m31.    Is nuclear energy a viable alternative?

About 17% of the world's electricity and 5% of the commercial energy is from nuclear power.  No new plants have been ordered in the US since 1978. Fusion forces two deuterium atoms together to produce energy. If it works at reasonable temperatures, it could produce energy from seawater for about 10 cents per gallon. In fission reactors, U-235 and P-239 nuclei are split by neutrons to begin a chain reaction that releases energy. U-235 in each fuel rod produces energy equal to 3 railroad carloads of coal. Breeder reactors generate more fuel than they consume. The plants cost three times as much as estimated and produce electricity that is twice as expensive as that produced by conventional plants. Wastes are put in sealed steel drums and shipped to regional landfills run by the federal and state governments. Three of the six of these landfills have been closed because of radioactive contamination of groundwater. EPA states that all landfills eventually leak. The life of a nuclear power plant is about 40 years. Dismantling costs about $170 million; mothballing costs $225 million. The nature of US politics makes long-term strategies difficult to produce. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 extends tax benefits to solar and wind-energy industries; required 75% of federally purchased cars and light duty trucks run on natural gas, propane, ethanol, methanol or hydrogen by 1999; requires greater energy efficiency in federal buildings; and prohibits oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is supported by environmentalists’ goals of reducing use of coal and oil by 50% by 2020; adding taxes on coal and other fossil fuels that reflect their true costs; greatly increasing required fuel efficiency in cars and trucks and requiring all govern facilities meet the highest feasible standards for energy efficiency.  

e19.    What materials can cause water pollution?

e21.    What are chemical hazards?

g06.    What are some of our energy resources?

g17.    Is some matter more useful than other matter?

g18.    What is energy?