Nuclear Power Is Awesome

Energy consumption has been a major concern for the world for many years. Power generation companies are struggling to keep up with the rapidly increasing energy demand. The increase in energy demand has resulted in more pressure for the energy industry, but also more pollution released by the power plants. In the recent years, the energy industry has been focusing on finding an alternate energy source that is cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable. A huge amount of research and development money has gone into solar and wind power. However, the researchers are only heading towards a dead end. Even though solar and wind may be clean, their reliability, cost, as well as expansion speed are exceptionally lacking. The only alternative energy source that is comparable to coal and petroleum is nuclear power. Not only is nuclear power more efficient than either of the two main energy sources; it is also cheaper and much cleaner. In fact, nuclear power is the cleanest, most efficient, and most reliable way to generate power.

History has shown us the tremendous power of nuclear energy. Consequently, our minds are also engraved with misleading images about nuclear power. From the bomb dropping at Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the tragedy at Chernobyl, nuclear power has been seen as nothing other than the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. Because of this, nuclear power generation has hit many rough bumps in its path to dominance. In fact, many regulations are designed to slow down and restrict the development of nuclear power. What would the state of nuclear power generation be if these events did not happen? Would people still turn away from fear?

Foreign Affairs reports that 63.7% of the world’s energy is produced from petroleum and coal (Rhodes and Beller, 2000, p.31). Coal-burning releases various amounts of harmful and toxic materials into the atmosphere, which include sulfur, nitrogen oxide (main cause of acid rains), arsenic, mercury, lead (extremely toxic elements),...