2015 Nuke Power

2015 Nuke Power ***TopicAnalysis***..............................................................................................................2

***AFF***..............................................................................................................................5

***AFFCards***..................................................................................................................11

***NEG***...........................................................................................................................20

***NegCards***..................................................................................................................23

***Topic Analysis***

Resolved: Countries ought to prohibit the production of nuclear power. File Author: Jesse Hedin

Edited by: Kyle Cheesewright

Thistopicasksdebaterstoanalyzeatimelyquestionofthepertinence,potentialbenefitsandpotentialdangersofnuclearpoweranditsuseacrosstheworld.Thistopicisespeciallyimportantgiventheproliferationofnuclearpowertocountriesviewedas“unstable”or“rogue”likeIranandNorthKorea.ThefearofnuclearpowerhasincreaseddramaticallyoverthepastseveralyearsduetomeltdownsofdifferentreactorslikethatoftheFukushimaDaiichireactorinJapan.Inthiscontext,outofthe17reactorsplannedtobecomeoperationalfrom2007to2009only5havebecomeoperational.Thus,theoncebrightfuturefornuclearpowerasanalternativetofossilfuelsandtheirstatusasthesafestandmostpowerfulformofcleanenergyhaslargelycomeintoquestion.Theparticularsinthedebateovernuclearism,aswellastheenvironmentalneedsthatledtothenecessityofcleanandpowerfulenergycanbefoundinthefurtherreadingssectionofthisfile.

Affirmativedebatersonthistopicwillbeabletoaccessgroundseveralways.First,thedangersthathavebeenproventobeveryrealbytherecentreactormeltdowninJapanwillbeusedbyAFFdebaterstoillustratetheoutdatedandunsafetechnologyofcurrentnuclearpowerplants.Second,affdebaterswillbeabletoaccesslinkstointernationallawanddifferenttreatiesthatwouldmandateproliferationandassistanceinthedevelopmentofnewreactorsforlessdevelopedcountries,sinceseveralcountriesaswellastheUS-Russiantreatieshaveadvocatedforamoreaccessiblenuclearpowerwhichhasspurredfearsofrogueweaponization.Additionally,affirmativecaseswillbeabletoisolatesomeveryreal“harms”ofproliferationthattakesplaceinaworldwherenuclearpowerbecomesmoreaccessible.

Negativedebatersonthistopicwillbeabletodebatefromtwosolidareasofargumentativeground.First,theveryrealthreatofclimatechangeandtheinfeasibilityofotherformsofcleanenergyhasmadenuclearpoweraseriousnecessity.Whiletheseimpactsmaybeonalongertimeframethanmanyotherstheystillhavea100%probabilityoftheendoflifeonearthifleftunchecked.Second,iftheworldweretototallydenuclearize,strayfissilematerialandsafetyhazardsofdecommissioningnuclearplantswouldpotentiallyrunrampantorallowfornon-stateactorstoobtaindangerousfissilematerials.NuclearterrorismhasalwaysbeenasmallthreataftertheSovietUniondecommissionedmanynuclearweaponsandreactors,losingtrackoflargeamountsofweaponsgradematerialsintheprocess.However,inanincreasinglynuclearworld,thepointofnoreturnisquicklyapproaching,prohibitioncouldpotentiallyhavealreadypassedthepointoffeasibility.

Additionally,thereissomedebatetobehadonbothsidesofthistopicstemmingfromthespecificationof“nuclearpower”assomereactorsandweaponscouldpotentiallyfallinandoutofthatcategoryallowingforavarietyofwaystoapproachthetopicforbothAFFandNEG.

2015 Nuke Power Finally,interestingcriticalgroundexistsacrossthistopic.Manythinkershavecriticizedthesecuritizationofnuclearpowerandtheexceptionalismofworldpowersinthewaythattheycandecidewhatcountriesare“legitimate”enoughtoholdtheawesomepowerofnuclearenergy.Alongthesesamelines,debatersinterestedincritiquingorientalismandconceptsofnuclearhegemonywillfindampleresourcescriticizingthenuclearempiressetupbyworldpowersliketheUS,China,andRussia.Finally,thequestionofthedegreetowhichnucleartechnologyintermingleswithenvironmentalconcernsandhumanrights/developmentofcountries’abilitytogeneratepowerattheheartofthistopicopensuplinkagestoawidevarietyofcriticalthinkers.

2015 Nuke Power

***FurtherReading***

1. NuclearPowerIsNottheAnswerbyHelenCaldicott2. TheProsandConsofNuclearPowerbyEwanMcLeish3. NuclearRenaissance:TechnologiesandPoliciesfortheFutureofNuclearPowerby

WilliamJ.Nuttall4. TheFundamentalsofNuclearPowerGeneration:Questions&AnswersbyM.W.

Hubbell5. AtomicAwakening:ANewLookattheHistoryandFutureofNuclearPowerbyJames

A.Mahaffey6. NuclearEnergy:WhatEveryoneNeedstoKnowbyCharlesD.Ferguson7. MediaDiscourseandPublicOpiniononNuclearPower:AConstructionistApproach

WilliamA.GamsonandAndreModiglianiAmericanJournalofSociologyVol.95,No.1(Jul.,1989),pp.1-37http://www.jstor.org/stable/2780405?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

8. PoliticsandNuclearPower:EnergyPolicyinWesternEuropeByMichaelT.Hatch

2015 Nuke Power

***AFF*** Iaffirm:

Resolved:Countriesoughttoprohibittheproductionofnuclearpower.

Becausethisresolutionusestheword“ought”questionsofmoralitywithinnuclearpowerarefirstandforemost,thevalueforthisdebateshouldbemorality.

Zimmermanexplains,thestatusquonuclearpolicyalwaysexcludesthenon-nuclearfromtheconversationleavingthempowerless.

Zimmerman95[AndrewD.,“TowardaMoreDemocraticEthicofTechnologicalGovernance,Science,Technology,andHumanValues,”vol.20,no.1,Winter,pp.86-107]

Theproblemofhinderedorevenarrestedmoraldevelopmentisexacerbatedbyauthoritarianinstitutionssuchasthelargetechnologicalsystemsthatdominatemuchofourpubliclifeandworktoinhibitautonomousexpression.14AsCooperobserved,"[t]hecrucialfeatureoftheseinstitutions,asitrelatestotheidealofmoralautonomy,isthelackofdownwardaccountability.Thoselowerinthehierarchyaretobethebeneficiariesofdecisions;theyarenotexpectedtopartakeinthedecisionmaking"(1993,124).

And,thestandardweshoulduseinthisdebatetomeasuremoralityismaximizingequalityofwellbeing.

AccordingtoMaiese:

Withoutconsiderationforequalityinhumanwellbeing,thoseoutofpowerbecomedehumanized.Dehumanizationisaprerequisitetoviolence–itmakesconflict,humanrightsviolationsandgenocideinevitable–it’sempiricallyproven.

Maiese03[Michelle,GraduateStudentofPhilosophyattheUniversityofColorado,Boulder;ResearchStaffattheConflictResearchConsortium;“Dehumanization,”

http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/dehumanization/]Whiledeindividuationandtheformationofenemyimagesareverycommon,theyformadangerousprocessthatbecomesespeciallydamagingwhenitreachesthelevelofdehumanization.Oncecertaingroupsarestigmatizedasevil,morallyinferior,andnotfullyhuman,thepersecutionofthosegroupsbecomesmorepsychologicallyacceptable.Restraintsagainstaggressionandviolencebegintodisappear.Notsurprisingly,dehumanizationincreasesthelikelihoodofviolenceandmaycauseaconflicttoescalateoutofcontrol.Onceaviolencebreakoverhasoccurred,itmayseemevenmoreacceptableforpeopletodothingsthattheywouldhaveregardedasmorallyunthinkablebefore.Partiesmaycometobelieve

thatdestructionoftheothersideisnecessary,andpursueanoverwhelmingvictorythatwillcauseone'sopponenttosimplydisappear.Thissortofinto-the-

seaframingcancauselastingdamagetorelationshipsbetweentheconflictingparties,makingitmoredifficulttosolvetheirunderlyingproblemsandleadingtothelossofmoreinnocentlives.Indeed,dehumanizationoftenpavesthewayforhumanrightsviolations,warcrimes,andgenocide.Forexample,inWWII,thedehumanizationoftheJewsultimatelyledtothedestructionofmillionsofpeople.[9]Similaratrocities

haveoccurredinRwanda,Cambodia,andtheformerYugoslavia.

2015 Nuke Power Contention1:Nuclearpowerallowsforproliferationandroguenuclearthreats

Proliferationisinevitablewithnuclearpower.Thiscouldultimatelyleadtofullscalenuclearconflict.

Digges08(Charles.AuthoratTheEnvironmentalFoundationBellona,“NuclearenergynotanalternativeforfightonClimateChange.”10.01.2008.)

<http://www.bellona.org/position_papers/nonuke_bellonaposition>

ThenuclearrelationshipbetweenRussiaandIranisaprescientexampleofcorporateorgovernmentalgreedrunningroughshodovernonproliferationconcerns.Bybuildinga$1billionreactorinIran’sportofBushehr,RussiaopenedaPandora’sBoxofnucleartechnologyforIran,whichhasdevelopeduraniumenrichmenttoalevelthatputsit,byIAEAestimates,withintwoto10yearsofbuildinganuclearweapon.Foritspart,Franceisunderwritingtheconstructionofanuclearpowerplantin

Libya,andactivelyencouragesnucleardevelopmentintheMiddleEast.Therelationshipbetweenthebasicinfrastructureofthefuelcycleandtheeventualdevelopmentofnuclearweaponstechnologyisawell-wornpath.Quitesimply,anynuclearfuelcyclefacilitysuchasauraniumenrichmentfacilityorareprocessingfacilitycanbeused,ifbuiltinsufficientsizes,toproducenuclearweapons.WeretheworldwidenuclearfuelcycletoexpandtothedimensionsneededtoevenbegincuttingCO2emissionsandmeetenergyneeds,thedevelopmentofnuclearweapons–theworld’ssinglegeopoliticaldoomsdaydevices-wouldbepossiblevirtuallyeverywhere.Thecorporateinterestsofspreadingnucleartechnologytherebyputthemostfearedtechnologiesindirectproximitytomanynationswhohaveestablishedtiestoterroristorganizations.Cheapenergythenbecomesinestimablelossoflifeandreconstructioncostswhenviewedinlightoftheevermorelikely

possibilityofanuclearterroristattack,oreventheheightenedchancesofafullblownnuclearwar.WiththeglobalconcernsaboutnuclearproliferationinplacessuchasNorthKoreaandIran,developmentofnuclearpowergloballyisuntenablegiventheexistenceofperfectlyacceptable,renewableandnon-weaponsusableenergytechnologies.Andwhilecertainveryspecificdisarmamentagreements–liketheCooperativeThreatReductionactbetweenRussiaandtheUnitedStateshavestemmedthisspiralbetweenthetwoColdWarfoes,

larger-scaletreaties,liketheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty(NPT)areunderconstantchallenge.Writtenwiththeaimofpressingitsnuclear-armedsignatories

towarddisarmament,whileholdingitsnon-nucleararmednuclearenergyproducingnationstotheagreementnottobuildnuclearweapons,theNuclearNon-ProliferationTreatyhasbeenparticularlyineffective.

2015 Nuke Power Contention2:NuclearPoweristoomuchofaburdenandimpossibleformanycountries

Droughtwillpreventnuclearpowerfromworking,waterresourcesarealreadytooscarcetowaste.

AP,08.

(“DroughtCouldShutDownNuclearPlants”MITCHWEISS,Jan23,http://news.aol.com/story/_a/drought-could-shut-down-nuclear-plants/20080123164209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001)

LAKENORMAN,N.C.(Jan.23)-NuclearreactorsacrosstheSoutheastcouldbeforcedtothrottlebackortemporarilyshutdownlaterthisyearbecausedroughtisdryinguptheriversandlakesthatsupplypowerplantswiththeawesomeamountsofcoolingwatertheyneedtooperate.Utilityofficialssaysuchshutdownsprobablywouldn'tresultinblackouts.ButtheycouldleadtoshockinglyhigherelectricbillsformillionsofSoutherners,becausetheregion'sutilitiesmaybeforcedtobuyexpensivereplacementpowerfromotherenergycompanies.Already,therehasbeenonebrief,drought-relatedshutdown,atareactorinAlabamaoverthesummer."Wateristhenuclearindustry'sAchilles'heel,"saidJimWarren,executivedirectorofN.C.WasteAwarenessandReductionNetwork,anenvironmentalgroupcriticalof

nuclearpower."Youneedalotofwatertooperatenuclearplants."Headded:"Thisisbecomingacrisis."AnAssociatedPressanalysisofthenation's104nuclearreactorsfoundthat24areinareasexperiencingthemostseverelevelsofdrought.Allbuttwoarebuiltontheshoresoflakesandriversandrelyonsubmergedintakepipestodrawbillionsofgallonsofwaterforuseincoolingandcondensingsteamafterithasturnedtheplants'turbines.

2015 Nuke Power Contention3:Nuclearpowerplantscan’tevenhelptheenvironment,infacttheyharmit.

NuclearpowerputsmoreCO2intotheatmospherethanotherenergysourcestoday

<Women’sInternationalLeagueofPeaceandFreedom(WILPF),October2007;WILPFispartoftheinternationalwomen’speaceorganizationestablishedin1915to'bringtogetherwomenofdifferentpoliticalbeliefsandphilosophieswhoareunitedintheirdeterminationtostudy,makeknownandhelpabolishthecausesandthelegitimizationofwar'.ThereareWILPFgroupsin42countriesincludingtheU.S.;http://www.wilpf.org.au/PDFs/Nuclear_Awareness_WILPF_2007.pdf>

Largeamountsofelectricity,petrol/diesel,andwaterareconsumedintheminingandprocessingofuraniumtogeneratenuclearfuel.Essentiallyanuclearreactorisaveryexpensivewaytoboilwater.Theactualnuclearreactormaynotproduceanygreenhousegaseslikecarbondioxide(CO2),buttherearesignificantamountsofCO2producedintheminingandtransportoftheoretothereactor.Largequantitiesofwaterarealsoconsumedinmining,andinsomecasesthesecanexceedtheamountsusedforcoalmining,e.g.OlympicDam

(RoxbyDowns)using729,000,000litersofwateradayfromtheArtesianBasin.Thiswaterbecomesradioactiveandtoxic.Theproblemofwastedisposalfromminingandprocessingaswellasfromthereactorisverylargeandsofarunsolved.AfterthecurrentexpansionofBHPBilliton’sOlympicDam(RoxbyDowns),itisexpectedthat1tonneofradioactivetailingswillbeproducedeverysecond,and10

milliontonnesoftailingareproducedannually.Itisstoredattheminebuttherearenolong-termtreatmentandmanagementplansforhowtodealwiththiscontaminatedminingwaste.Therearenosolutionsfordealingwithspentfuelrodsandotherhigh-levelradioactivewastegeneratedfromthenuclearcycle.

2015 Nuke Power Contention4:Nuclearwastewillirradiateandkillfuturegenerations

Nuclearwastesiteswillinevitablycreatehealthproblemsforfuturegenerations.

Brook98[Daniel,“EnvironmentalGenocide:NativeAmericansandToxicWaste,”AmericanJournalofEconomicsandSociology,Vol.57,No.1,Jan.,pp.105-113,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3487423.pdf]

Unfortunately,itisasadbuttruefactthat"virtuallyeverylandfillleaks,andeveryincineratoremitshundredsoftoxicchemicalsintotheair,landandwater"(Angel1991,3).TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyconcedesthat

"[e]venifthe...protectivesystemsworkaccordingtoplan,thelandfillswilleventuallyleakpoisonsintotheenvironment"(ibid.).Therefore,evenifthesetoxicwastesitesaresafeforthepresentgeneration-aratherdubiouspropositionatbest-theywillposeanincreasinglygreaterhealthandsafetyriskforallfuturegenerations.Nativepeople(andothers)willeventuallypaythecostsofthesetoxicpollutantswiththeirlives,"coststowhich[corporate]executivesareconvenientlyimmune"(Parker1983,59).Inthisway,privatecorporationsareabletoexternalizetheircostsontothecommons,therebysubsidizingtheirearningsattheexpenseofhealth,safety,andtheenvironment.

2015 Nuke Power Contention5:Alloftheproblemswithnuclearpowerwillonlygetworse,moreplantsarecoming.

Althoughcurrentnuclearplantsareexpandingtomeetcurrentneedsnewreactorsneedtobebuilttomeetfutureenergyneeds

Fertel2k4(Marvin,SeniorVPandchiefNuclearofficeratNuclearenergyInstitute,March4,2004,

http://www.nei.org/newsandevents/speechesandtestimony/2004/energysubcmtefertelextended)

Asourcountrypreparesfortheconstructionofnewnuclearpowerplants,theU.S.industryhasincreasedtheproductivityandefficiencyofitsexisting103plants.TheindustrycontinuestoupratecapacityatU.S.plants—theU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommissionhasauthorizedmorethan2,000megawatts(MW)of

powerupratesoverthelastthreeyears,andanother2,000MWareexpectedoverthenextseveralyears.Anuprateincreasestheoutputofthenuclearreactorandmustbeapprovedbythe

NRCtoensurethattheplantcanoperatesafelyatthehigherproductionlevel.Companieswillinvestinthesepowerupratesasconditionsintheirlocalpowermarketsjustify.Inaddition,energycompaniesarepursuingrenewaloftheiroperatinglicenses.Thisoptionallowstoday’soperatingplantstoextendtheirlivesfor20additionalyears—from40to60years.Justinthepast12months,theNRChasapprovedrenewedlicensesfor13reactors,bringingthetotalnumberofreactorsextendingtheirfederaloperatinglicensesto23.Anadditional33reactorseitherhavealreadyfiledtheirrenewalapplications,orindicatedformallytoNRCthattheyintendtodoso.That

representsoverone-halfofU.S.reactors.Weexpectvirtuallyallournuclearplantswillrenewtheirlicenses—simplybecauseitmakesgoodeconomicsensetodoso.Withlicenserenewal,ourfirstplantswilloperateuntilthe2030sandournewestplantswillrunpast2050.Asanindustry,we’veimplementedsystematicprogramsacrosstheindustrytomanagethesystemsandcomponentsintheseplantsfortheirentireexpectedlifetime.Andwe’remakingthecapitalinvestmentsnecessarytoallow60yearsofoperationatsustainedhighlevelsofsafetyandreliability.Increasingelectricityproductionatnuclearpowerplantsisakeycomponentofthepresident’svoluntaryprogramtoreducethegreenhousegasintensityoftheU.S.economy.InDecember2002,NEIrespondedtoPresidentBush’schallengetothebusinesscommunitytodevelopvoluntaryinitiativesthat

wouldreducethegreenhousegas(GHG)intensityoftheU.S.economy.NEIindicatedthattheU.S.nuclearenergyindustrycouldincreaseitsgeneratingcapabilitybytheequivalentof10,000MW.NEI’sanalysisshowedthatthiswouldachieveapproximately20percentofthepresident’sgoal.Theadditional10,000MWwouldcomefromthreesources:PowerUprates—5,000to6,500MWofcapacityadditionsbetween2002and2012.ImprovedCapacityFactors—theequivalentof3,000to5,000MWofadditionalcapacityin2002-2012.PlantRestarts—refurbishingandrestartingTennesseeValleyAuthority’sBrownsFerryUnit1would

add1,250MW.Thenuclearenergyindustryhasrecordedsubstantialprogresstowarditsgoal.TheNRChasapproved2,198MWofupratesinthepastseveralyears.Inaddition,basedoninformationfromnuclearplantoperators,theNRCexpectsapplicationsforanadditional1,886MWofupratesinthe2004-2008period.5Inaddition,theTennesseeValleyAuthority(TVA)ismovingforwardwithrefurbishmentofUnit1oftheBrownsFerrynuclearpowerplant.TheTVABoardinMay2002approvedtherefurbishmentandrestart,a$1.8-billionprojectthatisexpectedtoreturnthereactortocommercialoperationin2007.BrownsFerryUnit1isnotanewconstructionreactor,butitscomprehensiverefurbishmentandrestart,whencomplete,willrepresentasignificantaccomplishmentfortheindustry.With5,334MWofnewcapacityinprospect(4,084megawattsofupratesand1,250MWatBrownsFerryUnit1),thenuclearenergyindustrywillbeapproximatelyhalfwaytowardmeetingitsgoalofexpandingcapacityby10,000megawattsby2012.Thisrepresentssubstantialprogress—thelargestprogressofanysingleindustry—towardachievementofthepresident’sgoaltoreducetheGHGintensityoftheU.S.economyby18percentby

2012.Obviously,therearelimitsonhowmuchadditionalelectricityoutputcanbeproducedattheexisting103nuclearpowerplants.Meetingthenation’sgrowingdemandforelectricity—whichwillrequireasmuchas400,000MWby2025,dependingonassumptionsaboutelectricitydemandgrowth6—willrequireconstructionofseveralnewnuclearpowerplantsintheyearsahead.

2015 Nuke Power

***AFF Cards***

Plantscan’tbebuiltfastenoughtostopwarming

ChristianScienceMonitor2007[MarkClayton,staff,September28,accessed7/17/08http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0928/p01s05-usgn.html]

Therisksmightbeworththecostifnuclearpowercanhaveasubstantialimpactinslowingglobalwarming.Butevensomeindustryexpertsdoubtthat'spossible.Toreducecarbondioxideemissionsby1billiontonsannually,thelevelsetbysomescientistsasagoalfornuclearpower,theworldwouldneedtobuild21new1,000-megawattnuclearplantsperyear–aboutfiveofthoseannuallyintheUS–forthenext50years,saysaKeystoneCenterreportendorsedbytheNEI.TheUSindustryreachedthatlevelinthe1980s.Butevenunderitsmostoptimisticassessment,theEnergyInformationAdministrationrecentlyprojectedthatonlyabout53nuclearpowerplantswouldbebuiltby2056.Atthatrate,thiswouldnotevenreplacetheexistingnuclearcapacityexpectedtoberetiredduringthattime,theKeystonereportsaid.

2015 Nuke Power Nuclearenergywouldnotsolveclimatechangewithoutmajorconsequence.

Greenpeace,2008(Endthenuclearage,GreenpeaceInternational,Greenpeace.org,http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/nuclear#)

Weneedanenergysystemthatcanfightclimatechange,basedonrenewableenergyandenergyefficiency.Nuclearpoweralreadydeliverslessenergygloballythanrenewableenergy,andthesharewillcontinuetodecreaseinthecomingyears.Despitewhatthenuclearindustrytellsus,buildingenoughnuclearpowerstationstomakeameaningfulreductioningreenhousegasemissionswouldcosttrillionsofdollars,createtensofthousandsoftonsoflethalhigh-levelradioactivewaste,contributetofurtherproliferationofnuclearweaponsmaterials,andresultinaChernobyl-scaleaccidentonceeverydecade.Perhapsmostsignificantly,itwillsquandertheresourcesnecessarytoimplementmeaningfulclimatechangesolutions.

2015 Nuke Power Nuclearpowerwouldbemorecostlyandcrushtheeconomy

Rifkin,2006(Jeremy,founderandpresidentoftheFoundationofEconomicTrendsandtheauthorof“TheHydrogenEconomy:TheCreationoftheWorldWideEnergyWebandtheRedistributionofPoweronEarth”,“NuclearEnergy:Stillabadidea”,LosAngelesTime,September29,http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0929-33.htm)

First,nuclearpowerisunaffordable.Withaminimumpricetagof$2billioneach,new-generationnuclearpowerplantsare50%moreexpensivethanputtingcoal-firedpowerplantsonline,andtheyarefarmoreexpensivethannewgas-firedpowerplants.Thecostofdoublingnuclearpower'sshareofU.S.electricitygeneration—whichcurrentlyproduces20%ofourelectricity—couldexceedhalfatrilliondollars.Inacountryfacingrecordconsumerandgovernmentdebt,whereisthemoneygoingtocomefrom?Consumerswouldpaythepriceintermsofhighertaxestosupportgovernmentsubsidiesandhigherelectricitybills.Second,60yearsintothenuclearera,ourscientistsstilldon'tknowhowtosafelytransport,disposeoforstorenuclearwaste.Spentnuclearrodsarepilingupallovertheworld.IntheUnitedStates,thefederalgovernmentspentmorethan$8billionand20yearsbuildingwhatwassupposedtobeanairtight,undergroundburialtombdugdeepintoYuccaMountaininNevadatoholdradioactivematerial.Thevaultwasdesignedtobeleak-freefor10,000years.Unfortunately,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyconcedesthattheundergroundstoragefacilitywillleak.AccordingtoastudyconductedbytheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgencyin2001,knownuraniumresourcescouldfailtomeetdemand,possiblyasearlyas2026.Ofcourse,newdepositscouldbediscovered,anditispossiblethatnewtechnologicalbreakthroughscouldreduceuraniumrequirements,butthatremainspurelyspeculative.

2015 Nuke Power NuclearpowerwouldbeaneasywaytospreadterrorismfurtherintheMiddleEast.

Rifkin,2006(Jeremy,founderandpresidentoftheFoundationofEconomicTrendsandtheauthorof“TheHydrogenEconomy:TheCreationoftheWorldWideEnergyWebandtheRedistributionofPoweronEarth”,“NuclearEnergy:Stillabadidea”,LosAngelesTime,September29,http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0929-33.htm)

Fourth,buildinghundredsofnuclearpowerplantsinaneraofspreadingIslamicterrorismseemsinsane.OntheonehandtheUnitedStates,theEuropeanUnionandmuchoftheworldisfrightenedbythemerepossibilitythatjustonecountry—Iran—mightuseenricheduraniumfromitsnuclearpowerplantsforanuclearbomb.Ontheotherhand,manyofthesamegovernmentsareeagertospreadnuclearpowerplantsaroundtheworld,placingthemineverynookandcrannyoftheplanet.Thismeansuraniumandspentnuclearwasteintransiteverywhereandpilingupinmakeshiftfacilities,oftenclosetoheavilypopulatedurbanareas.Nuclearpowerplantsaretheultimatesofttargetforterroristattacks.OnNov.8,2005,theAustraliangovernmentarrested18suspectedIslamicterroristswhowereallegedlyplottingtoblowupAustralia'sonlynuclearpowerplant.TheU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommissionfoundthatmorethanhalfofthenuclearpowerplantsinthiscountryfailedtopreventasimulatedattackontheirfacilities.Weshouldallbeveryworried.

2015 Nuke Power Nuclear power isn’t a long term solution- only enough fuel for 4 years. Caldicott, 5. (Helen,theAustralian,April15.“NuclearPoweristheProblem,NotaSolution”http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0415-23.htm,founderandpresidentoftheNuclearPolicyResearchInstitute)

At present there are 442 nuclear reactors in operation around the world. If, as the nuclear industry suggests, nuclear power were to replace fossil fuels on a large scale, it would be necessary to build 2000 large, 1000-megawatt reactors. Considering that no new nuclear plant has been ordered in the US since 1978, this proposal is less than practical. Furthermore, even if we decided today to replace all fossil-fuel-generated electricity with nuclear power, there would only be enough economically viable uranium to fuel the reactors for three to four years.

2015 Nuke Power Wastestoragenearsitspeakwithinadecade-newnuclearplantswillspeedthethestorageprocesscausingriskofover-filling.

<MicroSoftNewsBroadcastingCompany(MSNBC);Wed.,March.7,2007;“ReidvowstoblocknuclearwastebillEnergyDept.warnsofsecondnuclearwastedumpifYuccanotexpanded”;http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17498643/>

WASHINGTON-TheEnergyDepartmentunveiledlegislationTuesdaytospurconstructionofanationalnuclearwastedumpinNevadaandincreaseitscapacity.SenateMajorityLeaderHarryReid,D-Nev.,immediatelyvowedtoblockthebill.ThatcouldspellmoreproblemsforthetroubledYuccaMountainnuclearwastedump,alreadyyearsbehindschedule.TheEnergyDepartmentofficialwhoheadstheprojectwarnedthatwithoutnewfundingthat'spartofthebill,a2017goalforopeningthedump90milesnorthwestofLasVegascouldnotbemet."Ifwedon'thavethatwearecertainlynotgoingtobeabletomaintainthe2017date,"saidEdwardF."Ward"Sproat,directoroftheEnergyDepartment'sOfficeofCivilianRadioactiveWasteManagement.Thebilldoesn'tspecifyhowmuchmorethan77,000tonsofnuclearwasteshouldbeallowedinYuccaMountain,thoughfederalenvironmentalimpactstudieshaveestimatedthedumpcouldsafelyholdatleast132,000tons.There'salreadymorethan50,000tonsofnuclearwastepilingupatnuclearpowerplantsin31stateswithnowheretogo,somethingthat'sthreateningtaxpayerswithmountingliabilitycostssincethefederalgovernmentwascontractuallyobligatedtobeginstoringnuclearutilities'wastestartingin1998.Reid'ssolutionistoleavethenuclearwasteatthesiteswhereitalreadyis,putitindrycaskstorageunitsandallowtheEnergyDepartmenttotakeownershipofitonsitetoeliminatetheproblemofliabilitytoutilities.HeandSen.JohnEnsign,R-Nev.,introducedtheirownlegislationTuesdaytomakethosechanges.InrecentyearsReidhasalsosucceededincuttingPresidentBush'sbudgetrequestforYucca.Theproject's2007budget,at$405million,isnearly$150millionlessthantheadministrationwanted,whichSproatsaidisforcingprojectmanagerstoputvariousinitiativesonhold,includingworkonaraillinetotransportthewaste.TheEnergyDepartment'sbillwouldensurethatannualrevenuesinaspecialnuclearwastefundpaidforbyutilitieswouldbededicatedtoYuccaMountainoutsidetheoverallfederalbudgetingprocess,sothatYuccawouldn'thavetocompetewithotherprogramsforfunding.ThiswouldguaranteeYuccaMountaindedicatedfundingofatleast$750millionperyear.

2015 Nuke Power Poor safety standards fail to be fixed in modern reactors and often continue to leak radioactive water and more.

Madsen,2008(Wayne,WayneMadsenisaWashington,D.C.-basedinvestigativejournalist,author,andsyndicatedcolumnist.HisarticleshaveappearedinTheVillageVoiceandWired.“WayneMadsen:NuclearPowernoteco-friendlyenoughtoresurrect”,McClatchy-TribuneNewsService,7-17,http://www.theolympian.com/nationworld/story/509801.html)

The poor nuclear safety record of America's nuclear power plant operators, especially during the laissez-faire regulatory holiday of the Bush administration, has not stopped GOP presumptive presidential candidate John McCain from waving the nuclear flag. In 2004, the Palo Verde nuclear plant, 50 miles west of Phoenix, saw two of three units shut down due to radiation leaks from aging equipment. The NRC saw fit to approve continued operation of the faltering plant. In addition, radioactive water was found to have leaked into ground water around Palo Verde. Similar leaks into the water supply have been discovered at the Braidwood nuclear power plant near Chicago. The Union of Concerned Scientists' call for a major investigation of such leaks was ignored.

2015 Nuke Power NuclearEnergycausesradiationhealthproblems

Caldicott2006[Dr.HelenCaldicott,July2006,devotedthelast35yearstoaninternationalcampaigntoeducatethepublicaboutthemedicalhazardsofthenuclearageNuclearPowerIsNottheAnswer,http://www.helencaldicott.com/chapter3.pdf]

Few,ifany,estimatesofthecostsofnuclearenergytakeintoaccountthehealthcoststothehumanrace.Evenwhennuclearpowerplantsareoperatingnormally,thesecostsarenotinsignificant.Miners,workers,andresidentsinthevicinityoftheminingandmillingfunctions,andworkersinvolvedintheenrichmentprocessesnecessarytocreatenuclearfuelareatriskforexposuretounhealthyamountsofradiationandhaveincreasedincidencesofcancerandrelateddiseasesasaresult.Routineandaccidentalradioactivereleasesatnuclearpowerplantsaswellastheinevitableleakageofradioactivewastewillcontaminatewaterandfoodchainsandexposehumansandanimalsnowandforgenerationstocome.AccidentssuchasThreeMileIslandandChernobylcondemnthousandsifnotmillionstopaythecostofnuclearpowerwiththeirownhealth.Understandingthenatureofradiationiscriticaltounderstandingthehealthimpactsofnuclearenergy.

Radiationcanresultincancersanddeath.

WorldNuclearAssociation2002(“RadiationandLife”,http://www.world-nuclear.org/education/ral.htm)

Ithasbeenknownformanyyearsthatlargedosesofionisingradiation,verymuchlargerthanbackgroundlevels,cancauseameasurableincreaseincancersandleukemias('canceroftheblood')aftersomeyearsdelay.Itmustalsobeassumed,becauseofexperimentsonplantsandanimals,thationisingradiationcanalsocausegeneticmutationsthataffectfuturegenerations,althoughtherehasbeennoevidenceofradiation-inducedmutationinhumans.Atveryhighlevels,radiationcancausesicknessanddeathwithinweeksofexposure-seeTable.Thedegreeofdamagecausedbyradiationdependsonmanyfactors-dose,doserate,typeofradiation,thepartofthebodyexposed,ageandhealth,forexample.Embryosincludingthehumanfetusareparticularlysensitivetoradiationdamage.Butwhatarethechancesofdevelopingcancerfromlowdosesofradiation?Theprevailingassumptionisthatanydoseofradiation,nomatterhowsmall,involvesapossibilityofrisktohumanhealth.

2015 Nuke Power NuclearReactorsunsafe-Theregulatorsareineffective

Gronlund,Lochbaum,&Lyman`7(Lisbeth,David,Edwin,LisbethGronlundisco-directorandseniorscientistoftheUCSGlobalSecurity

Program.DavidLochbaumisdirectorofthenuclearsafetyprojectintheUCSGlobalSecurityProgram.EdwinLymanisaseniorstaffscientistintheUCSGlobal

SecurityProgram.,NuclearpowerinawarmingworldAssessingtheRisks,AddressingtheChallenges,UnionofConcernedScientist,December2007) Safetyproblemsremaindespitealackofseriousaccidents.A serious nuclear power accident has not occurredin the United States since 1979, when the Three Mile Island reactor in Pennsylvania experienced a partial core meltdown. However, theabsenceofseriousaccidentsdoesnotnecessarilyindicatethatsafetymeasuresandoversightareadequate.Since1979,therehavebeen35instancesinwhichindividualreactorshaveshutdown to restore safety standards, andtheownerhastakenayearormoretoaddressdozensorevenhundredsofequipmentimpairmentsthathadaccumulatedoveraperiodofyears.Themostrecentsuchshutdownoccurredin2002.Theseyear-plusclosuresindicatethattheNRChasbeendoingapoorjobofregulatingthesafetyofpowerreactors.Aneffectiveregulatorwouldbeneitherunawarenorpassivelytolerantofsafetyproblemssoextensivethatayearormoreisneededtofixthem.

Nuclearpowerisinherentlyunsafe-TheNRC’spoorregulationmakesitworstfornewreactors

Gronlund,Lochbaum,&Lyman`7(Lisbeth,David,Edwin,LisbethGronlundisco-directorandseniorscientistoftheUCSGlobalSecurityProgram.David

LochbaumisdirectorofthenuclearsafetyprojectintheUCSGlobalSecurityProgram.EdwinLymanisaseniorstaffscientistintheUCSGlobalSecurityProgram.,NuclearpowerinawarmingworldAssessingtheRisks,AddressingtheChallenges,UnionofConcernedScientist,December2007)

Nuclearpowerplantshaveexperiencedscoresofmoreminoraccidentsandnear-misses.TheseincludeanaccidentinJapaninDecember1995,whentheMonjureactorleakedsodiumcoolant,settingoffaseriousfire.Sodiumburnsfiercelywhenincontactwithairandreactsviolentlywhenaddedtowater,makingitdifficulttocontrol.Arecentexampleofanear-missisthe2002discoverythattheDavis-BessereactorinOhiohadasizableholeinitshead:onlyathinskinofstainlesssteelkeptradioactivematerialsfromspreadingwithintheplant.ContinuedoperationforafewmoremonthswouldhaveledtoaThreeMileIsland-stylecoremeltdown,orworse(seeBox1).12Infact,theNuclearRegulatoryCommission(NRC)hasreportedfourdozen“abnormaloccurrences”toCongresssince1986,andnotifiedtheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgencyof18nuclear“events”sincereportingbeganin1992.13Whilenotechnologycanbeperfectlysafe,nuclearpowerisaninherentlyriskytechnology,andminimizingitsrisksrequiresstringentsafetystandardsandpractices.TheUnitedStateshasrelativelystrongsafetystandardsfornuclearpower.However,serioussafetyproblemscontinuetoarisebecausetheNRCdoesnotadequatelyenforcethosestandards.Ofcourse,accidentsarenottheonlymeasureofsafety,and

theabsenceofaccidentsdoesnotnecessarilyindicatethattherearenosafetyproblems.ThenumberofU.S.reactorsshutdownforayearorlongertoaddressnumeroussafetyproblemsprovidesstrongevidenceofpoorsafetypracticesandinadequateNRCenforcement.Aweak“safetyculture”withintheNRCitselfpreventseffectiveoversight.Theagencyalsoreliesonflawedapproachestoassessingrisksandinspectingnuclearfacilities,anditsstandardsforpreventingandmitigatingsevereaccidentsaretoolow.TheNRChasrecentlytakenstepstolimitpublicparticipationinthereactorlicensingprocess,eventhoughpastparticipationhasledtoimprovedsafety.Moreover,ratherthanraisingthebarfornewreactordesigns,theNRCisrelyingonexistingstandards,andfederallimitsontheliabilityofnuclearplantownersreduceincentivestoimprovethesafetyoffuturereactors.TheNRCalsosuffersfromaninadequatebudget.TheseshortcomingsindicatethattheNRCneedstogreatlystrengthenitsapproachtonuclearpowersafety.

2015 Nuke Power

***NEG***

INegate:

Resolved:Countriesoughttoprohibittheproductionofnuclearpower.

Becausethisresolutionbringsintoquestionwhethergovernmentsofcountriesshouldusenuclearpowerornot,thevalueforthisdebateshouldbegovernmentalobligations

Governments’obligationsaretoprovidethemostgoodtothegreatestnumberoftheircitizenspossible.

Goodin,Robert.FellowofphilosophyatAustralianNationalUniversity,1990(TheUtilitarianResponse)

Whateveritsshortcomingsasapersonalmoralcode,thereismuchtobesaidforutilitarianismasa‘publicphilosophy’.Utilitarianismofsomeformoranotherisincumbentuponpublicpolicy-makersbecauseofthepeculiartaskstheyfaceandbecauseofthepeculiarinstrumentsavailabletothemforpursuingthosetasks.Giventhosesubstantiallyinalterablefactsabouttheenterpriseinwhichtheyareengaged,publicpolicy-makershavelittlechoicebuttobatch-processcases,actingthroughrules,principles,andpolicies,whicharebroadlygeneralinformandsubstantiallyuniforminapplication.Whenlookingforgeneral,uniformpublicrules,principles,andpolicies,thepremiumisupondoingtherightthingon

averageandinstandardcases.Inthatcontext,utilitarianismseemstobeahighlyattractiveproposition.

And,thestandardweshoulduseinthisdebatetomeasuregovernmentalobligationismaximizingequalityofwellbeing.

AccordingtoMaiese:

Withoutconsiderationforequalityinhumanwellbeing,thoseoutofpowerbecomedehumanized.Dehumanizationisaprerequisitetoviolence–itmakesconflict,humanrightsviolationsandgenocideinevitable–it’sempiricallyproven.

Maiese03[Michelle,GraduateStudentofPhilosophyattheUniversityofColorado,Boulder;ResearchStaffattheConflictResearchConsortium;“Dehumanization,”

http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/dehumanization/]Whiledeindividuationandtheformationofenemyimagesareverycommon,theyformadangerousprocessthatbecomesespeciallydamagingwhenitreachesthelevelofdehumanization.Oncecertaingroupsarestigmatizedasevil,morallyinferior,andnotfullyhuman,thepersecutionofthosegroupsbecomesmorepsychologicallyacceptable.Restraintsagainstaggressionandviolencebegintodisappear.Notsurprisingly,dehumanizationincreasesthelikelihoodofviolenceandmaycauseaconflicttoescalateoutofcontrol.Onceaviolencebreakoverhasoccurred,itmayseemevenmoreacceptableforpeopletodothingsthattheywouldhaveregardedasmorallyunthinkablebefore.Partiesmaycometobelieve

thatdestructionoftheothersideisnecessary,andpursueanoverwhelmingvictorythatwillcauseone'sopponenttosimplydisappear.Thissortofinto-the-

seaframingcancauselastingdamagetorelationshipsbetweentheconflictingparties,makingitmoredifficulttosolvetheirunderlyingproblemsandleadingtothelossofmoreinnocentlives.Indeed,dehumanizationoftenpavesthewayforhumanrightsviolations,warcrimes,andgenocide.Forexample,inWWII,thedehumanizationoftheJewsultimatelyledtothedestructionofmillionsofpeople.[9]Similaratrocities

haveoccurredinRwanda,Cambodia,andtheformerYugoslavia.

2015 Nuke Power Contention1:Prohibitingnuclearpowerisworsefortheenvironment

Nuclearenergysolvesproliferationandclimatebetterthansolarandwind

Dikshit2008[Sandeep.(HinduFrontPageNationalNewspaper)<http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061058260100.htm>June10]

PrimeMinisterManmohanSinghsaidonMondayIndiawasleftwithnooptionbuttotapallpossiblesourcesofenergy,includingnuclear,duetothesteadyincreaseinpowerconsumption

predictedforthecomingyears.Whilearguingforrelianceonnuclearenergy,Dr.Singhalsocalledforgreatercontrolsonproliferationofnuclearenergyandmaterial.“Ourenergyneedswillcontinuetoriseintheforeseeablefuture.Wedonothavetheluxuryoflimitingouroptionsofenergysources.Wethereforewishtocreateaninternationalenvironmentinwhichnucleartechnologyisusednotfordestructivepurposesbutforhelpingusmeetournationaldevelopmentgoalsandourenergysecurity,”hesaidinauguratingaconferenceonnucleardisarmamenthere.“Thethreatofclimatechangeandglobalwarmingitselfraisesarangeofsecurityconcerns,especiallyforusinthedevelopingworld,”thePrimeMinistersaidwithoutelaborating.Accordingtoadiscourseoncleanenergyoptions,nuclearenergyiscitedasthebestpossibleoption.Energyfromwindandsolarmeansisseenasintermittentwhilenuclearenergycopeswithpeakdemandandcangeneratehighvolumes.Dr.SinghrecalledRajivGandhi’splanfornucleardisarmamentenunciatedin1988tostressthecivilianimportanceofnuclearenergy.“RajivGandhibelievedthatdisarmament,inparticularnucleardisarmament,wasessentialtousherinasafeandnon-violentworld.Hehadadeepinsightintothenatureofevolutionoftechnology,itspotentialforadvancinghumanwelfareasalsoforunleashingdestruction.Inthiscontext,hewasacutelyawareofthepoweroftheatom.Hewishedthatitshouldneveragainbeusedfordestructivepurposes.”India,Dr.Singhnoted,hadwitnessedrapideconomicgrowthinthelastfewyearsandwouldrecordhighergrowthratesinthefuture.

2015 Nuke Power Contention2:Prohibitionofnuclearpoweronlyallowsformoreproliferation–regulationiskey

Avibrantnuclearreactorprogramiskeytomaintainconsentrightsoverfissilematerialwhichmaintainmorecontroloverinternationaltradeinnuclearsupplies

Bengelsdorf,etal.2007[Harold,currentlyaPrincipalwiththeconsultingfirmofBengelsdorf,McGoldrick,andAssociates,“TheU.S.DomesticCivilNuclearInfrastructure

andUSNonproliferationPolicy,”May2007,availableathttp://www.nuclearcompetitiveness.org/images/COUNCIL_WHITE_PAPER_Final.pdf]

Itis,therefore,essentialthattheUnitedStateshavevibrantnuclearreactor,uraniumenrichment,andspentfuelstorageanddisposal

industriesthatcannotonlymeettheneedsofU.S.utilitiesbutwillalsoenabletheUnitedStatestopromoteeffectivesafeguardsandothernonproliferationcontrolsthroughclosepeacefulnuclearcooperationothercountries.TheU.S.shouldestablishahighprioritygoaltorebuildanindigenousnuclearindustryandsupportitsgrowthindomesticandinternationalmarkets.U.S.nuclearexportscanbeusedtoinfluenceotherstates’nuclearprogramsthroughthenonproliferationcommitmentsthattheU.S.requires.TheU.S.hasso-calledconsentrightsovertheenrichment,reprocessingandalterationinformorcontentofthenuclearmaterialsthatithasprovidedtoothercountries,aswellastothenuclearmaterialsthatareproducedfromthenuclearmaterialsandequipmentthattheU.S.hassupplied.Thepercentageofnuclearmaterials,includingseparated

plutonium,thataresubjecttoU.S.consentrightswilldiminishovertimeasnewsuppliersofnuclearmaterialsandfacilitiestakealargershareoftheinternationalnuclearmarket.UnlesstheU.S.isabletocompeteeffectivelyintheinternationalmarketasasupplierofnuclearfuels,equipmentandtechnology,thequantityofthenuclearmaterialsaroundtheglobethattheU.S.hascontroloverwilldiminishsignificantlyinthefuture.ThismaynotimmediatelyweakentheeffectivenessofthenonproliferationregimesinceallthemajorsuppliershaveadoptedtheexportguidelinesoftheNuclearSupplierGroup.However,onlytheU.S.,AustraliaandCanadahaveconsentrightsoverenrichmentandreprocessingofthe

nuclearmaterialssubjecttotheiragreements.Consequently,ifthereisamajordeclineintheU.S.shareoftheinternationalnuclearmarket,theU.S.maynotbeaseffectiveasithasbeeninhelpingtoensurearigoroussystemofexportcontrols.

2015 Nuke Power

***Neg Cards***

Nuclearpowerisalreadytheplan.

TheNews&Observer2006[WadeRawlins,staff,January29,“Surgeinnuclearpowerlikely,”http://www.newsobserver.com/1156/story/394089.html]

Aconfluenceofeventshasspurredtherenewedinterestinnuclearenergy.Powercompaniesfacetougherpollutionlimitsoncoal-andgas-fueledpowerplants,andtheyworryabouttheprospectofnewlimitsongreenhousegasessuchascarbondioxide.Thenlastyear,federalincentivesfornuclearpowermadeconstructionappearmorefeasible.Suchattentiontonuclearpowercomesafteraquarter-centurylull,theresultofthe1979accidentatThreeMileIslandinPennsylvania.Theaccidentraisedpublicfearanddistrust,andcausedutilitiestocancelexistingordersfornewreactors.Criticssayfearsofradiationleaksandaccidentscontinueto

bejustified.Inaddition,theindustryfacesunresolvedquestionsaboutthelong-termdisposaloftheradioactivewastethatnuclearpowerplantsproduce.Butsuchconcernsaredampenedbygrowingalarmoverglobalwarming.Scientistsknowhumanactivitiessuchasburningofcoalandgasarecontributingtorisinglevelsof

carbondioxideandothergreenhousegasesintheatmosphere.Theythinkthebuildupofgreenhousegases,whichtrapheat,arecontributingtoglobalwarmingbutarestilldebatinghowquicklytemperatureswillincreaseandhowmuch.AsProgressofficialslookatwhatkindofregulationswouldprobablyapplytoanewpowerplantbuilttostartrunningabout2015,anuclear

plant'slackofairemissionsholdsappeal.Thecompanywillmakeafinaldecisioninabouttwoyears."Thehigherthelikelihoodofcarbonregulations,thelesslikelyyouaretobuildacoalplantandthemorelikelyyouaretobuildanuclearplant,"saidBillJohnson,presidentandchiefoperatingofficerofProgressEnergy,whichhasitsheadquartersinRaleigh."Weareplanningasiftherewillbeacarbon-constrainedfuture."

2015 Nuke Power Nuclearpowerisneeded—it’stheonlypowerthatcanmeetemissionsrequirements

ChrisArnold,July7,2007,NPRreporter,http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11694160

TheUnitedStateshas104nuclearreactorsgeneratingelectricity—themostofanycountryintheworld—buttheyareaging.Afteran

accidentatThreeMileIslandandtheChernobyldisaster,thecountrylostitsstomachfornuclearpower.Utilitiescanceled96newnuclearprojects,andanewreactorhasn'tbeenbuiltinthe

U.S.since.EnergySecretarySamuelBodmantoldtheAmericanNuclearSocietyatarecentconferenceinBostonthattheUnitedStateshasreachedacriticalpointfornuclearpower."Atpresent,nuclearpoweristheonlymaturetechnologythatcansupplylargeamountsofemissions-freebaseloadpowertohelpusmeettheexpectedgrowthindemand,"Bodmansaid."…Wehavenotlicensedanewnuclearpowerplantinthiscountryinover30years.Thatsimplymustchange."Tougheremissionslawsalsowouldmeanmorepowerfromrenewablesources:solar,windandbiomass.Butexpertssaythosecan'tmatchnuclearoutput.So,whileitmightnotbewhatsomeenvironmentalistswerehopingforwhilepushingfortougherglobalwarminglaws,morenuclearpowerplantscouldbeonthehorizon.

2015 Nuke Power Tonsofcountrieswantnuclearpowerasameanstocombatclimatechange

Scoblic2008[J.Peter,executiveeditorofNewRepublic,“NuclearSpring”,NewRepublicVol.238,Issue7.4/23/2008ebscohost]

TheMiddleEastisalreadyintolerablyhot,yetglobalwarmingseemstobeonthemindsofmanycountriesintheregion.Egypt,SaudiArabia,Oman,Yemen,Syria,Libya,Jordan,and,ofcourse,Iranareallpursuing,planning,orexploringtheirfirstnuclearpowerreactors.

Justlastweek,theUnitedArabEmiratesannouncedthatitwouldgoaheadwithaciviliannuclearprogram,makingitthefirstGulfstatetodoso.OtherstatesnowconsideringtheirnuclearoptionsrangefromVenezuelatoBelarustoIndonesia.Injustifyingtheirprogramstotheworld,"they'vealljumpedonthe'nucleariscleanandgreen'bandwagon,"accordingtoSharonSquassonioftheCarnegieEndowmentforInternational

Peace.Forexample,Taiwan'spresident-elect,MaYing-jeou,hascalledforexpandingtheisland'snuclearcapacitytohelpcombatclimatechange.Thailandannouncedlastsummerthatitwouldbuilditsfirstreactorandhopestoultimatelyproduce25percentofthecountry'selectricityfromnuclearpower."Withoutnuclear,youcouldn'treducegreenhousegases,"saidEnergyMinisterPiyasvastiAmranand.Someofthisgreeneryseemssincere.SouthAfrica,forexample,whichgaveupitsnuclearweaponsprogramin

theearly1990s,hasstrictanti-pollutionregulationsthathavedrivenupthecostofcoal,makingitsnuclearexpansionsensible.Indeed,althoughthecontinentuseslittleenergy,Africaasawholehastakenanintenseinterestinnuclearpowerbecauseofitsfearofglobal-warming-induceddesertification.

2015 Nuke Power BackslidingontheobligationtoprovidenuclearpowercollapsestheNPT

Butler2008[Declan,BeforejoiningNaturein1993,Declanwrotefreelance,andworkedfortheFrenchbiotechnologymagazineBiofutur.HegraduatedinbiologyfromQueen'sUniversity,Belfast,andhasaPhDinmarinebiologyfromtheUniversityofLeeds.HewasmadeaChevalierofFrance'sNationalOrderofMeritin2003forforservicetoscienceandsociety,January9,Nature451,114-115,http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080109/full/451114a.html]

TheoriginalaimoftheNPT,whichcameintoforcein1970,wastorestricttheweaponstothefivecountriesthatalreadyopenlypossessedthem,allofwhichagreedtotakestepstodisarm.Aspartofthe'grandbargain',otherstatesagreednottodevelopnuclearweapons,butwereguaranteedan'inalienableright'tousenuclearenergyforpeacefulpurposes,dubbedatomsforpeace.Overthepastdecade,thenuclear-weaponsstates'reluctancetoembracetheirsideoftheNPTbargainhasstallednon-proliferationeffortsandcountriessuchasIndiaandPakistanhavetestedweapons.Hugeprogresswasmadeatreviewconferencesin1995and2000,includingapackagedealof13stepstofurthertheNPT'stwingoalsofnon-proliferationanddisarmamentbytheexistingnuclear-weaponsstates,suchasacommitmenttoaComprehensiveNuclear-Test-BanTreaty

(CTBT)andaFissileMaterialCut-OffTreatytooutlawtheproductionofnewweaponsmaterial.Thereactiontothe11Septemberterroristattacksin2001stoppedprogress,andthe2005reviewconferenceendedwithalmostnoagreement.“The13stepshavebeenrolledbackorforgottenabout,”saysJeanduPreez,anarmsexpertattheMontereyInstituteofInternationalStudiesinCalifornia.

Indeed,non-proliferationeffortshaveifanythinggonebackwards.TheUnitedStatesandChina,signatoriestotheCTBT,havefailedtoratifyit,andsopreventedthetreatyenteringintoforce.AndtheUS2002NuclearPostureReview,whilemakingcutstothecountry'sweaponsinfrastructure,flewinthefaceofitsNPTcommitmentsbyincreasingtheroleofnuclearweaponsinitssecuritydoctrineandexpandingthescenariosinwhichtheymightbeusedtoincludeattacksoncountrieswithbiologicalorchemicalweapons.

ItisimportantthattheNPTnotbeunderminedasitprotectstheworldfromnuclearproliferation

AgenceFrance-Presse2008(“UNchiefurgesmoreeffortstocurbnuclearproliferation”,AFP,July1st,

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hr1MMk3QSwJYUNMBtsZpiFfBG-rA)UNchiefBanKi-mooncalledforstepped-upeffortstowardcurbingthespreadofnuclearweaponsashemarkedthe40thanniversaryofthesigningoftheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty(NPT).DescribingtheUN-backedpactasthemosteffectivemultilateralinstrumenttolimitnuclearproliferation,BansaidTuesdayinastatement:"Wemustreinforceandstrengthenittomeetthechallengesoftheday.""Yet,tensofthousandsofnuclearweaponsremaindeployedandstockpiled,andsignificantdeeper,irreversibleandverifiablecutsareneeded,"theUNsecretary

generalsaid."Nuclearproliferation--whetherbystatesornon-stateactors--threatenseveryone,andthereforerequiresglobalcooperationinaddressingnon-compliance,inresolvingconcernsovernuclearprogramsandinensuringthemostreliablecontrolsovernuclearmaterials,"addedBan,whoiscurrentlyonanAsian

tour.InWashington,USPresidentGeorgeW.BushurgedtheinternationalcommunitytopreventNPTnon-compliance."NPTpartiesmusttakestrongactiontoconfrontnoncompliancewiththetreatyinordertopreserveandstrengthenitsnonproliferationundertakings,"BushsaidinastatementastheworldweighspotentialNorthKoreanandIraniannuclearthreats.Bushdidnotmentionthosecountriesbynamebutsaid"wecannotallownationstoviolatetheircommitmentsandunderminetheNPT'sfundamentalroleinadvancinginternationalsecurity."

OpenedforsignatureonJuly1,1968andputintoeffectonMarch5,1970,theNPTisthemostuniversalarmscontroltreatyinforce.Today189ofthe192UNmemberstateshavesignedit.Itsstatedgoalistostopthenucleararmsraceandseeknucleardisarmament.Fivecountriesthathadtestednuclearweaponsbeforethetreaty'scompletion--Britain,China,France,RussiaandtheUnitedStates--wererecognizedasnuclear-weaponstatesandobligatedtopursue"effectivemeasures"towardnucleardisarmament.Allothersweredesignatednon-nuclear-weaponstatesandprohibitedfromacquiringnucleararmsatall.ButIndia,Pakistan,IsraelandNorthKoreahavemanagedtobuildtheirownnuclearweaponsoutsidetheNPTframework.TheNPT,drawnupduringtheColdWarera,isnowinurgentneedofanoverhaulifitistomeetpresent-daychallengessuchastheproliferationcrisesinNorthKorea,IranandmostrecentlySyria,expertshavesaid.NorthKoreadevelopedacovertnuclearweaponsprogram,whichitisonlynowinthelongandslowprocessofdismantling.IranisaccusedofpursuingaweaponsprogramundertheguiseofpeacefulnuclearpowerandSyriahasrecentlycomeunderfireforallegedlybuildingacovertnuclearfacility.

2015 Nuke Power Revitalizingdomesticnuclearinfrastructurekeytononproliferation

AmericanNuclearSociety2001[TheAmericanNuclearSociety,foundedin1954,isanot-for-profitscientificandeducationalsocietyofover11,000scientists,engineers,andeducatorsfromuniversities,governmentandprivatelaboratories,andindustry,November,NonproliferationBackgroundforPositionStatement55,accessed7/17/08http://www.ans.org/pi/ps/docs/ps55-bi.pdf]

AstrongdomesticnuclearinfrastructurewillgreatlyenhancethecontinuedabilityoftheUnitedStatestoworkeffectivelywithothercountriesinmeetingtheproliferationchallengesoftodayandtomorrow.However,theerosionthatistakingplaceinthedomesticnuclearinfrastructureisseriouslythreateningtheabilityoftheUnitedStatestocontinuetoinfluenceconstructivelyinternationalnucleardevelopments(10,11).Furthermore,theinfluenceoftheUnitedStatesininstitutionalmattersrelatedtononproliferationwoulddecreasedramaticallyiftheUnitedStatesweretobeperceivedasdisassociatedfromthebeneficialapplicationofnucleartechnology–includingtheeffectiveuseofnuclearpower.Conversely,avigorousindustrial,research,andeducationalinfrastructurewillpositiontheUnitedStatestoexerciseeffectiveinfluenceandleadershipininternationalnuclearaffairsandtechnology.

2015 Nuke Power GenerationIVreactorscanbebuilttodayandsolvethestatusquoharmsofnuclearpower

Hunt2006[Margaret,Editor,“NuclearPower,”June,AdvancedMaterials&Processes]

GenerationIVnuclearpowerplantsarebeingresearchedinaworldwideprograminitiatedbytheUnitedStatesin2000.Thesereactorsaredesignedtobehighlyeconomical,andwillminimizewastewhileprovidingenhancedsafety.Inaddition,theywillutilizeafuelcycledesignedtopreventtheproliferationofnucleartechnology.AspointedoutbytheFACspeakers,somedesignsforGenerationIVnuclearreactorscouldbebuiltofmaterialsthatexisttoday.However,severalotherGenerationIVdesignsrequirethedevelopmentofnewceramicsandnewalloys.

OneexampleofaGenerationIVreactorthatcouldbebuilttodayistheSodiumFastReactor(SFR).AccordingtooneFACpresentation,nomajorR&Dobstaclesblockdevelopment.

2015 Nuke Power DevelopmentofadvancedreactorsandtechnologieskeytoUSnonproliferationefforts

Bengelsdorf,etal.2007[Harold,currentlyaPrincipalwiththeconsultingfirmofBengelsdorf,McGoldrick,andAssociates,“TheU.S.DomesticCivilNuclearInfrastructureandUSNonproliferationPolicy,”May2007,availableathttp://www.nuclearcompetitiveness.org/images/COUNCIL_WHITE_PAPER_Final.pdf]

IftheUnitedStateshopestocontinuetoexercisestrongandspecificinfluenceinternationallyinnonproliferationmattersinthefuture,itcanbestachievethisobjectivebyremaininganactiveplayerininternationalnuclearaffairsbyprovidingadvancednuclearpowersystems,uraniumenrichmentservicesandnuclearfueltoothercountries;andbymaintainingitsabilitytodevelopandapplyadvancednucleartechnologies.ArevivalofnuclearpowerintheUnitedStateswithnewnuclearpowerplantordersshouldgreatlyhelpenhanceU.S.powerandinfluenceininternationalnuclearaffairs,butwemustalsoseektoonceagainbeamajorsupplierofnuclearpowertechnologyandequipmentworld-wide.Conversely,iftheU.S.nuclearpowerprogramstartstodiminishsignificantlythroughtheretirementofoldnuclearpowerplantswithoutnewreplacements,thenitsvoiceincivilnuclearmattersandnonproliferationwilldeclineinternationally,eventhoughtheU.S.mayremainasuperpoweronthepoliticallevel.

2015 Nuke Power Itisfundamentallyimpossibletoreachclimatechangepreventiongoalswithoutnuclearenergy

Colvin4(Joe,presidentandchiefexecutiveofficeroftheNuclearEnergyInstitute.“NuclearEnergy:TheGlobalChoiceforthe21stCentury”2004)

Nuclearpowerhasarelativelysmallenvironmentalimpactcomparedtootherenergysources.One of the main advantages is that nuclearpowerplantsemitnoharmfulgasesintotheatmosphere.Nuclearpowerplantsproduceelectricitythatotherwisewouldbesuppliedbyoil-,gas-orcoal-firedgeneratingcapacity,andthusavoidtheemissionsassociatedwiththatfossil-fueledcapacity.Nuclear plants consequently have value in terms of compliance with various clean-air initiatives.Ineffect,emissionspreventedthroughtheuseofnuclearenergyareequivalentinvaluetothosereducedaselectricityisproducedbyothersources.SeveralnationalsignatoriestotheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChangehavediscoveredtheimpossibilityofmeetingtheirtargetswithoutnuclearenergy.Finland noted the contribution of nuclear in its decision to build a new reactor. Japan and Korea have included expansion of nuclear capacity in their plans for compliance. U.S.nuclearpowerplantspreventedmorethan750milliontonsofcarbondioxidein2003,whichisequivalenttoeliminatingtheCO2emissionsfromnine out of 10 passenger cars in the United States—orabout134millionvehicles.Nuclearpowerplantsworldwideprevented2.57billiontonsofCO2lastyear. Based on U.S. vehicle emissions data,thisisequivalenttoremovingtheCO2emissionsfrom450millionpassengercars—aboutthesamenumberofpassengercarsontheplanet.LeadingU.S.scientistsconfirmthattheexpansionofnuclearenergyisacriticalfactorincontrollingtheincreaseofgreenhousegases.ArecentstudybytheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyandHarvardUniversityconcludedthat“thenuclearoptionshouldberetained,preciselybecauseitisanimportantcarbon-freesourceofpowerthatcanpotentiallymakeasignificantcontributiontothefutureelectricitysupply.”

2015 Nuke Power Nuclearpowerwillsolveenergycrises

Creamer,08(Steve,chairmanandchiefexecutiveofficerofEnergySolutionsInc,NuclearPowerWillSolveEnergyCrisis,June03,2008,http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/OPINION01/806130395/1008)

TheUnitedStatesisinanenergycrisis.Inordertosolvethiscrisisandachieveenergysecurity,wemustfindwaystodiversifyourenergysupplyandreduceourdependenceonforeignoil.Nuclearpowerisoneoftheenergysourcesthatmustbeutilized,alongwithsolar,wind,biofuelsandotherrenewables,toachieveenergysecurityfortheUnitedStates.Nuclearenergyisaclean,safe,reliableandnon-carbon-emittingsourceofenergy.Itmustplayagrowingroleinmeetingourenergydemand.EnergySolutions'missionistohelptheUnitedStatesachieveenergyindependence,reducecarbonemissionsandprotecttheenvironment.Wecanaccomplishthisbyhelpingcleanupthenuclear-wastelegacyofthepastandbymanagingcurrentnuclear-wasteissues.Thiswillpavethewayfornuclearpowertoplayagreaterroleinmeetingourgrowingenergydemands.

2015 Nuke Power WithoutUSnonproliferationleadershipnuclearholocaustisassured

Krieger2004[David,NuclearAgePeaceFoundationPresident,“ChartingaNewCourseforUSNuclearPolicy,May13,accessed7/17/08http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2004/05/14_krieger_charting-course-policy.htm]

Amongthecountriesthatcurrentlypossessnuclearweapons(China,France,India,Israel,Pakistan,Russia,UnitedKingdom,UnitedStatesandpossiblyNorthKorea),theUSisthemostpowerful,economicallyandmilitarily.Ifthereistobemovementtowardmakingtheworldsaferfromnucleardevastation,theUSmustleadtheway.TheUShasthepowertoinfluenceeachoftheseothercountriesinawaythatnoothercountryorinternationalorganizationcoulddo.USleadershiphasthepotentialtobringthethreatoffuturenuclearholocaustsundercontrol,andwithoutthisleadershipthelikelihoodoffuturenuclearcatastrophesseemsvirtuallyassured.

2015 Nuke Power GenerationIVreactorsstrengthentheNPTandpeacefulnuclearenergy

P.Delaune,2006[TheInternationalNuclearNonproliferationScienceandTechnologyForum,Tokyo,http://www.jaea.go.jp/04/np/documents/fr06_delaune02_E.pdf]

FrancestressesthepoliticalimportanceofnotgivinganyimpressionthattheGNEPinitiativecouldinanywaydeprivestatespartiestotheNPTofanyrightspursuanttotheTreaty.Onthecontrary,thisinitiativeshouldunderlinethatitisaimedathelpingcountriestodevelopnuclearenergyforpeacefulpurposes(asstatedinarticleIVoftheNPT).

Advancednuclearreactorspreventproliferationwithaclosedfuelcycle

NERAC2002[U.S.DOENuclearEnergyResearchAdvisoryCommitteeandtheGenerationIVInternationalForum,December2002,ATechnologyRoadmapforGenerationIVNuclearEnergySystems,http://gif.inel.gov/roadmap/pdfs/gen_iv_roadmap.pdf]

Today,mostcountriesusetheonce-throughfuelcycle,whereasothersclosethefuelcyclebyrecycling.Recycling(usingeithersingleormultiplepasses)recoversuraniumandplutoniumfromthespentfuelandusesittomakenewfuel,therebyproducingmorepowerandreducingtheneedforenrichmentanduraniummining.Recyclinginamannerthatdoesnotproduceseparatedplutoniumcanfurtheravoidproliferationrisks.However,recyclinghasproventobeuneconomicaltoday,givenplentifulsuppliesofuraniumatlowandstableprices.Thiswilleventuallychange,andclosingthefuelcyclewillbefavoredwhenthecostofmaintaininganopencycleexceedsthatofaclosedcycle.Withrecycling,otherbenefitsarerealized:thehigh-levelradioactiveresiduesoccupyamuch-reducedvolume,canbemadelesstoxic,andcanbeprocessedintoamoresuitableformfordisposal.Inaddition,reactorscanbedesignedtotransmutetroublesomelong-livedheavyelements.Achievingthesebenefits,however,willrequiresignificantR&Donfuelcycletechnology.Overall,thesafetyandenvironmentalrecordofnuclearpowerisexcellent.Despitethis,publicconfidenceinthesafetyofnuclearpowerneedstobeincreased.NewsystemsshouldaddressthisneedwithclearandtransparentsafetyapproachesthatarisefromR&Donadvancedsystems.Fissilematerialswithinciviliannuclearpowerprogramsarewell-safeguardedbyaneffectiveinternationalsystem.Current-generationplantshaverobustdesignsandaddedprecautionsagainstactsofterrorism.Nevertheless,itisdesirableforfuturenuclearfuelcyclesandnuclearmaterialssafeguardstodesignfromthestartanevenhigherdegreeofresistancetonuclearmaterialdiversionorundeclaredproduction.Further,questionshavearisenaboutthevulnerabilityofnuclearplantstoterroristattack.Inresponse,futurenuclearenergysystemswillprovideimprovedphysicalprotectionagainstthethreatsofterrorism.

2015 Nuke Power Unlikeoil,uraniumisastablefuelsupplywherefluctuationshavelittleimpactonthemarketprice

WorldNuclearAssociation08(“TheEconomicsofNuclearPower”)<http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf02.htm>July,2008

Uraniumhastheadvantageofbeingahighlyconcentratedsourceofenergywhichiseasilyandcheaplytransportable.Thequantitiesneededareverymuchlessthanforcoaloroil.Onekilogramofnaturaluraniumwillyieldabout20,000timesasmuchenergyasthesameamountofcoal.Itisthereforeintrinsicallyaveryportableandtradablecommodity.Thefuel'scontributiontotheoverallcostoftheelectricityproducedisrelativelysmall,soevenalargefuelpriceescalationwillhaverelativelylittleeffect.Forinstance,typicallyadoublingoftheuraniummarketpricewouldincreasethefuelcostforalightwaterreactorby26%andtheelectricitycostabout7%(whereasdoublingthegaspricewouldtypicallyadd70%tothepriceofelectricityfromthatsource).

2015 Nuke Power Nuclearenergyiskeytoglobalenergy

Colvin4(Joe,presidentandchiefexecutiveofficeroftheNuclearEnergyInstitute.“NuclearEnergy:TheGlobalChoiceforthe21stCentury”2004)

Today’snuclearenergyindustryisindeedaworldwideenterprise.Consequently,itisessentialtoeliminateunnecessaryrestrictionsonfreetradeinfuelsandequipment.Forexample,itisnolongernecessarytolevyimporttariffsonreactorvesselheadsorsteamgenerators,sincetherearenoU.S.domesticsuppliersforthesemajorcomponents.Suchtariffsserveonlytoincreasethecostofnuclearpowerplantoperations.Theimportanceofnuclearenergy’scontributionhasgarneredrecognitioninseveralcurrentstudiesoftheworld’senergyfuture.Canadaisstudyingitsfutureenergyneedsatthefederalandprovinciallevel.Francecompletedanationaldiscussiononenergyissues,andtheFrenchparliamentcontinuedtodebatethecountry’sfutureenergypolicyduringthefirstpartofthisyear.TheUnitedKingdompublishedanenergywhitepaperin2003examiningthenation’senergyfuture.IntheUnitedStates,theBushadministrationissueditsnationalenergypolicyin2001.However,CongresshasnotyetfinalizedcomprehensiveenergylegislationthatprovidesaroadmapforAmerica’sfutureenergyneeds.Inthesecountries,nuclearpowerfactoredexplicitlyineachgovernment’senergypolicydecisions.Inadditiontosupportingtheextensionofitsexistingreactors,theFrenchgovernmentisproceedingwiththeconstructionofanext-generationEuropeanpressurizedwaterreactor(EPR).TheU.K.governmentwhitepaperbackedonlythecontinuedoperationofitsexistingreactors.InCanada,theOntarioprovincialgovernmenthasincludedtaxincentivesfortheconstructionofnewnuclearpowerplants.Manyexpertsareconvincedthatnuclearenergycanplayanevengreaterroleinmeetingtheworld’sgrowingenergyneedsinyearstocome.

2015 Nuke Power Nuclearpoweriskeytoincreasegrowthanddecreasewarming;thisisthegreatestthreattotheplanet

PatrickMoore6/7/2008(CochairmanofCleanandSafeEnergyCoalition;http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/27/na-greenpeace-founder-goes-nuclear/)

The2008presidentialcampaignhasbroughttothemainstreamaphrasethatenvironmentalistshaveinvokedforyears:"green-collarjobs."Theideaofindustriesdevotedtoenvironmentalsustainabilitypromisessomethingforeveryone-economicgrowthandacleanerworld.Today,Florida,alongwithmanyotherstates,iscompetingtobuild"greencollar"industries-solar,wind,biomass,andthelike.Alloftheseindustriesoffersomethingintermsofjobgrowthandenvironmentalresponsibility.Theyareallanessentialpartofourenergymixgoingforward.Withoutexception,though,it'shardtocompetewiththeone-twopunchofnuclearenergy-near-termeconomicgrowthandlong-termenvironmentalsustainability.Problemis,severaldecadesofhazyfactsaboutnuclearenergyhavemadeitdifficulttohaveafrankconversationaboutitsbenefits.Intheearly1970s,IwasafounderofGreenpeace.Backthen,likemanyotherenvironmentalists,Ibelievedthatnuclearenergywassynonymouswiththeproliferationofnuclearweapons.Wewerewrong;ourfearsweremisplaced.Today,weseethatthegreatestthreattotheearthisnotthechillofnuclearwinter;it'souraddictiontofossilfuelsandtheairpollutionandgreenhousegasemissionstheycause.Ifwearetoseriouslyattackthisproblem,wehavetocomeupwithinnovativeandreliablewaystomeetourenergyneeds.Mostsolutionstoourfossilfuelprobleminvolvecuttingintoeconomicgrowth.Butthatisnotaviableapproach,especiallywithoureconomyalreadyfacingenormouschallenges.Nuclearenergycanhelpsolvebothourlong-termenvironmentalchallengesasanationandthenear-termeconomicneedsofFlorida'sfamilies.Ifthecountrybuildstheapproximately35newnuclearpowerplantscurrentlyplannedorunderreview,wecouldaddupto600,000jobstoournation'seconomy,accordingtoareportissuedearlierthismonthbytheCleanandSafeEnergyCoalition.Eachofthe104reactorsoperatingtodaygeneratesanestimated$430millionayearintotaleconomicimpactfortheirlocalcommunities,andnearly$40millionintotallaborincome.Floridahasseenthebenefitsofnuclearenergyupclose.FourteenpercentoftheelectricitythatFloridiansuseeverydaycomesfromfivenuclearreactors,whichemitnocontrolledpollutantsandemployabout3,000workerscombined.Thankstotheenergyproducedcleanlyatthoseplants,Floridaavoidedtheemissionof39,000tonsofnitrogenoxidesin2006alone-equaltotaking2millionpassengercarsoffFloridahighwaysforafullyear.YetFloridacouldstilldobetter;itrankedthirdamongstatesforhighestcarbonemissionsin2007.Nowisthetimetotakeaction.Ittakeseightto10yearstogetnewplantslicensedandbuilt.Opponentsofnuclearenergyknowthis,andplayonit.ButdelaystonuclearplantconstructionrepresentataxonFlorida'sconsumers,ataxonFlorida'sworkers,andataxonFlorida'senvironment.Wehavetostartbuildingnewplantsnow,andwecanstartwiththefourplantsbeingproposedinthestatebyFloridaPower&LightandProgressEnergy.WeshouldalsoaddcapacitytoFlorida'sexistingnuclearplants,amovethatcouldproduceeightpercentmoreelectricityandavoidthousandsofmoretonsofharmfulemissions.Thirtyyearsago,Iwasconvincedthatthenationcouldlivewithoutnuclearenergy.Now,thesciencehasconvincedmethatthenationcan'tlivewithoutit.That'struebecauseofwhatnuclearenergycandoforourenvironment,andit'sespeciallytruebecauseofwhatnuclearenergycandoforoureconomy.

2015 Nuke Power

2015 Nuke Power Newnuclearplantsgreatlyexpandtheavailabilityofcleanwatertothedevelopingworld

Colvin4(Joe,presidentandchiefexecutiveofficeroftheNuclearEnergyInstitute.“NuclearEnergy:TheGlobalChoiceforthe21stCentury”2004)

Thenextgenerationofnuclearplantscouldprovideotherenvironmentalbenefitsinadditiontoproducingreliableelectricitywithoutemittinggreenhousegases.Forexample,newplantsmaybededicatedtohydrogen production or to the desalination ofdrinkingwater,vastlyexpandingtheavailabilityofcleanwatertothedevelopingworld.

Advancedreactorsarekeytowaterdesalination

InternationalAtomicEnergyIndustry02(“ProspectsforNuclearDesalination.”IAEIOctober30,2002.)http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2002/10-24-427595.shtml

Designersoftomorrow'snuclearpowerplantsaremorecloselyeyeingthedevelopingworld,bycraftingreactorsthatcanserveadualpurpose--toproduceelectricityandeconomicallyturnseawaterintofreshdrinkingwater.Thetwinproductionsystemisknownas"nucleardesalination".Economicsholdsthekeytothefutureofnucleardesalination,expertssay,withadvancedreactordesignsnowpromisingreducedcostsinturningseawaterintofreshwater.Fordevelopingcountriesfacingwatercrises,itisamajordrawingcard.Ataninternationalconferenceonnucleardesalination,heldinMorocco,16-18October2002,specialistsfrommorethan35countriesassessedglobaldevelopments,includingtheprospectsfornuclearplants.ParticipantsheardthatadvancedHigh-TemperatureGas-CooledReactordesignswereacompetitive,safeandcleaneralternativetoconventionalfossil-fueledplants.Aswellasgeneratingelectricity,whencoupledwithadesalinationfacilitythereactorscouldproducefreshwaterforaboutadollarfortwocubicmeters.