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What’s Scarier, Climate Change or Nuclear Power?
We need to get on the same page about this question.
The key to the green future that everyone claims to want is nuclear power. Nuclear power has the potential to provide nearly unlimited amounts of clean electricity. Nuclear reactors are more than capable of powering the entire world’s stock of electric vehicles (if we can figure out the battery technology.) Many countries already quietly run on nuclear power, and expanding the output and potential of nuclear power is critical to humanity’s future. So why aren’t we doing a moonshot for safe nuclear power?
Because it is scary.
The biggest source of opposition to nuclear power surrounds its potential for accidents. While nuclear power accidents are terrifying and potentially devastating, they are extremely uncommon. In most cases, the benefits far outweigh the potential risks.
Due to the fear factor of nuclear power, Americans are still torn on the issue. Only half of the population is in favor of expanding our nuclear capacity. Wind and solar far outstrip nuclear in terms of favorability even though they do not have the same potential to create clean energy as nuclear power.
Most people will raise their hands in favor of nuclear power as long as it is nowhere near their own…
