Facts about Nuclear Energy ...

I'm a big proponent of nuclear energy. Not because it dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions - although it does that in spades - but because it's an efficient form of energy that can reduce pollution (healthier air for you and I to breathe) and it would also reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Nuclear energy isn't a "pipe dream" like fuel cell autos, windmill farms, and solar energy are. Basically any kind of alternative energy source endorsed by the left-wing wackos in this country is either inefficient - or the technology for it just doesn't exist. That's not so with nuclear power - the technology exists today and nuclear power is one of the most efficient forms of energy production that has ever existed. It's also virtually pollution free.

Here's some facts on nuke energy ...

Top 10 Facts About Nuclear Energy

1. There are 104 commercial nuclear power plants producing 20 percent of the electricity in the United States. They are located at 64 sites in 31 states.

2. More than 400 nuclear power plants worldwide produce 16 percent of the world’s electricity—while reducing CO2 emissions by more than 2 billion metric tons per year.

3. Nuclear energy supplies electricity each year to serve 60 million homes.

4. Nuclear energy has one of the lowest environmental impacts of any electricity source. For example, a wind farm would need 235 square miles to produce the same amount of electricity as a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant.

5. Nuclear energy is by far the nation’s largest source of electricity that does not emit any controlled air pollutants, providing 73 percent of the electricity from all carbon-free sources, including hydroelectric, wind and solar.

6. Nuclear power plants provide low-cost, predictable power at stable prices and are essential in maintaining the reliability of the U.S. electric power system.

7. Nuclear power plants are able to produce abundant and low cost energy source because they use an enriched form of uranium for fuel. One uranium fuel pellet – the size of the tip of your little finger – is equivalent to 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal, or 149 gallons of oil.

8. The economic activity of a U.S. nuclear plant generates on average around $40 million in state and local tax revenues.

9. You would have to live near a nuclear power plant for over 2,000 years to get the same amount of radiation exposure that you get from a single diagnostic medical x-ray.

10. There are nearly 100 different nuclear medicine imaging procedures available today. An estimated 10 to 12 million nuclear medicine imaging and therapeutic procedures are performed each year in the United States.

Another fact I stumbled upon - check out this energy breakout for the state of Hawaii - it appears the "greener" the state - the more bent on generating green house gas it is. Not a slice of nuke energy in Hawaii - not one - but check out all that black oil they burn!




Now contrast that with VERMONT!! 72.5% of Vermont's energy needs are satiated with nuclear energy - and another 19.5% is supplied by Hydro - another GREEN source of energy. That means that almost all of Vermont's energy production is greenhouse gas free.

Who knew that?