Replacement of Fossil Fuels with Nuclear Energy for Electricity

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Replacement of Fossil Fuels with Nuclear Energy for Electricity ABSTRACT Our nation is on the brink of an energy crisis and alternative means to produce electricity must be found. Fossil fuel resources are declining sharply and nuclear energy is the leading form of replacement. Our research shows that the advantages to this new energy source are extraordinary and that there are many ways to minimize its negative aspects. Due to the overwhelming advantages, we have concluded that nuclear energy is indeed the best solution to the nation's energy crisis and with more advanced research and technology any future problems can be solved. INTRODUCTION The effects on the United States would be enormous if nuclear energy was to completely replace fossil fuels in the production of electricity. With fossil fuel resources disappearing quicker than can be produced, our nation is entering a serious energy crisis. However the future may not be too bleak since many studies have come out on the advantages of nuclear energy. The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has undertaken an immense amount of research and produced many studies on the benefits of nuclear energy and its ability to produce the electricity necessary for the United States. Studies on the safety of transportation, benefits of radiation, reliability and economic uses of nuclear energy, and benefits for the environment have proved repeatedly the need for the replacement of fossil fuels. Despite all advantages, only 20% of the nation?s electricity is derived from nuclear energy. The United States has cancelled over one hundred nuclear reactors and no new ones have been ordered into construction since 1970. The reasons for these alarming numbers are unclear when de... ... middle of paper ... ...uly 23, 2003). Nuclear energy in the United States. Almanac of Policy Issues. Retrieved July 26, 2005, from http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/nuclear_energy.shtml. Fast breeder (2005). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 28, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_breeder. Nuclear energy and the environment. Retrieved July 29, 2005, from Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Web site: http://www.nei.org/index.asp?catnum=3&catid=25 Nuclear power (2005). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 28, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power. Nuclear reprocessing (2005). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 28, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reprocessing. Radioactive waste (2005). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 28, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_waste.

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