Nuclear Power Energy

Nuclear power energy is a relatively clean power (much cleaner than coal or gas burning). It renders itself as the clean solution to energy production now and in the near future.

To understand nuclear power, we have to separate the weapons atom usage of the word "nuclear" from the peaceful, power-producing nuclear energy.

To clearly understand it, we must first look at the 2 basic types of nuclear power production that have been (or are being) developed - Fission and Fusion:

1.) Nuclear Fission - The fission system is what all nuclear power facilities have been using since nuclear power production was developed. Nuclear fission uses the energy from radioactive materials to heat liquids. These heated liquids are used to heat water to form steam, then the steam is used to power electric turbines.

2.) Nuclear Fusion - The fusion system has not yet been perfected to the point of anyone being able to build a working power plant. Fusion uses highly compressed deuterium plasma (usually with magnets and pressure) to release x-ray energy from the deuterium to heat liquids and water for steam use in turbines.

Fusion is much safer than fission, in that fusion has very little radioactive fallout capability if something happened to go wrong.

This technology has radically changed over the last 20 years and the dangers still associated with incidents like the "China Syndrome" and Chernobyl have virtually been eliminated altogether.

Presently, the only real danger from nuclear power plants is the nuclear waste that is produced each year from the used radioactive materials. Finding places to store this radioactive material is tricky.

To see a full explanation of how nuclear power plants actually work and to fully understand the difference between fission and fusion, click here to see this article from How Stuff Works.

We have presented nuclear power on our website (not because you can really use or build this energy yourself as an individual but...) because certain benefits can result from living close to nuclear plants.

• Tax Advantages - In the United States (depending on your locale) you may have much lower federal, state, and property taxes if you live close enough to a nuclear power plant.



• Less Dependence - Again, by utilizing nuclear power, less coal and fossil fuels are used reducing the need and dependence on foreign oil or imported fuels.

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