Nuclear Energy

One major source of energy that could greatly help us reach our capacity goals is nuclear power. Increasing this form of energy to our current mix would greatly benefit our environment and our pocket books. As Europe has learned, nuclear power is one of the most effective and efficient ways to produce electricity. In France alone, over 75% of its electricity is produced by Nuclear Power. In England it is 60%.

After reviewing the information below, you will wonder why we have not developed any new nuclear generation capacity in the USA since 1973.

There are several major reasons that Nuclear power is good for the USA. The energy produced per amount of material consumed is the highest available. Costs are competitive with coal, the major source used in the world. Uranium, the source material, is abundant. Plutonium, a by-product of commercial nuclear plant operation, can also be used as a fuel. The amount of waste produced is the least of any major energy production process.

Nuclear energy provides benefits other than electricity generation. Uranium-235 is the isotope of uranium that is used in nuclear reactors. Uranium-235 can produce 3.7 million times as much energy as the same amount of coal. As an example, seven trucks each carrying six cases of two twelve foot high fuel assembles, can fuel a 1000 Megawatt-electrical (MWe) reactor for 1.5 years. During this period,~ 2 metric tons of Uranium-235 (of the 100 metric tons of fuel - uranium dioxide) would be consumed. To operate a coal plant of the same output would require 1 train of 89-100 ton coal cars each, every day.