Undoubtedly, the nuclear disaster in Japan has many in the United States wondering about nuclear power, and many are scared after seeing the recent media coverage. Still, as an energy option, the pros of nuclear power are simply stacked against both traditional, fossil fuel options as well as “clean energy” plants like wind farms.

If we shut down nuclear power plants, they would have to be replaced by fossil fuel plants that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. This is already taking place in Germany, where seven nuclear plants have already been shut down for “evaluation” after the events in Japan. As a result, coal will fill the gap until the nuclear plants are put back on line.

Let’s hope that America won’t be scared into turning away from nuclear power. Doing so will only result in higher use of coal. Clean energy options like wind and solar power are simply not efficient enough to take the place of nuclear and coal burning plants, and take up much more real estate too. One nuclear reactor takes up much less land and will generate as much power as acres of wind turbines. In fact, wind turbine power plants are backed up by traditional fossil fuel plants that provide power when the wind is not substantial enough.

It is also important to remember that the nuclear power plants in Japan survived the 9.0 earthquake and were only hampered by the tsunami waters and the resulting lack of electrical power for the pumps that cool the reactors. The Fukushima reactors are also more than forty years old. Since the 1960s, reactor design has improved drastically, especially when it comes to safety.

This is not to say that nuclear energy is not without its drawbacks, but when compared to other energy sources, it really does come out on top. Plants that burn coal and other fossil fuels pollute much more than nuclear plants, and alternative energies simply aren’t ready for us to depend on them.

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