Final Paper - Humans Struggle to Find a Renewable Energy...

Humans Struggle to Find a Renewable Energy Source
Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy that is destroying the
Earth’s atmosphere. In today’s world, energy to power the machines for humans
is an ever growing need. Nuclear Energy is the source of energy that can meet
the growing demands and ease the struggles of burning fuels that pollute the
Earth.
Almost every person on this today uses electricity that is made from fossil
fuels that pollute our Earth. Every year on average in the United States omits
nearly 1542 Teragrams of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (Blasting, T.J,
2004). The Cleanest and easiest way to solve this problem is to find an
alternative fuel that is clean-burning and reasonably safe to use. This alternative
fuel is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is the source of energy that can meet the
growing demands and ease the struggles of burning fuels that pollute the Earth.
In the United States today, nuclear energy contributes nearly twenty percent of
the electricity used and omits zero pollutants into the atmosphere. (Nuclear
Energy Institute. 2006. p. 1).
Nuclear Energy is one of the most plentiful sources of energy on Earth.
Though there is not a lot of fuel for nuclear reactors, the fuel that is used can be
refined and reused over and over again. Scientists agree that by the year 2050,
electricity consumption will be at a 20 percent increase. (Nuclear Energy
Institute. 2006). Nuclear energy is a clean, stable way to generate power. Unlike

coal, gas, and oil generators, nuclear power plants do not emit toxic pollutants
into the air. Nuclear power plants are relatively small and have less of a footprint
on the land than wind or solar farms. The areas around the nuclear power plants
are often habitats that are home to many types of wildlife. Other peaceful uses of
nuclear energy are to power some submarines, surface ships, and researchers
are in the process of creating in space craft that runs off of nuclear energy.
Nuclear reactions also produce particles and rays called nuclear radiation that
have uses in medicine, industry and science. However, nuclear radiation can be
extremely dangerous. Exposure to too much radiation can result in a condition
called radiation sickness.
Scientists disagree what is the best source to make electricity. The most
common method to produce electricity is by burning fossil fuels, though they
produce pollutants that harm the Earth. Burning fossil fuels is a major problem in
the world today. Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy. Though new
reserves of fossil fuels are being found, scientists believe that this is only about 1
trillion barrels of crude oil left in the world. A majority of the oil reserves are
located in the Middle East and are controlled by only a few major oil companies.