| As both the demand and the cost of energy | | | | increases, our sources of energy - namely, |
| increases, our sources of energy - namely, | | | | non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels - keep |
| non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels - keep | | | | on decreasing. This dilemma, along with the |
| on decreasing. This dilemma, along with the | | | | effects of pollution, rising population, and the |
| effects of pollution, rising population, and the | | | | resultant global warming has led to a veritable |
| resultant global warming has led to a veritable | | | | energy shortage throughout the world. Are there |
| energy shortage throughout the world. Are there | | | | any practical solutions to this problem? |
| any practical solutions to this problem? There are | | | | There are some suggestions that one solution |
| some suggestions that one solution would be to | | | | would be to make further improvements on |
| make further improvements on already existing | | | | already existing sources of energy such as |
| sources of energy such as nuclear power. At | | | | nuclear power. At present, nuclear power supplies |
| present, nuclear power supplies only 16% of the | | | | only 16% of the world's energy. Certainly a clean |
| world's energy. Certainly a clean source of fuel like | | | | source of fuel like nuclear energy can be exploited |
| nuclear energy can be exploited further, if its | | | | further, if its harmful effects (radiation) can be |
| harmful effects (radiation) can be controlled. Our | | | | controlled. |
| traditional sources of energy - coal, oil, natural gas | | | | Our traditional sources of energy - coal, oil, natural |
| - are all limited in quantity as they are | | | | gas - are all limited in quantity as they are |
| non-renewable. Further, these sources are very | | | | non-renewable. Further, these sources are very |
| hard on the environment as they emit harmful | | | | hard on the environment as they emit harmful |
| green house gases that are one of the leading | | | | green house gases that are one of the leading |
| causes of global warming. Unlike these sources, | | | | causes of global warming. Unlike these sources, |
| nuclear power is completely emission-free and | | | | nuclear power is completely emission-free and |
| renewable. Nuclear power plants do not produce | | | | renewable. Nuclear power plants do not produce |
| any air-pollutants or greenhouse gases. The | | | | any air-pollutants or greenhouse gases. |
| Westinghouse Electric Company recently | | | | The Westinghouse Electric Company recently |
| introduced what can be described as the safest | | | | introduced what can be described as the safest |
| and most economically viable nuclear power plant | | | | and most economically viable nuclear power plant |
| in the world, called the AP1000. This is one of the | | | | in the world, called the AP1000. This is one of the |
| biggest developments in nuclear power in years | | | | biggest developments in nuclear power in years |
| and has given a lot of hope to several nations to | | | | and has given a lot of hope to several nations to |
| finally get access to safe nuclear power. This | | | | finally get access to safe nuclear power. |
| reactor, the AP1000, has been based on more | | | | This reactor, the AP1000, has been based on |
| than 20 years of research and development by | | | | more than 20 years of research and |
| the Westinghouse Company, which has spent | | | | development by the Westinghouse Company, |
| countless millions perfecting and improving the | | | | which has spent countless millions perfecting and |
| major components used in current nuclear plants. | | | | improving the major components used in current |
| Essentially, the company used the established | | | | nuclear plants. |
| technology as a starting point, innovating and | | | | Essentially, the company used the established |
| improving whatever technology already existed to | | | | technology as a starting point, innovating and |
| create the world's largest and safest power plant | | | | improving whatever technology already existed to |
| that can offer competitively priced, low polluting | | | | create the world's largest and safest power plant |
| power to the world. This innovation by the | | | | that can offer competitively priced, low polluting |
| Westinghouse Company in the design and | | | | power to the world. |
| production of the AP1000 shows that alongside | | | | This innovation by the Westinghouse Company in |
| researching new sources of energy, existing | | | | the design and production of the AP1000 shows |
| sources should also be perfected to extract the | | | | that alongside researching new sources of energy, |
| most out of them. | | | | existing sources should also be perfected to |
| As both the demand and the cost of energy | | | | extract the most out of them. |