waste

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More Nuclear Power is a Mistake for the Future

Jampole, M. (2014, September 2). Nrc storage decision may lead to building of more dangerous   nuclear power plants. Retrieved September 7, 2014, from OpEdNews.com website:          http://www.opednews.com/articles/NRC-storage-decision-may-l-by-Marc-Jampole-      Nuclear-Energy-Plants_Nuclear-Regulatory-Commission_President-            Obama_Radioactivity-140902-662.html?show=votes#allcomments

 

The NRC’s decision to allow power plants to store waste in above ground casks is a mistake. Using nuclear power for electricity is dangerous, and less money will be spent on solar and wind energy. With a half- life of 25,000 years, some waste will continue to exist far into the future, posing a threat to future civilizations. We should not leave the problem of spent nuclear fuel to future generation, no matter how far in the future a problem could arise.

 

This article highlights an important environmental and economic moral debate: whether is it ethical to leave problems of today to future generations. Despite the NRC’s ruling, the casks will not last forever, and may pose a problem much further in the future than we could predict. However, one also has to be realistic. Who knows what life will be like in 25,000 years, and if human life even survives that long, small amounts of nuclear waste stored safely in casks would probably not be a major concern. As of now and the foreseeable future, nuclear energy is more viable than any solar or wind options.

 

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Confidence in USA’s Ability to Store Nuclear Waste

Conca, J. (2014, August 29). Confidence — What Does It Mean For Nuclear Waste?

Forbes Magazine. Retrieved September 7, 2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/08/29/confidence-what-does-it-mean-for-nuclear-waste/

 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a statement which paves the way for storing nuclear waste for over a hundred years. This ruling allows for new nuclear power plants to be built without waiting for a final waste repository. This restores the country’s confidence in its ability to handle nuclear waste, which was lost when the 2009 final waste repository plan was cancelled. Storing used fuel in dry casks is safe, cheap, and emits as much heat as a home heating system, which decreases with time. Furthermore, new reactors can burn spent fuel and produce ten times more energy.

 

A principle environmental concern over nuclear power is the radioactive residue left by spent fuel. If not handled property, dangerous radiation could spread, threating the atmosphere and living creatures. The durability and cost effectiveness of dry cask storage helps alleviate most of these fears. Using the waste as fuel for future reactors solves the problem of running out of space, and makes the nuclear power process cheaper, more efficient, and safer. With advances in technology like these, we may be on track to a clean energy source faster than expected.