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Those expiration dates initiate the discussions if the licenses should be renewed for the plants to continue running, or if they should be shut down forever and, therefore, exclude nuclear power from the U.S. energy sources. Especially the most recent disaster in Fukushima, Japan, has resulted in even more objections towards nuclear energy. However, despite the controversies and the recent nuclear disaster in Japan, the United States should continue investing in nuclear plants to support nuclear energy as an alternative energy source. Nuclear power has more economical and ecological benefits than other alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal power. Therefore, the United States should invest in my research on the maintenance of existing power plants to extend their licenses and on the plan of building more nuclear plants to turn nuclear power into the primary energy source for the United States.
N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. "Nuclear Power in the World Today." Nuclear Power Today.
These fuel rods or enriched uranium that would otherwise be stored for long periods of time after being exhausted could now be reused to make more energy. Henceforth, the improvements towards nuclear reactors contribute creating more power for an inexpensive price. Additionally, energy that is created from a nuclear reactor is the result of uranium atoms splitting or nuclear fission. This process in a CANDU reactor requires numerous fuel bundles each containing 25 kilograms of uranium. Each fuel bundle can sustain 100 homes for a year.
World Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. "ORNL Research Areas." Fusion Energy Division.