Myths About Nuclear Energy—Debunked
Nuclear energy generates nearly a fifth of U.S. electricity, and there are currently 94 nuclear power plants in 28 states. But despite quietly and safely generating clean, affordable power for decades, nuclear energy has an image problem.
Since the development of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II, the threat of nuclear warfare has left many Americans with a significant distrust of all things nuclear. It was also during the postwar period that “nuclear” and “radioactive” started to appear in comic books, movies, and popular culture as the go-to shorthand for dangerous substances with the ability to mutate and destroy, and nuclear energy has had a hard time shaking the association.
High-profile real-life disasters like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima Daiichi haven’t helped, but beyond the big stories, nuclear power is far safer than fossil fuel energy sources. Energy produced by coal and brown coal (lignite), for instance, has a combined mortality rate nearly 2,000 times that of nuclear energy! That’s not to say that radiation isn’t dangerous. When there is a failure at a plant, the results can be extensive and enduring. But nuclear energy’s relationship with other energy sources is a bit like air travel’s to driving a car—one inspires exponentially more fear than the other while being exponentially safer.
7 Myths About Nuclear Energy
Even with the everyday uses of nuclear technology that improve our lives, misconceptions still persist. Here are the facts setting the record straight on seven of the most common myths about nuclear energy.
Nuclear Energy Myth 1: Nuclear Energy Is Dirty
Nuclear power is considered a “clean” energy source because it produces almost no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making it a carbon-neutral option for electricity generation compared to fossil fuels. The “exhaust” you see rising from the curved towers of a plant is actually just water vapor used for cooling.
Nuclear Energy Myth 2: Nuclear Plants Emit Dangerous Levels of Radiation
Power plants do not emit more radiation than you receive naturally each year from the sun. Strict nuclear safety protocols mean that most of a plant’s radiation is blocked by the specifically designed steel and concrete structures.
Nuclear Energy Myth 3: Nuclear Reactors Are the Same as Atomic Bombs
There is nothing inherently explosive about nuclear material or in the generation of nuclear energy, and plants can’t explode like nuclear bombs. Nuclear weapons are created with very different materials and processes. In the case of the more famous accidents, toxic material was released into the environment by a fire in the plant and not an explosion.
Nuclear Energy Myth 4: Nuclear Waste Is Dangerous Forever
Nuclear waste is hazardous, but not as much of it is dangerous for as long as you might think. Nuclear material has a finite toxic half-life, and only a very small percentage is radioactive enough to need isolated underground storage for thousands of years. The rest is stable enough to be disposed of near ground level, and its toxicity decays to safe levels within decades.
Nuclear Energy Myth 5: Nuclear Plants Create Mountains of Waste
The Argonne National Laboratory, an energy, science, and engineering research center operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, states that the used nuclear fuel generated by every nuclear plant in the past 50 years would only be enough to fill a football field to a depth of less than 10 yards. About 96% of this waste is also recyclable.
Nuclear Energy Myth 6: Nuclear Plants Are Unreliable
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nuclear has the highest capacity factor of any other energy source, with plants being able to produce maximum power more than 92% of the time during the year. This means that nuclear energy is nearly twice as reliable as natural gas and coal, and almost 3 times more reliable than wind and solar power.
Nuclear Energy Myth 7: Glowing Green Ooze Fuels Nuclear Power Plants
Try not to be too disappointed that the truth about nuclear fuel is way more boring. Nuclear fuel is made from uranium oxide that’s pressed into pellets about the size of pencil erasers. The pellets are loaded into tubes and bundled together into grey metal rods that look the same going into the reactor as they do coming out.
In the early 1900s, it was discovered that mixing the nuclear element radium with a variety of materials could make everything from watch faces to glass dishes glow green in the dark, which is probably how the color became associated with radioactivity. It’s important to note that radium is extremely toxic and that it’s not an element used in nuclear power production!
Is a Career in Nuclear Energy Right for You?
A career in nuclear energy might be right for you if you have a strong interest in chemistry, technology, and complex systems; are comfortable working in a highly regulated environment; and are passionate about contributing to a sustainable energy future. It’s also an excellent career path for someone with military experience as a Navy Nuke.
Excelsior University’s BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET and opens up new opportunities for nuclear professionals, with experienced faculty and industry-standard training simulators. If nuclear technology has you feeling energized, learn more about what you can do with an NET degree and get started today.
