Nuclear Power Plant: Saving Earth

Introduction

Earth is projected to surpass 8 billion people by 2030 and the demand of electricity continues to grow with it (World Population par. 1). California has been granted the construction of a nuclear power plant which is a huge win considering California has the largest state population in the United States with almost 40 million people (US States par. 1). It is set to be constructed in an unpopulated location hundreds of miles away from its nearest town. This new plan came out after the concerns from global warming.

This nuclear power plant will not only produce low pollution but is more efficient than fossil fuels ultimately benefiting California and all of Earth.

Background

Nuclear power plants make nuclear energy from splitting uranium atoms. This process is referred to as fission. Splitting uranium atoms generates heat which then produces steam so the turbine generator can finally generate electricity.

Supporting Idea

Nuclear energy produces non stop regardless of exterior weather conditions and emit zero carbon monoxide, carbon pollution and nitrogen oxides.

It results in a cleaner enviroment as it has no air emissions.

Opposing View & Rebuttal

People who oppose the nuclear energy plant fear for the safety of others and possible nuclear accidents. A famous power plant accident occurred in 1986 in Ukraine after a reactor test ignited a radioactive accident that transformed 800 hundred square miles into a nuclear wasteland (Kivi par. 11). Because of the grave radiation from the accident and fire, it affected and killed 47 workers with many emergency visits and deaths connecting to that day (Miller par.

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5). In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident also occurred which marked one of the worsts accidents to date but unlike the Chernobyl accident, the Fukushima Daiichi was caused by a tsunami (Fukushima Dai par. 1).

However, these are just two incidents which have happened decades apart, one due to an unforeseen circumstance while another from faulty design flaw that have since been fixed. The safety history for nuclear technology has been positive otherwise as one must ingest or inhale the radioactive isotopes while maintaining it in the body in order to cause serious health effect (Miller par. 4-5). Although nuclear power is not popular among many, it continues to be safer than fossil fuel power.

Conclusion

With our technological advances, California’s new proposed power plant is not a technical problem anymore. It continues to be the only technology to prove it can delive electricity in large amounts non stop.

Work cited

“World Population Projected to reach 9.8 Billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100 – says UN,”UN.org. n.d. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2017/06/world-population-projected-to-reach-9-8-billion-in-2050-and-11-2-billion-in-2100-says-un/ Accessed 7 Dec. 2018
“US States – Ranked by Population 2018,” worldpopulationreview.com. n.d.http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/ Accessed 7 Dec. 2018
“Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy,” conserve-energy-future.com. Online. n.d. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-energy.php Accessed 7 Dec. 2018
American Energy Independence. ‘Nuclear Energy Has Been Used Safely for Decades.’ Nuclear
Energy, edited by Debra A. Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.hartnell.edu/apps/doc/EJ3010706213/OVIC?u=cclc_hart&sid=OVIC&xid=951dcf63 Accessed 11 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘Safe Nuclear Energy,’, 2009.
“Background on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident,” nrc.gov, online. n.d.https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/chernobyl-bg.html
Kivi, Rose. ‘Nuclear Energy Disasters Are Inevitable.’ Nuclear Energy, edited by Debra A. Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.hartnell.edu/apps/doc/EJ3010706209/OVIC?u=cclc_hart&sid=OVIC&xid=be56d5b1. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘A History of Nuclear Power Plant Disasters,’ www.brighthub.com, 31 July 2009.
‘Preface to ‘Is Nuclear Energy Safe for Humans and the Environment?’.’ Nuclear Energy, edited by Debra A. Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.hartnell.edu/apps/doc/EJ3010706103/OVIC?u=cclc_hart&sid=OVIC&xid=a2d67db0. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.