Nuclear Energy: The Only Way To Meet Our Electrical Energy Needs

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The United States needs a change in its energy sources. Oil, first of all, is a scarce resource that will eventually run out, and it also makes the U.S. depend on the political situation in other countries, as can be seen at the frequent changes in oil prices due to the political situation in the Middle-East. Alternative energy sources are an important issue to consider and nuclear energy is certainly the most controversial. There are currently 104 nuclear power plants operating in the United States, but the licenses of those plants will expire in foreseeable future, the first one already in 2013 and the last one in 2046 (Nuclear Energy Inst.). 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. However, there exist various antinuclear groups that are opposing nuclear power as a source for alternative energy. Harry Henderson names in his book Nuclear Power sever... ... middle of paper ... ...te, 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. “Environmentalists.” Nuclear Energy Institute. Nuclear Energy Institute, 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Power Generation.” World Nuclear Association. World Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Henderson, Harry. Nuclear Power. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2000. Print. Nuclear Energy Institute. Nuclear Energy Institute. NEI, 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. Nuclear Energy Institute. U.S. Electricity Production Costs (1995 – 2009). Nuclear Energy Institute, 2011. PPT file. 13 Apr. 2011. Nuclear Energy Institute. U.S. Nuclear License Renewal Filings. Nuclear Energy Institute, 2011. XLS file. 11 Apr. 2011. “Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors.” World Nuclear Association. World Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. World Nuclear Association. World Nuclear Association. WNA, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.

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