Term
| Sources of energy--nuclear |
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Definition
***ideally, uranium ore is mined, processed, used in nuclear reactors, reprocessed, and used again in nuclear reactors--in a closed, continuous cycle
***development of nuclear energy as a fuel began in the 1950s
***accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, and recently in Japan, have alerted people to problems in nuclear energy
***as of 2006, 103 commercial reactors were providing 19% of our country's electricity |
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***1/2 nuclear power generators in the US are scheduled to be closed down between 2005 and 2015
***resurgence under George W. Bush; Cheney believed nuclear power should account for higher percentage of US electricity
***2005 NRC certified the development of a new type of reactor--Advanced Passive Reactor
***future of nuclear power remains uncertain due to public disapproval, safety concerns, and high closing costs--resurgence under Obama administration |
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***most troublesome problem is nuclear waste
***high-level radioactive liquids created during reprocessing of reactor fuels
***transuranic wastes--byproducts of reactor fuel and military waste processing processing (most dangerous is plutonium 239 with a half-life of 24,000 years
--spent nuclear fuel--stored in cooling ponds at reactor sites--technology for recycling was not developed
--low-level radioactive wastes--includes items that have become radioactive through exposure at reactors
--decommissioning plants is much costlier than expected
--NRC allows plants to sit idle for up to 60 years before the owners must dismantle them; however maintaining a closed facility can cost up to $10 million/year
***other countries are buying nuclear facilities; 30 countries have at least 1 power plant |
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***the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 protects human health and the environment from excessive exposure to radiation
***Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created in 1978 and is responsible for regulating the nuclear industry
***the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 was passed to resolve the problem of siting and developing permanent repositories for high-level nuclear waste
***EPA has authority to regulate high-level nuclear wastes, setting standards for radioactive emissions to protect the environment and human health
***debate exists over whether NRC or EPA should regulate nuclear wastes |
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***fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) are formed from decaying prehistoric plants and animals
***renewable fuels are sources of energy that are continuously renewed
***hydropower, solar power, wind, biomass, burning of waste for steam
***provide about 6% of our total energy consumption, 45% of that is from hydropower
***benefits include less polluting, available domestically, and not depleted |
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Definition
***most popular renewable energy source (9%)
***inexpensive and no air pollution
***of 76,000 dams, more than 2,500 are used to generate power
***primary environmental impact is on fish--fish ladders or fish elevators or screens
***low dissolved oxygen in water affects organisms downstream
***dams are licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
***global concern over environmental impacts led to World Commission on Dams
***Environmental groups argue that dams lead to an irreversible loss of species and ecosystems |
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***can be used in one centralized location or in individual locations
***must be sufficient year-round sunlight
***California and Texas are the only states with utilities generating solar power
***solar thermal plants use collectors to focus sunlight on pipes that carry oil-based heat-transfer fluid that produces steam that drives a turbine to generate electricity |
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***can only be used in appropriate climates
***in California, wind produces enough power for over 500,000 homes
***30 states contain commercial wind farms
***controversies are about location, aesthetics of wind farms, NIMBY, possible bird kills |
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***burning organic matter to generate energy (wood, agricultural waste, municipal garbage, grains, animal manure)
***EPA works with landfills to capture methane gas (greenhouse gas) generated from landfill waste
***DOE has a biomass program--BioPower Program |
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***refers to use of heat trapped within the earth
***hydrothermal energy is the most common form---natural hot water reservoirs are tapped for their energy |
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***derived from methane and petroleum, but could be derived from water, biomass, and other renewable resources
***Bush planned to allocate $1.2 billion as part of his energy policy to develop hydrogen as a fuel |
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