Looking through the comments from the previous entry, someone mentioned nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels. While technically, it is a good alternative, I’m well aware of the risks of that. I don’t want to be irradiated and have all my hair fall out after growing it out! And it’s something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
I did a bit of research and I see that nuclear power has come a long way from before. I’m still opposed to it because of the risks, but if this type of technology keeps growing, and the huge load it will take off the coal and oil plants, I may have to change my mind.
A big problem before was nuclear waste…now they can recycle the waste back into the plant! I also saw innovative security measures and devices, and fail-safes as well. If science keeps it up and keeps proving that they can make nuclear completely safe, consider me a convert.
There’s also clean coal. However, I think nuclear is going to advance faster than clean coal, and maybe, sometime in the future, we will be using both for our primary power needs.
I’m not all for nuclear yet, but I have my hopes up.
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Nuclear power definitely has drawbacks, but you have to keep in mind that coal is just as dangerous although the effects are often ignored. When you burn coal it releases radioactive materials (such as uranium and thorium) in the air, as well as mercury and other more standard pollutants. At least with nuclear power the waste is mainly localized to the fuel rods that can be buried somewhere. It is true that nuclear plants can go critical and release poisonous gases, but coal is doing that constantly.
And while “clean coal” does make the air output less for some of the heavier elements it still leaves you with the same problem as nuclear except with a much lower energy output. The radioactive materials are left in ash that needs to be disposed in a “safe” location.
Gas is a good method of producing energy, but there’s a rather limited supply when contrasted the amount of coal available. And with gas we need to extract it mainly from dangerous nations.
The real answers are to use less power (not likely to happen) and to use renewable sources such as solar, hydro, wind, etc. Luckily the renewable sources have begun to be used more, especially since petroleum prices have been increasing.
By Vernalex on 04.30.08 5:26 pm | Permalink
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