Discussion Series

Overview

Nuclear power provides baseload electricity while emitting very little CO2.  There are a lot of passionate, opinionated people who both support and oppose nuclear energy; at this energy club discussion, we will discuss both points of view and talk about the pros and cons of nuclear energy.

Key Questions

  • What are the current technology/policy issues in the areas of waste management, nuclear plant safety, nuclear proliferation, and the economics of nuclear power?
  • How likely is it that there will be a nuclear “renaissance” in the U.S.?  In the world?  What is needed to make this happen (or stop it)?
  • What are the primary concerns of the public and of environmentalists?  Are the potential consequences of nuclear power “worth” the decrease in carbon emissions?
  • What are some key things to know about nuclear energy?
  • What is going on with proliferation, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, and other multi-national bodies and their policies?

 

Preparatory Readings

Check out the executive summary; further chapters are recommended if you have the interest in a particular topic.  This is slightly outdated (e.g. inaccuracies in predicting natural gas prices) but is a great overview of the primary issues associated w/ nuclear power.

A shorter article from SCIENCE that is pretty balanced on the topic of the nuclear renaissance.

An impassioned, anti-nuclear article. WARNING: I have encountered several factual inaccuracies in this article, so PLEASE read critically (though the gist of most of his arguments at least merits significant discussion).

For a bit of the impassioned argument on the pro-nuclear side, check out the Nuclear Energy Institute (the nuclear lobbying group). This NEI writeup is quite short but VERY pro-nuclear (and also contains factual inaccuracies!)

Nuclear Power: Myths and Realities

06:00-07:00PM Sunday, October 07, 2007
Leader: Lara Pierpoint
Location: Thirsty Ear Pub