Nuclear and Coal Energy - Essay Example

Scoring Grid assignment # 2 Addressing the requirements in the assignment 20% Write at the level of college audience Follow the outline in discussing effects Abide by space constraints for your submission (about 2 pages single spaced, up to 3 pages, not counting references and quotes) Include the assignment sheet to your submission 2. Evaluation of the environmental effects of the energy technology 50% and comparison to coal Good background is given on current status (how much is produced, where does production occur, and what is the energy potential of this source in the US) Evaluation of effects is as follows: Identify the main environmental and public health effects according to assignment (land use, air, etc.) Consider whole fuel cycle, accident/normal, kwh etc. (use grid shown in class as a guide) Weigh the costs with the benefits ( effects per kwh produced) Comparison is well reasoned, and follows from preceding discussion 3. Writing style and form 30% Each assertion is supported by cogent evidence: logical reasoning, statistics, examples, credible references Clear connections exist between sentences in each paragraph and between paragraphs in each section Each sentence consists of one main idea, and each paragraph consists of a well connected group of ideas Language is precise, clear, and direct Proper form is followed for grammar, punctuation, usage, quotations, and spelling Nuclear and Coal Energy Status and Potential Several sources of energy are used for the production of electricity. Each of the different sources of energy comes with its own benefits and risk. However, the choice of energy sources is based on the availability of the energy source. In the US, coal accounts for 44% of the country’s total electricity output. On the other hand, the US produces 19% of its total energy requirements from nuclear resources. The main coal plants are located in Vermont, North Carolina, Shelocta, and Georgia. Main nuclear power stations in the country are Three Mile Island, Browns Ferry, peach Bottom, and Vermont Yankee. Production of electricity is based on demand and availability of resources. For the last two century, coal has been readily available in the US. However, depletion of the mineral has led to increase in the cost of production. Depletion of coal mines and the current campaigns against pollution have made coal to lose its popularity as a source of electricity. Explanation and Evaluation of Effects Both coal and nuclear power have significant impacts on the environment and people’s health. However, people often underestimate the impacts of coal as a pollutant. Unlike coal, nuclear energy can have lethal effects, if a nuclear power station experiences a meltdown. Due to the adverse impacts of nuclear energy, nuclear power stations are accessed regularly (Medard 54). On the other hand, coal bi-products such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have diverse impacts on the environment and people’s health. Nuclear power station is usually constructed in under populated areas. The expected capacity of a nuclear power stations determines the degree of associated risks. Comparison The US and India are the main countries that rely on coal as their main sources of energy. However, benefits of coal exceeds its disadvantages and, hence the loss of its popularity. Currently, coalmines are been abandoned due to overexploitation. Although the country has huge coal deposit, production of the resource is constrained by development and population growth. Abandoned mines leave permanent scars on the land leading to environmental degradation. On the other hand, uranium mines are not intensive and widespread as coalmines. This indicates that nuclear energy has minimal contribution to land degradation. However, nuclear power station lead to displacement of the population due to risks associated with nuclear accident. Thus, nuclear energy and coal energy consumes approximately the same amount of land. Construction of nuclear power stations require considerable amount of land. This often leads to population displacements whereby people are compensated for their land. In addition, land adjacent to nuclear power stations cannot be utilized for other activities such as agriculture due to risks associated with nuclear radiation and contamination. Similarly, coalfields cannot be utilized for alternative economic activities due to the resultant environmental degradation. Production of waste products is a significant factor of consideration in the energy sector. Coal is a major pollutant as compared to other sources of energy such as nuclear energy. Unlike nuclear energy, coal has to undergo combustion in order to produce energy. This process produces carbon dioxide as the main byproduct. It is estimated that each unit of energy produced from a coal plant produces considerable amount of carbon dioxide that is incomparable with carbon dioxide produced from other natural processes. Carbon dioxide produced from coal power stations has significant effect on the environment. Unlike coal and other energy sources such as wind and solar, nuclear energy has minimal fluctuations and hence it is economical. However, nuclear energy poses major environmental risks that can have lethal impacts on life. Nuclear power stations in the country continuously produce harmful isotopes and other radioactive materials that pose a major risk to the environment. Radioactive isotopes such as cesium-137 and strontium-90 are continuously been produced from the power stations are capable of contaminating the environment for decades. This indicates that both sources of energy have equivalent levels of risk. However, coal has outstanding short-term implications on the environment compared to nuclear power. Energy is the main driver of economic prosperity. However, the country’s economy cannot be effectively evaluated without considering the impacts that the energy has on the environment. The impacts of nuclear technology on animal and plants species can be evaluated from the ecological perspective by considering the impacts of the technology on the ecosystem. Nuclear technology has contributed to the development of medical field, which has positive effects on the life of plants and animals. On the other hand, threats of nuclear meltdown or accidents still pose a major threat to the existence of plants and animal species. Unlike nuclear technology, coal has immediate impacts on the environment. The impacts of coal production and processing on ecosystems start from the mining stage. The open cast technique applied in coal mining has continuously destroyed the ecosystem that would otherwise be inhibited by plants and animals. In addition, climate change resulting from greenhouse gases produced by coal power stations has diverse effects on ecosystems. Pollution is a major factor that differentiates coal from nuclear energy. Unlike coal, nuclear energy has no emissions. However, both sources have significant levels of water pollution. Most coal and nuclear power station have insignificant fluctuation in their power production (Medard 54). Thus, both technologies do not require power backup. For instance, coal power station operates on rods of enriched uranium, which takes a long time before been depleted. In addition, the power stations have computer systems that monitor fluctuation of the source of energy. On the other hand, the country has huge coal resource that produces large quantities of coal to run the power stations. Water is a requirement in both technologies where it is used as a coolant in nuclear power stations and a source of steam in coal power stations. The different uses of water are then main cause of water pollution. Finally, coal and nuclear energy have substantial long-term impact on people health. Immediate health impacts associated with coal include respiratory illnesses while long-term health impacts include chronic diseases such as cancer. Works Cited Medard, Gabel. Energy, Earth, & Everyone. New York: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 2008. Read More