It seems like there is a lot to sort through, but about nuclear power there
is something I've been wondering about, what to do with the waste. It has no
greenhouse emmissions but it does still have waste, but at least we wont be
breathing it with the air that we breathe. There have been issues with this
form of power but it seems like that is because of a poorly planned system.
Sorry for only giving a single source for this info, their sources are given
towards the bottom of the page.

 

"Chernobyl reactors were of the problematic RBMK design only used in the
Soviet Union, for example lacking containment buildings."*

 

"Current light water reactors make relatively inefficient use of nuclear
fuel, leading to energy waste. But nuclear reprocessing makes this waste
reusable (except in the USA, where this is not allowed) and more efficient
reactor designs would allow better use of the available resources (and
reduce the amount of waste material)."*

 

So from what I understand, even some of the waste can be recycled and used
again, not only is there less mining which possibly means less destruction
of natural earth, it also means that it's less pollution and waste even
though it provides a huge amount electricity. Less drawbacks and still
getting the benefits.

 

 

"In countries with nuclear power, radioactive wastes comprise less than

1% of total industrial toxic wastes, which remain hazardous indefinitely
unless they decompose or are treated so that they are less toxic or,
ideally, completely non-toxic.[21] Overall, nuclear power produces far
less waste material than fossil-fuel based power plants. Coal-burning
plants are particularly noted for producing large amounts of toxic and
mildly radioactive ash due to concentrating naturally occurring metals
and radioactive material from the coal. Contrary to popular belief, coal
power actually results in more radioactive waste being released into the
environment than nuclear power."*

 

"According to a 2007 story broadcast on 60 Minutes, nuclear power gives
France the cleanest air of any industrialized country, and the cheapest
electricity in all of Europe."*

 

"Nuclear generation does not directly produce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, mercury or other pollutants associated with the combustion of
fossil fuels (pollution from fossil fuels is blamed for many deaths each
year in the U.S. alone[61]). It also does not directly produce carbon
dioxide, which has led some environmentalists to advocate increased
reliance on nuclear energy as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(which contribute to global warming). Non-radioactive water vapor is the
significant operating emission from nuclear power plants."*

 

It is my opinion that we shouldn't completely abandon current sources
of power, we could instead keep them and the jobs they provide around
while we continue to do more research and ease the pressure. Hopefully
the current and future sources of power will receive technology that
reduces any harmful side-effects. Power plants are not the only source
of pollution, vehicles like cars, trucks, tractors, trains, helicopters,
jets/airplanes, tanks, boats/ships, and factories are all places to
look to improve.

 

Waste disposal is also an issue. Single passenger vehicles like motor-
cycles, mopeds, as well as all-weather vehicles can be used for
traveling without passengers to reduce emissions, which also possibly
provide better mileage at the cost of interior space and quickness.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power