Nuclear Power is a Safe and Reliable Alternative

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Alternatives to oil, along with the other fossil fuels, have been gaining popularity in the wake of high prices and elevated awareness of global warming. While solar, wind, hydro, and even geothermal have been getting press about being the means to lower CO2 production, and become less dependent on foreign oil, there is an alternative that rarely is mentioned. The mere reference of nuclear power conjures images of meltdowns and mushroom clouds. Despite the advances in efficiency, safety, and technology, public opinion has changed little since the years of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. It is this misguided sense of impending doom from nuclear power that has deterred much of the population from accepting it as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. This doubt and fear of nuclear power needs to come to an end, and serious consideration needs to be given. Nuclear power is a safe, efficient, and reliable alternative source of electricity for the United States and the world as a whole. A prominent issue with nuclear power is the supposed increase of radiation levels in nearby communities. This idea has never held much scientific weight, being more of a scare tactic. The additional radiation a person receives by living within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant amounts to roughly .01 mrem annually. (mrem or millirem is a unit of measurement used to quantify exposure to radiation) (NSC) To put that into perspective, the average amount of radiation exposure for a person from natural sources is roughly 300 mrem annually. (LBNL) Getting a dental x-ray is equal to 1 mrem, or roughly equal to living near a nuclear power plant for 100 years. With such a negligible increase, there is little surprise that the National Cancer Institute also f... ... middle of paper ... ...opics/factsheet/Risk/nuclear-facilities>. National Safety Council."Determining Your Exposure." 10 Dec. 2002. NSC. 28 Apr. 2009. . Washington Post. "Reactor Rule Made With 9/11 in Mind." Feb. 2009. Washington Post. 1 May 2009. . World Association of Nuclear Operators. 15 Years of Progress. 2005. WANO. 4 May 2009. . World Nuclear Association. "Nuclear Power Reactors." 1 Apr. 2009. WNA. 3 May 2009. . --. "Supply of Uranium." June 2008. WNA. 2 May 2009. . Zittel, William, and J. Blandow. Uranium costs - Electricity costs. ASPO, 2007.

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