Nuclear Energy

1. Nuclear Energy Joshua Wolff, Bryn Carroll, & Connor Mallon

2. Analyze the safety systems in the plants- are they really “safe”?

3. Analyze the safety systems in the plants- are they really “safe”? Pro: • Advanced, automatic safety systems in place • Safety protocols well developed • Meltdowns and failures occur mostly from lack of oversight or from being built in dangerous areas Con: • No room for error • Plants still have to be built outside of natural disaster zones • Plants should still be built away from major population centers

4. How would nuclear waste be handled, and can it be stored long-term or dealt with without affecting local populations?

5. How would nuclear waste be handled, and can it be stored long-term or dealt with without affecting local populations? Pro: • Advanced transport, and storage facilities being built, or can be built easily • With space technology becoming cheaper, waste could be launched into space without being expensive or harmful • New technology has been produced allowing for waste to be used as fuel Con: • In the case of leaks local populations and environments can be greatly affected • Not-in-my-backyard mentality common for placement of sites.

6. Is the cost of nuclear plants too expensive?

7. Is the cost of nuclear plants too expensive? Pro: • Initial build is expensive but the immense amount of electricity outweighs cost of maintenance and construction. It could be cheaper than coal Con: • The cost of disposal and safety could make the energy less competitive