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Nuclear Energy: A Necessary ‘Evil’ for Human Advancement?

Nuclear Energy: A Necessary ‘Evil’ for Human Advancement?. Drew Mirante – Bryn Mawr College. Is this the image that comes to one’s mind when considering nuclear energy?. "Fat Man" Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki.

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Nuclear Energy: A Necessary ‘Evil’ for Human Advancement?

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  1. Nuclear Energy: A Necessary ‘Evil’ for Human Advancement? Drew Mirante – Bryn Mawr College

  2. Is this the image that comes to one’s mind when considering nuclear energy? "Fat Man" Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki http://www.childrenofthemanhattanproject.org/COLLECTIONS/CG-JPAP/Pages/CGP-JPAP-034.htm

  3. Or this? Exterior of the Chernobyl power plant after the 26 April, 1986 explosion.

  4. Or this? Low-level waste disposal at Hanford, Washington

  5. Why not this? Image from Int’l Dark-sky Alliance

  6. What causes this reaction? • The U.S. as the only nation to use atomic weapons against mankind? • The subsequent Cold War with the USSR? • ‘Ephemeral’ Nature of Nuclear Processes? • Environmental Issues? • Potentially Severe Accidents • Disposal/Storage/Transport of waste material

  7. Given the instability in the world’s petroleum producing regions, is it of national interest to develop alternative energy sources? • Begs the question, why not other renewable energy sources? • Power Plants release no Greenhouse Gasses • What of Emerging Industrialized Nations?

  8. CO2 Emissions by Power Sector – 2025Million Metric tons Oil - 109 Other - 22 Natural Gas - 507 Coal - 2677

  9. North American Energy Consumption, 2025 Quadrillion BTU Other (14.1) 9% Nuclear Electric (9.9) 6% Oil (65.2) 40% Coal (33.2) 20% Natural Gas (39.6) 24%

  10. Asian Emerging Economies Energy Consumption - 2025 Other (11.6) 6% Nuclear Electric (6.5) 3% Oil (69.6) 35% Coal (89.6) 44% Natural Gas (4.4) 11%

  11. 136 Reactors – 31 Shutdown, Decommissioned, Suspended, or Cancelled

  12. Return to Summary of Brown Bag Discussion

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