| The thought of nuclear power still bring images to | | | | offers significant cost savings in energy |
| mind of the Cold War, the Chernobyl accident in | | | | production, it can take years to recoup the initial |
| the mid-1980's and the proliferation of destructive | | | | investment in the facility. Another drawback is |
| weapons. We remember the recent past well. | | | | that converting nuclear power into usable |
| Those images are hard to dispel. So, it's | | | | electricity results in significant nuclear waste. |
| understandable if the public approaches the idea of | | | | Storage of this waste is problematic because it |
| building nuclear facilities with caution. But, nuclear | | | | involves political concessions. Because the political |
| power is being used today to produce a relatively | | | | environment can be volatile and unpredictable, |
| low-cost source of energy. There are significant | | | | decisions made during one administration may be |
| benefits (and a few drawbacks) of doing so. In | | | | overruled or changed during a subsequent |
| this article, you'll discover what those advantages | | | | administration. |
| and disadvantages are. We'll also briefly discuss | | | | The Future Of Nuclear Power For Energy |
| the future of nuclear power as an alternative | | | | Some claim that the lack of new nuclear facilities |
| energy source. | | | | being built is a clear signal that the world is moving |
| Advantages Of Nuclear Power | | | | away from using nuclear power as an alternative |
| One of the main advantages of using nuclear | | | | energy source. But, that perspective may be |
| power is that producing energy through it is less | | | | short-sighted. In truth, substantial investment |
| expensive than using our rapidly depleting | | | | continues to be poured into the research of |
| inventory of fossil fuels. This is due, in part, to the | | | | nuclear power. As the costs of using fossil fuels |
| high levels of energy released by nuclear fission | | | | to generate usable power climbs and global |
| (splitting the nucleus of an atom). It's also due to | | | | warming becoming an ever-present topic of |
| the availability and relative low-cost of uranium. It's | | | | concern, many industry experts expect demand |
| estimated that uranium reserves throughout the | | | | for low-cost, environmentally friendly nuclear |
| world are sufficient to last over 100 years. | | | | power will grow. |
| Another benefit is that the process of converting | | | | Major countries such as Japan, India and the |
| nuclear power into usable electricity doesn't | | | | United States are aggressively pursuing the use |
| release greenhouse gases into the environment. | | | | of nuclear power as an energy source. In fact, |
| Even other alternative energy sources such as | | | | Japan recently (in 2005) finalized construction on a |
| solar and wind energy release small quantities of | | | | new nuclear facility, displaying their dedication to |
| greenhouse gas. | | | | its potential. As we deplete our current reserves |
| Disadvantages Of Nuclear Power | | | | of fossil fuels, it's likely that nuclear power will |
| The cost to build and maintain a nuclear facility is | | | | become more prevalent as an alternative energy |
| substantial. That means that while nuclear power | | | | source. |