Nuclear Power

Written By:  Andrew Eide

Nuclear reactors are in use around the world mostly for the purpose of generating energy at a power plant.

Using general terms we can state that nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in to transform water into steam to be sent through steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant.

The term nuclear reactions includes nuclear fission, nuclear decay, and nuclear fusion. Currently the nuclear fission of elements in the actinide series of the Periodic Table produce the vast majority of nuclear energy in the direct service of humankind, with nuclear decay processes, primarily in the form of geothermal energy, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, in niche used making up the rest.

The biggest problem I have is there is a group of people who adamantly hate the use of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, to produce energy for us to use as they claim the pollution is too great. But then, when we build nuclear power plants, which are way cheaper to run and product way less pollution, these same people have a problem with the lower costs and less pollution.

I am for nuclear generated power to reduce costs with less pollution but I cannot wrap my mind around people who want lower costs and less pollution being against this form of energy also.