to areas which have both a water reservoir and changing elevations. Additionally, hydroelectric dams disturb aquatic life, both displacing organisms and posing a threat to aquatic life with the use of deadly turbines