Nuclear_Power_vs._Hydropower

Running head: NUCLEAR POWER VERSUS CLEAN HYDROPOWER Nuclear Power versus Clean Hydropower Carleton Holyfield SCI 207 April 9, 2012 Nuclear Power versus Clean Hydropower All energy sources have drawbacks, and nuclear power, a controversial alternative to fossil fuels definitely has advantages and disadvantages when compared to clean hydropower. Advantages of using nuclear power include but are not limited to, it being easy to dispose of. Nuclear waste disposal is easy to dispose and has no negative effects on the ecosystem. Nuclear power does not produce gaseous emissions like greenhouse gases, and nuclear waste is usually small in quantity and can be easily confined so that it doesn’t affect those around it (Zehner, 2012). Disadvantages of nuclear power include disposal issues. Fuel rods that have been disposed of stay radioactive for hundreds if not thousands of years. These fuel rods must be disposed of in a secure waste disposal facility. Another disadvantage of nuclear power is that people are terrified at the thought of there being a threat of radiation leakage and or a power plant near them. As a result, it may prove challenging trying to find the best location to put a disposal facility. Using clean hydropower also has its advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of using clean hydropower include using a clean and renewable energy, clean hydropower does not pollute the environment like other energy sources, and clean hydropower does not cause changes in the climate. Another advantage of using clean hydropower is that hydropower is a more stable energy than wind and solar power (Clifton, 2006). Disadvantages to using hydropower is that it can interrupt the natural flow of rivers, earthquakes can occur is big hydropower dams are built, and problems with erosion and landsliding are likely to occur. Although it is advantageous to use hydropower, wildlife can be affected due to changes in stream levels, river flows, and fluctuating water temperatures. Hydropower cannot produce electricity, and it is very costly to build hydropower dams. Hydropower dams must also be in operation for decades before you can see the profits from it (Zehner, 2012). People are leering of radioactive materials and power plants, but they are even more concerned when radioactive accidents occur. A disable nuclear power plant that was one of the largest nuclear power plants in the world was damaged from an earthquake and a tsunami in March of 2011. It was called the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster. The earthquake and the tsunami disabled the cooling systems, causing nuclear radiation leaks to occur. It has been deem a no go area, an individuals can only enter with government supervision (Clifton, 2006). Another nuclear incident was the 20th century Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown. This incident occurred in 1986. an operating crew attempted to test Reactor Number 4 to see whether or not it could produce enough energy to keep the coolant pumps running until the emergency diesel generator was activated in case of an external power loss. Unexpectedly, the power surged, creating an explosion and making temperatures in the reactor to rise to over 2000 degrees Celsius. The heat was so hot until fuel rods melted and caused the graphite covering to ignite; thereby releasing clouds of radiation into our atmosphere (Zehner, 2012 and Clifton, 2006). References Zehner, O. (2012). Nuclear power's unsettled future. Futurist, (46)2, 17-21. Clifton, L. (2006). Why go nuclear when safe alternatives exist' Issues, 77, 15-17.