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Nuclear energy offers solutions and problemsAs population and technology increase, the need for oil, a natural and limited resource, grows. There is much debate that in the not-so distant future oil will no longer be available as a main energy source. For this reason, a number of alternatives have been discovered and one of the most popular and controversial is nuclear energy. Is going nuclear the best answer? At first glance, nuclear energy, which is created during nuclear fission, might appear to be a cure-all to the energy dilemma, but that is not entirely true. While the fuel is cheap to produce and causes less strain on the environment by not emitting greenhouse gases, it does require the storage of radioactive waste for an unclear amount of time and there is always the potential for its use in a destructive manner, such as nuclear proliferation. Fission also causes ionizing radiation, which can destroy living tissue and threat plants and animals alike. William Lear, director of the energy and gasdynamic systems at the University of Florida, sees nuclear energy as an alternative with many benefits but major short comings. “The downside is pretty obvious,” Lear said, citing that having a high concentration of nuclear fuel around could be used to make bombs with. Nuclear energy produces about 20 percent of the nation’s electricity according to the Energy Information Administration’s 2004 Annual Energy Review and 17 percent world-wide. The number is estimated to increase slightly in some areas, including the US, but many countries are not willing to embrace nuclear energy as an energy alternative. A world divided Some countries with nuclear power capabilities, including many European nations, have decided to phase-out use of nuclear energy and are looking toward other alternatives such as, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and wind power. Other countries have implemented restrictions that prohibit the building of more nuclear plants. Countries like France, Japan and China are more willing to embrace nuclear energy, though, because the resources needed to produce other alternatives are limited. The United States also wants to continue to use nuclear energy and has developed Nuclear Power 2010, a collaboration between the industry and government to build more nuclear plants and improve the technology by 2010. |
AudioThe audio file titled “Global warming” contains excerpts from an interview with William E. Lear, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Energy and Gasdynamic Systems Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. This file discusses the issues surrounding global warming. The audio file titled “Oil market” contains excerpts from an interview with William E. Lear, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Energy and Gasdynamic Systems Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. This file discusses issues that drive oil prices and the history behind the oil resources in the Earth. Links
History of oil prices This link connects to a history and analysis of oil prices from WTRG Economics, a private contractor that analizes data, and plans and forecasts marketing projections for energy producers and consumers, including the U.S. government This is a link to the Department of Energy’s chronology since 1970 on major world events and how they impacted the global oil market
General links on energy World energy issues, problem and possible solutions from Ecoworld, a nonprofit organization support green energy US and global energy use statistics
Links dealing with pollution Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit organization committed to alternative energy. This link connects to the group’s resource on global warming
Links dealing with nuclear energy This links to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site on dangers surrounding nuclear energy power plants
Alejandra Cancino - Producer |
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