week 6: step 2

Although Nuclear Power Plants can stop green house gases, gives out more energy, and is a good alternative for the decreasing fossil fuels; their can be serious issues because nuclear energy is expensive, can have long term affects on people, and releases large quantities of nuclear waste.

Annotated Bibliography

Talbot, David. “Nuclear Powers Up.” Technology Review Vol. 108 Issue 9
(September 2005)

This article examines the nuclear power plant in Jackson, Mississippi. The company that made the nuclear power plant is Entergy Nuclear Inc and the company has 10 nuclear power plants. The company banded to together with Exelon to create Nustart. Nustart and the government are splitting $4 millions of the cost , to come up with designs for water-cooled reactors. The company will promote competition for nuclear power.



Garber, Kent. “A Tough Nuclear Decision.” U.S. News and World Report. Vol. 145 Issue 10
(November 2008):44-45

This article gives information about Dominion’s plan to a third commercial power plant in Mineral, Virginia. Because of the Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979 it has made it more difficult to build nuclear power plants. If they build a third nuclear power plant in Mineral, they face affects on Lake Anna.
The possibly of a new plant would raise the water temperature and lower the water level, which the power plants use to run.



Grunwald, Michael. “Going Nuclear.” Time Magazine Vol. 173 Issue 1.
(January 2009): 38-39

In this article it talks about nuclear power being clean, and a good alternative to coal and oil, and the expenses that goes along with nuclear power. The author talks about nuclear power making a come back in the United States, and talks about how nuclear power is being mentioned more in Congress. As of January of 2009, 35 nuclear reactors are in the planning stages. The high sky costs of nuclear power could cause them not to be built.

Lyman, Edwin. “Can nuclear plants be safer?” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Vol. 64 Issue 4
(October 2008): 34-37

This article summarizes on the new generation of power plants. The new designs for nuclear power plants are adjusted to utilize safety systems. The author also talks about the NRC states that the new power plants will not provide major advances. The new power plants would use emergency water in case of a loss of coolant.

Slocum, Tyson. “Nuclear Power Play.” Multinational Monitor Vol. 29 Issue 2
(September/October 2008): 15-18

The author for this article takes a look at the issues concerning nuclear power in the United States. He talks about the issue of nuclear power possibility, returning during the last presidential election, both McCain and Obama are for nuclear power. The finance concerning the use of building the plants is also talked about, which usually run around a billion dollars. The author states that nuclear power would cause more debt for America.

Sharder-Frechette, Kristin. “Five Myths About Nuclear Energy.” America Vol. 198 Issue 20.
(June 2008): 12-16

This interesting article discussed five myths that surround nuclear energy. The five myths include nuclear energy is clean, nuclear energy is inexpensive, nuclear energy addresses climate change, nuclear energy will not increase weapons proliferation, and nuclear energy is safe. The author points out that using nuclear power is to risky. The author thinks that the people are not ready for nuclear power.

Hodgson, P.E. “Nuclear Power and The Energy Crisis.” Modern Age Vol. 50 Issue 3
(Summer 2008): 238-246

This article examines the application of nuclear power as a solution of the energy crisis. The author states that nuclear power plants are very reliable and are not affected by the weather. The cost is more expensive than with the power plants that we use today and emit’s radioactivity. The biggest issue that the author covers is nuclear radiation.

Rosner, Robert. “Making nuclear energy work.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist. Vol. 64 Issue 1
(March/April 2008): 28-57

The article examines the need to reform the nuclear power plant to find ways to improve on the safety of power plants. The author explains that the goal is to push forward nuclear power in order to get rid of fuel prices. The author also talks about making solution for the radioactive waste. Another issue that is discussed is how expensive nuclear power is.

Engineering & Technology Vol. 2 Issue 6
(June 2007): 18-19

In this article the author talks about nuclear power playing a huge part in the future. He examines the past nuclear plants and what will take place in building a new one. Building new nuclear power plants can not be done in a year, it is a very lengthy process. He states that the life for a nuclear power plants is 60 years, and then the reactor needs to be replaced.

Giles, Jim. “Nuclear power: Chernobyl and the future: when the price is right.” Nature. Vol. 440 Issue 7087
(April 2006):984-986

In this article talks about the displeasure of citizens for nuclear power and the cost of building a plant. Most of the nuclear powers expenses is caused from building it. A good sized plant could cost between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. But once the plant is built the cost of operating the plant is low. The biggest issue that the author talks about affecting the nuclear power is the possibility of a catastrophic accident.

Poletti, Alan. “Nuclear Power Now.” Power Engineer Vol. 18 Issue 2
(April/May 2004):8-8

This article the author makes an example of using nuclear power plants, by using France. The author states that France operated at a 96% capacity in 2003 and have decided to build another plant. Nuclear waste was an big issue that was brought up in the article. The radioactive nuclei have a half life of over 1200 years.

Meserve, Richard A. “Global Warming and Nuclear Power.” Science Vol.303 Issue 5657
(January 2004): 433-433

In this article the author states that people who said they were concerned about the environment, did not want nuclear power plants. The author states that people are environmentalists should want nuclear power, because it does not give off greenhouse gases. Nuclear power plants actually have a safer performance than they did years ago. The author states that for people who are concerned for the environment that they should be for nuclear power.

Wicks, Frank. “50 Years of Nuclear Power.” Mechanical Engineering Vol. 129 Issue 11
(November 2007):36-39

This article the author talks about two nuclear power plants that have been in America for over 50 years. The author states that the pressurized water reactor is the easiest to build. Today there are 90 different water reactors in 10 different countries. A renewal of nuclear plant construction has been expected to continue in the U.S.

Mackenzie, Debora. “Is it time for an international nuclear fuel bank?” New Science Vol. 201 Issue 2690
(January 2009): 6-7

This article focuses on establishing a system that discourages nuclear weapons. The author states that by 2030 nuclear power can double. With so many nuclear power plants it makes it easier to have nuclear weapons unless there are many inspections. Their solution was to internationally manage preprocessing plants.

Klein, Andy., and Jack Lance. “Future Directions, Challenges And Opportunities In Nuclear Energy.”
AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 894 Issue 1
(2007): 32-36

This article is about the pressing issue of nuclear power. Scientists need to think of new, safer ways for nuclear power. Currently they are developing new reactors and new fuel cell cycle developments. They are trying to find a way to recycle used nuclear fuel and use it over again.