Global economies are beginning to transition away from carbon-based energy sources. But it’s increasingly obvious that renewable sources such as wind and solar are simply not enough to satisfy America’s need for energy. Despite their significant environmental benefits, renewable power sources have some serious limitations.
The solution? Nuclear power. Nuclear is a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly power source that can supplement renewable options. Nuclear plants, in contrast, run effectively around the clock at high utilization rates and are designed to require refueling only every 18- to 24 months, surpassing the capacity utilization of coal or natural gas generators, which require more frequent refueling and maintenance.
Safety concerns While nuclear-power plant disasters including Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima loom large, the actual human costs pale in comparison to the historical death toll from the extraction and refinement of traditional fossil fuels. The total death toll from Chernobyl, including first responders and clean-up workers, was 30 people, according to a 2008 United Nations report. Neither the Three Mile Island nor Fukushima meltdowns resulted in any direct deaths. Fortunately, the industry has learned from these situations, retrofitting existing plants and designing future plants to account for such extreme scenarios.
Moving forward Despite these headwinds, the long-term prospects for nuclear energy are strong. For starters, policymakers and investors now acknowledge the benefits of nuclear power, and are devoting greater research and resources into its development as a sustainable solution.
Bit nuclear power is the preferred power source for submarines? Why is that I wonder?
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