1. Nuclear Energy: Good, Bad, or Ugly? By: Russell Dehaut, Courtney Sperger, and Craig Hughes

2. Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy is the product of a controlled nuclear chain reaction. This reaction produces heat which is used to produce steam which drives a turbine and produces electricity. However this particular electricity generation has sparked quite a bit of controversy and in this presentation we will address these questions about Nuclear energy.

3. Questions to answer What evidence supports the idea that products of nuclear fission can provide a significant proportion of energy demand in the future? Does everybody agree with that evidence? If not, explain. Dr. Graham's presentation suggested that nuclear energy has been best developed in industrialized locations such as North America and Europe. Can energy production from nuclear energy be enhanced in those areas? Can energy production from nuclear energy be developed in those areas (e.g., South America and Africa) where it has not yet been devloped? What environmental problems does nuclear energy pose? Are those problems real or exaggerated? What social / political problems? Do any laws or regulations prevent the deployment of nuclear energy in the US? Other industrialized countries? Non industrialized countries? What is the life expectancy of nuclear energy reserves?

4. Can Nuclear Fission supply a substantial amount of energy? Today nuclear energy provides 16% of world electricity. In 2003, U.S. uranium ore reserves were estimated at about 890 million pounds. Today nearly 440 nuclear reactors produce electricity around the world. More than 15 countries rely on nuclear power for 25% or more of their electricity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power

5. Continued Power Is Affordable And Reliable The Only Significant Emissions-Free Baseload Power Source That Is Able To Expand To Meet America's Growing Need For Electricity. In 2003, The US Launched The Nuclear Power 2010 Initiative. By The End Of This Decade, America Should Be Able To Start Construction On Several New Nuclear Plants. Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 is the first U.S. nuclear reactor to come online in the 21st century. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070621.html

6. Development around the World The nuclear power industry is preparing a new generation of reactors. China, India, the United States, Russia, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Finland, South Korea, South Africa, Ukraine and several other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. On December 20, 2002 the Bulgarian Council of Ministers voted to restart construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant http://www.world-nuclear.org/why/nucfuture.html

7. Does Every One Agree ? No Watts bar 1 on 1996 was the last commercial nuclear reactor to come on line in the US. How can it grow to meet future energy needs? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power

8. Top reasons opposed Cost of start up Waste storage Risks of accidents Nuclear proliferation problem http://www.cus.net/blog/2007/01/pros-and-cons-of- nuclear-power.html http://www.world-nuclear.org/how/how.html

9. Nuclear Energy Production http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf01.html

10. Nuclear Energy Production http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf01.html

11. Nuclear Energy Production Worldwide, 16 countries depend on nuclear energy for at least a quarter of their electricity. The US gets about one fifth. The total current energy capacity for nuclear is 372,000 Mwe. 30 additional reactors in progress. 80 planned. Efficiency of current reactors can also be increased. http://www.world-nuclear.org/index.html

12. Nuclear Energy Potential Can be generated anywhere in the world. Uranium used in reactors is in relatively good supply. Nuclear energy can be used to destill water on a large scale. http://www.world-nuclear.org/index.html

13. Environmental Impacts Solid Waste Disposal 40,000 metric tons 10,000 years Yucca Mountain? March 21, 2017 Recycling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Mountain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Future_of_the_in dustry

14. Environmental Impacts Accidents/Terrorism Chernobyl Three-Mile island Dirty Bomb?

15. Environmental Impacts If accident occurs, consequences could vary. Fear greater than it should be?

16. Nuclear Vs. Other Energies Between 1970 and 1992 Deaths/ Terawatt year of electricity Hydropower- 885 deaths Coal- 342 deaths Natural Gas- 85 deaths Nuclear- 8 deaths http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Future_of_the_industry

17. What Social/Political Problems Exist? -Uneconomic -Non-renewable -Potentially Dangerous http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power

18. Uneconomic? Need to build a plant. Need to provide safety for the workers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power

19. Non-Renewable/Potentially Dangerous? Uranium is non-renewable and must be disposed of. Accidents in a nuclear plant can be a major disaster. http://www.world- nuclear.org/info/info.html#radioac tivewastes

20. Do Laws/Regulations Exist for Nuclear Power? Liabilities. National laws are supplemented by international conventions. Liability is limited by both international conventions and by national legislation. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf67.html

21. Sustainability? Nuclear Energy provides plenty of energy for all of mankind. Wastes are still a major concern. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf09.html

22. Life Expectancy? The life of a nuclear plant is determined by the length of time Uranium is available. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf75.html#Appendix

23. Conclusion Nuclear Power is a good alternative form of energy to oils and natural gases. It is highly sustainable, but still has it’s drawbacks. If uranium becomes sustainable with new technology, nuclear power may be the answer to our energy demands!