Chemical Guide

Nuclear power isn’t just another form of electrical generation in the United State, despite the fact that it provides nearly 20 percent of our electricity. Since the partial core meltdown at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island power plant in 1979, nuclear has become something of a litmus test for many, but not all, environmentalists.

Proponents point to nuclear’s low-carbon emissions. Opponents point to Chernobyl — the Soviet plant that exploded and burned in April, 1986, releasing a radioactive plume that killed hundreds, perhaps more.

Proponents point to the particulates released by coal-burning power plants, which, according to some estimates, cause 20,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S. alone. Opponents point to the enormous cost of building a nuclear power plant and question whether the industry is economically viable without taxpayers footing much of the bill.

Proponents point to the enormous energy density of the fuel (the amount of energy contained per unit). Opponents question the long-term safety of nuclear waste.

Source: Blogs.forbes.com