Nuclear Power: Clean Energy for the Future

Electricity plays a critical role in today’s world, enhancing our productivity, comfort, safety, health, and economy. Many of us take it for granted that whenever we plug our gadgets into the wall socket, electricity will be there, giving little thought to where it comes from. There are many different ways to generate electricity - including coal, oil, gas, hydroelectric, nuclear, and solar. Each option has inherent advantages that merit consideration whenever there is a need for new electrical generation. Nuclear generated electricity is unique in that it addresses many of the short-comings of the other means for power generation. The use of nuclear power provides answers for many problems in the areas of the environment, safety, economics, reliability, sustainability, and even waste.

The World Nuclear Association provides a compelling argument for the need for future use of nuclear power in its autoessay “Energy for Sustainable Development,” excerpts of which are presented here, with minor additions. The full presentation is available at WNA autoessay.