Nuclear Debate

Nuclear power is one of those "topics" debated about. Now, I support nuclear power, and, thus am going to tell you that it is good, but, it is your decision. The pros of Nuclear power: It's a cheap, reliable source of electricity. Only 150 tons of nuclear fuel is needed to produce as much electricity as 2,325,000 tons of coal. Although Nuclear power is easy, it produces a unique challenge for designers and operators. All nuclear power plants produce radiation inside of the reactor, where it is protected by concrete walls that are very thick. In the case that the reactor core heats and begins melting (unofficially called a meltdown), the concrete shield is the last line of defense. Nuclear plant designed in the western hemisphere (including the United States) is far more sophisticated than those located in the eastern hemisphere. The Chernobyl accident was caused by well, not using the reactor the way it should be. Chernobyl Nuclear was located in the former USSR, in Ukraine. That nuclear accident released a dangerous amount of radiation into the atmosphere, which eventually went all the way around the world, because the only had a thin steel shield installed, instead of many feet of concrete. The only severe accident in the US was the three mile accident. A small amount of radiation had escaped, but no injuries were reported.