Politics and misinformation prevent the utilization of the most efficient and clean power source to its full potential.

Nuclear power is the best form of energy, yet it’s not the main energy source in the US. Greenhouse gas emissions have been calculated for each main source of energy, and they dwarf the output from nuclear plants. Oil emits 400 times the amount of GHGs as nuclear, and coal releases 700 times. Even solar energy is four times the emissions in comparison to nuclear energy. A single person’s energy use for their entire lifetime only produces half an ounce of nuclear waste. Additionally, the land required for other clean energy sources are massive when contrasted to nuclear: solar requires four hundred times, and wind necessitates two thousand times the land needed for nuclear power plants.

Microreactors that are currently in development are capable of producing one tp twenty megawatts (enough energy for 500-20,000 homes), and only need to refuel every five to ten years.

Part of the reason that nuclear energy is underutilized is the political backlash regarding safety concerns, but it is actually much safer than its fossil fuel competitors. Even after Chernobyl, oil has lead to the deaths of 400 times of as many people, and coal’s human mortality is between 2,000 and 3,000 times that of nuclear power. The US Navy has used shipboard nuclear reactors with no significant issues for 50 years.

Despite the undeniable benefits that warrant increased use of nuclear power, it remains underutilized and actively ignored. With better education and increased political support, nuclear energy has the power (get it?) to become the dominant energy source in the US.

Look at my Synopsis! Already in double digits, I’m so proud.

I am fascinated by nuclear energy. I have been ever since I heard about its insane efficiency, so much to the point that I started my own unofficial Nuclear Physics club at school, where we meet weekly and just learn about nuclear energy. Up until last week, we have just been listening, taking notes, and asking questions to a chemistry teacher who was entertained by our joint interest in the subject and decided to teach us the fundamentals of nuclear chemistry. However, he does not specialize in nuclear energy and only taught us what he knew, and we’ve started to run dry of fresh information.

Clearly, someone else needs to teach our little group now. Since I’m the club’s founder and president, obviously I’m supposed to be that person, so I decided this Synopsis should definitely be related to nuclear energy.

I plan to cover this topic a lot in the future, and I definitely want to research the rate of growth (and decay) of nuclear energy in the US, like with future power plants and ones that have been closed down. There’s a lot that I’d like to research, so stay tuned to learn with me!

Fillat, Andrew I., and Henry I. Miller. “Nuclear Power Is the Best Climate-Change Solution by Far.” Wall Street Journal, 11/05 2021. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2625374844?accountid=163174.