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Benefits of nuclear energy just don’t stack up

Nuclear benefits overstated Brady Skaff, Mankato Free Press November 12, 2009 . ,,,,,,,,,

A typical-sized plant still produces over 250,000 tons of carbon each year. When looking at a power plant, you are talking about mining uranium, refining fuel, construction of the plant, and operating the plant 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But it is important to realize, nuclear power plants still emit slightly less carbon than clean coal.

The editorial also mentions the problem of storing nuclear waste. At a time when the federal government is finally closing down the nation’s largest nuclear waste site, Yucca Mountain, it is growing increasingly costly to store the waste that comes with providing energy via nuclear power.

Does the environmental and financial cost of storing these harmful byproducts outweigh the benefit of utilizing nuclear power?

Perhaps other alternative sources should be reconsidered as a base for our energy use. Wind energy requires comparable levels of carbon as power plants when producing the windmills, but the long-term levels of carbon emitted are non-existent. After all, long-term consequences are at stake in addressing climate change.

 

The Free Press, Mankato, MN – Your View: Nuclear benefits overstated

November 14, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes