Nuclear energy and carbon emissions

**Tracy_M** · 04-21-2010, 02:34 PM

Do nuclear power plants emit carbon and if they do is it as much or even more than those plants powered by fossil fuel?

**GinDaly** · 04-21-2010, 07:47 PM

Nope, nuclear power plant carbon emissions does not even come close to coal/natural gas/petroleum-based power plants. It is very low, very minimal. In terms of carbon-emissions nuclear plants are eco-friendly. The danger it poses is its toxic and radioactive byproducts.

**Norman0511** · 04-24-2010, 07:48 AM

What was that I read about in this article some time ago, but it said something like part of Japan's "green" plan in energy generation is by building nuclear power plants. Yes you read it right. Apparently they considered nuclear power plants as "green" since its carbon emission is close to zero.

**Tracy_M** · 04-26-2010, 07:24 AM

Interesting. So I've done some reading and nuclear power plants are considered green.

**Franchette** · 04-26-2010, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Tracy_M

Interesting. So I've done some reading and nuclear power plants are considered green.

The thing about nuclear power is that it's not considered as renewable energy. The hazards of a meltdown is always there and waste from nuclear power plants are a danger to everyone and to the environment also.

More safety precautions are being implemented, no major nuclear power plant catastrophes for some time, but there's still that mistrust or fear from people. However how many homes and cities in the US are powered by nuclear? I guess people have come to accept it or forget of its dangers?

**nrdthxpr** · 04-26-2010, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Franchette

The thing about nuclear power is that it's not considered as renewable energy. The hazards of a meltdown is always there and waste from nuclear power plants are a danger to everyone and to the environment also.

More safety precautions are being implemented, no major nuclear power plant catastrophes for some time, but there's still that mistrust or fear from people. However how many homes and cities in the US are powered by nuclear? I guess people have come to accept it or forget of its dangers?

The big problem with nuclear power plants is long term storage of the spent nuclear fuel rods. If not encased in water they melt down and explode. Nat. Geo. did a fascinating show supposing what would happen if suddenly every human being on Earth disappeared. Within a month the water would evaporate and the nuclear rods would heat up and explode like at Chernobel. Today there are growing tons of these spent rods and state governments try to avoid responability for storing them because it's expensive and dangerous. The answer of course is to find some alternative use for them. Spent rods are still radioactive, but not enough to keep the power plant up to speed. So, what about smaller systems?

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