Posted: 10/22/2008
NCPA Analysis: Time is Right for Nuclear Power
DALLAS (October 21, 2008) - The time is right for a reemergence of nuclear energy, according to an analysis released today by the National Center for Policy Analysis.
"As critics argue that nuclear power isn't a good option for various reasons and presidential candidates decry the use of foreign oil, I still have yet to hear of an alternative solution that addresses both the concerns of rising demand for electricity and reducing U.S. dependence on foreign imports," said NCPA Senior Fellow Sterling Burnett and co-author of the report.
In the analysis, Burnett and NCPA Research Assistant Ross Wingo documented several reasons that make nuclear energy a strong option as a leading U.S. energy source.
Reliability: In a CO2-constrained world, coal and natural gas use will be reduced because they emit greenhouse gases. Unlike many other forms of alternative energy, nuclear power is reliable and can serve as baseload power.
Expandability: Operating costs are much lower than most other types of electric power-generating facilities; the output of existing reactors can be increased through upgrades.
Security: Nuclear power can reduce America's dependency on foreign fuels.
Nuclear Power Is Clean: Nuclear plants produce virtually no air pollution.
Recyclable: Recycling fuel rods maximizes the power output from a given amount of uranium and reduces the amount of waste.
Safety: In more than 50 years of experience with nuclear power in the United States, no deaths or negative health effects have been conclusively linked to radiation leaks from nuclear plants or from spent fuel.
"Economic prosperity demands a growing energy demand," said Wingo. "With greenhouse gas regulation on the horizon, and Americans demanding energy independence, nuclear power can help the country's economy to grow."
The NCPA Brief Analysis can be read at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba635/ba635.pdf.