Why its an important topic in politics and the environmental field

Crystal River, FL Nuclear Power Plant

Sustainable Growth
Because of the growing human population, and thus our impact on the natural world, the idea of sustainable growth is important.

What is it? -Sustainable Growth is the idea of continued growth that is supportable without affecting the quality of life of both people and the environment

The BIG Factor of Current Environmental Policy: Energy

Energy production and use is interconnected with many facets of everyday life such as transportation, land use, and population growth

However, these factors are related to many environmental impacts;

-habitat destruction -carbon dioxide emissions -water use/pollution

Current Energy Production and the Environment

Fuel-Based energy is the current major form of energy production However, it is not sustainable because;
-limited availability of natural gas and coal - the carbon emissions associated with use and production of energy -it is inefficient to process, transport, and refine fossil fuels

Alternative Energy Production

Alternative Energy is any non fuel-based energy production.
-fuel based energy production is not environmentally friendly because of the limited availability of fuel, carbon emissions, and the inefficiency of its production

Examples of Alternative Energy sources include;

-nuclear energy -solar power, -hydroelectric power, -geothermal energy, and -biomass energy

Why Nuclear Energy?

nuclear energy production is 20,000 times more efficient than coal-based electricity production when compared gram for gram of uranium versus coal. (Thinkquest) We already have many nuclear energy production facilities in place in the United States and globally It is a renewable source of energy No greenhouse gas emissions The annual average amount of waste could fit on top of your kitchen table top!
http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/01335/nuclear.htm

So, What is Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear energy is a product of fission, or the splitting of uranium atoms. This process releases energy in the form of heat, which is transferred to a form that is usable in a turbine.

Image from: http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/01335/nuclear.htm

How Does Nuclear Energy Work?

3. The heat in the reactor core causes the water contained within the pressurized water reactor, which is continuously cycling water throughout its circuit, to heat up. 2. Breaking the bonds within the atom releases heat in the reactor core. 1. Fission of a Uranium atom occurs in the reactor core where the control rods are responsible for breaking the uranium atom. 4. The heated water allows the cold water at the bottom of the steam generator to be heated up enough to become steam (indicated by the pink color) 5. The steam is pressurized, which causes it to move through the steam generator and to the turbine, where it spins the turbine. As the steam cools, it returns to liquid form (indicated by blue) in the condenser. 6. The spinning of the turbine creates friction in the generator, which can be stored as electricity. This is a Pressurized Water Reactor and among the simplest and most common in use today

Image from http://portofcoupeville.org/data/energy/nuclearenergy.html

Current Nuclear Energy Use in the United States

The United States is the number one producer of nuclear energy -produces more than 30% of global production The United States currently has 103 operable nuclear reactors Nuclear energy production accounts for 19% of the United States total electrical output
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/USA--Nuclear-Power/

Nuclear Energy in Florida

Florida has five operating nuclear power facilities
-these supply 99% of the states emissions free electricity

Floridas Electricity Generation Nuclear Coal Oil Gas Hydro Renewable and other

Percentages 9.8% 24.3% 0.6% 61.9% 0.1% 3.3%

9.8% of electricity comes from nuclear power These power plants avoided 6000 tons of nitrous oxides, which is the same as removing 324,000 passenger cars

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2011

Nuclear energy policy/regulation in the US

The US Department of Energy (DOE)
-A government agency created to help Americas energy crisis and bring together all previous energy research/regulation initiatives -operates the governments 21 national laboratories, all others belong to the private sector -largely concerned with civilian use of nuclear energy as well as private sector use

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

-independent government agency responsible for the regulation of the nuclear industry -From building the nuclear facilities to maintaining them to producing nuclear energy, the NRC is involved

The Energy Policy Act (2005)

-provided many incentives at the private sector-level for nuclear energy development

Nuclear Energy Use Worldwide

Each of the countries average energy output is color-coded based upon the percentage produced by a given energy source

The Potential Negatives of Nuclear Energy

Fear of reactor meltdown Majority of known uranium deposits lie under protected lands No long-term waste storage sites in the US High construction costs

The Talked-About Meltdowns

Three Mile Island, 1979 Chernobyl, 1986 Fukushima 1, 2011

CNN news report of the state of recovery six weeks after the Fukushima 1 disaster; http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/japan.fukushima.future/index.html

The future of nuclear energy

Although the debate on nuclear reactor safety is a big one, many countries are still planning to move forward with nuclear energy With the facilities in place, it is a majorly convenient form of alternative energy production, though to increase the overall production of nuclear energy would require new facilities More research is being done all the time on nuclear energy, facility safety, and more to minimize the likelihood of radioactive escape There are plans for at least 60 more facilities to be built worldwide

Conclusion about Nuclear Energy

Because of the radioactive nature of nuclear energy, its long-term use is questionable However, in the immediate future nuclear energy is a viable, efficient means of providing electricity while helping to minimalize the environmental impact Overall, many of the facilities are safe and another major meltdown is not likely while facilities are properly maintained.

References
Buzz, Presidio. Nuclear Energy: Pros and Cons. 23 February 2009. 6 April 2013. <http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/02/nuclear-energypros-and-cons/>. Nuclear Energy Institute. Nuclear Energy in Florida. July 2012. 6 April 2013. <http://www.nei.org/filefolder/Florida_Fact_Sheet.pdf>. Oracle ThinkQuest. Alternative Energy Resources. n.d. 6 April 2013. <http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/01335/nuclear.htm>. World Nuclear Association. Nuclear Basics. n.d. 6 April 2013. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/>.