Eng 101 nuclear essay

Courtney Eaves

• Professor Nelson
• ENG 101-I03

8 Apr. 2013

Essay 3 1st Draft

Nuclear Energy

Wherever you go within the United States you are bound to see someone that is using something powered by some kind of energy source. Using coal, fossil fuels, hydro, wind, solar and nuclear is what normally powers these energy sources. Although there is a rising awareness about the need to change using two of these energy sources, coal and fossil fuels, in the large amount that we are. Why is it that some see the need for our nation to not use these specific energy sources? What many don’t realize is that these two specific energy sources are having a dramatic effect not only on our environment, but also on the air we breathe. The reason for this is that using these energy sources to supply our energy needs is allowing the release of a large amount of carbon dioxide into the air. One of the energy sources being considered to replace these detrimental energy sources is nuclear energy.

Carbon dioxide is one type of pollutant that is being released and “is contributing to the greenhouse effect” (Comby 1). The greenhouse effect is something that our world needs to keep it from being a “very cold place” (“The Greenhouse Effect”). Carbon is not a bad element “it is actually something that is found all over the world in every living thing” (“All About Carbon Dioxide”). However, when carbon bonds with another essential element for life, oxygen, carbon dioxide is formed. Carbon dioxide is a “colorless, odorless gas that is produced when we burn fossil fuels, which is done when we drive cars, use electricity, or make products” (All About Carbon Dioxide”-1). Currently in the world today, “we are burning fossil fuels, and adding carbon dioxide into the atmosphere faster than the natural processes can remove it, which is causing a global climate change” (All About Carbon Dioxide-2). A great part about using Nuclear energy as an energy source is that it “produces almost no carbon dioxide, in addition to no sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide whatsoever” (Comby 3). Switching to this energy source would be the only way of lowering carbon dioxide emissions and helping our atmosphere have a chance to repair from all of the pollutants we have released. There are also several other energy sources that do not release carbon dioxide, such as wind, solar, and hydro. However, most of these sources are dependent on the weather, being able to see the sun, and being close to, and having a large amount of water. These energy sources are not ones that can necessarily be used to rely on to supply the energy needs our nation has.

Although nuclear energy has great potential to supply our energy needs, it is also something that can be very detrimental if not setup properly or if used in the wrong way. There have been several devastating events that involved nuclear power plants, including Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the most recent in Fukushima, Japan. There are some things that many don’t know or understand about these events. In Chernobyl

Some still see using nuclear energy as a negative thing and try to steer away from it. . This is because of the possibility the radioactive decay, which is released from nuclear waste, might harm the environment and may have the potential to harm innocent civilians. In most of the reading on why someone is against nuclear energy they supply “what if” scenarios. There is no way that any kind of society or nation can last if this is what the leaders worry about and base their decisions around.  Back in June 2010 on TedTalks, there was a debate between Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, from Stanford University, and Stewart Brand, one of the founders of the environmental movement. The debate was on the pros and cons of nuclear energy. Professor Jacobson, who is against using nuclear energy as an energy source, says that nuclear provides more CO2 than other renewable energy sources like wind, hydro, solar and geothermal. However this is not true, as Stewart Brand pointed out, since nuclear energy doesn’t release any greenhouse gases at all. Brand pointed out that nuclear energy and nuclear weapons are two completely different things altogether and just because you have one, doesn’t mean you will have the potential for the other. Unfortunately, there is always going to be a possibility that someone decides to use some type of technology to harm innocent people. However as Patrick Moore stated, “we cannot simply ban every technology that is dangerous” (218). If we did then fire probably would not be used today. In the debate, Brand pointed

out that 21 nations around the world have nuclear power, and only 7 of those nations have nuclear weapons (which they had before they started using nuclear energy). The greatest point Brand made in the debate was that if we are worried about nuclear weapons being used around the world, what better way of preventing their creation than knowing where the uranium deposits, that are used to make them, are. Knowing this will allow us to have very close surveillance of how the deposits are being used.

In our current economy, we have a great need to find an energy source that will not have deadly consequences on the economy or on the air we breathe. The energy source we invest in must be one that is available to use at all times, with no kind of limitations. With the improvements that have been made, there is not a safer, nor more reliable energy source than nuclear energy. If we are to try and preserve the environment for the future along with preparing for our future generations to live in a healthy ecosystem, the need to switch to a new energy source is clear. Based on current and future energy needs and safety, the best energy source for us to switch to is nuclear energy.

Works Cited

“All About Carbon Dioxide.” A Students Guide to Global Climate Change.

Epa.gov. 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.

Comby, Bruno. “The Benefits of Nuclear Energy.” EFN. Ecolo.org. n.d. Web. 29

Mar. 2013.

Moore, Patrick. “Going Nuclear: A Green Makes The Case.” Present Tense:

Contemporary Theme for Writers. Eds. Lee Bauknight and Brooke Rollins.

Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2010. 218-220. Print.

“The Greenhouse Effect.” A Students Guide to Global Climate Change.

Epa.gov. 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 9 Apr. 2013