Nuclear Energy and Hydroelectric Energy: Pros and Cons

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Nuclear Energy Nuclear reactors are the future of energy production. Nuclear energy can produce over 500 zeta joules of power; which is equal to about 1000 times the current energy consumption of the world. The usage of nuclear energy is declining and if power companies do not begin utilizing nuclear energy, a lot of needless pollution will be released into the atmosphere causing further damage to our already badly damaged planet. Usage of nuclear energy had been steadily rising until the fukushima disaster in Japan. This disaster caused nuclear energy usage and acceptance to drop drastically. Germany began phasing out nuclear energy and plan to have all reactors shutdown by 2022. Nuclear energy should be fully utilized because nuclear reactors have a high energy output, great longevity, and lower carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear reactors can produce endless amounts of energy for a low input cost and minimal fuel consumption. Reactors produce about six percent of the world's energy and is used as a primary energy source in one country; France. France has seventy six percent of its energy created by nuclear energy and an accident has never occurred. This article was peer reviewed and the author, Alexander Stanculescu, works at the Idaho National Laboratory and collaborates his research with the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, nuclear energy is not the only source of energy that can produce a plethora of energy. There are not only cheaper options, but safer ones as well. Nuclear disaster are devastating events and will have massive implications on the environment. Also, the long term storage of nuclear waste is a problem that still exists and has not been solved for sixty years. Hydroelectric energy is not only che... ... middle of paper ... ... Public Acceptance Of Nuclear Energy."Energy Policy 61.(2013): 822-828. Business Source Elite. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. "Public Acceptance Of Nuclear -- How Can It Be Fixed?." Mechanical Engineering 135.6 (2013): 53-54. Business Source Elite. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. Schenkel, Roland. "Nuclear Energy Acceptance And Potential Role To Meet Future Energy Demand. Which Technical/Scientific Achievements Are Needed?." AIP Conference Proceedings 1442.1 (2012): 356-364. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. Stanculescu, Alexander. "Overview Of Nuclear Energy: Present And Projected Use." AIP Conference Proceedings 1442.1 (2012): 112-123.Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. Williams, Pete M., and Alexander Smith. "Truck Carrying 'extremely Dangerous' Radioactive Material Found after It Was Stolen in Mexico." NBC News. National Broadcasting Company, 3 Dec. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

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