The question whether U.S. should go for more nuclear energy or not is still highly controversial with the safety of nuclear power plants usually being the most debated topic. The recent Fukushima accident didn't help the nuclear energy cause and it certainly seems like this energy sector has lost much of its appeal.
Nuclear energy still remains very important source of energy in United States, generating approximately 20% of U.S. total electricity. U.S. still has more than 100 operating nuclear reactors and not so long ago there was a talk about building more nuclear power plants in order to cut dependence on foreign fuel import. However, since the Fukushima accident, the plans to build new nuclear power plants have been completely forgotten.
As already said above the safety of nuclear power plants is a highly debated topic. The large part of general public still connects nuclear power with Chernobyl accident, and now Fukushima accident has also done its share in making nuclear power look very negative and unsafe.
The proponents of nuclear energy will tell you that these accidents are just isolated cases that are exception and not the rule and will also point to the fact that maximum safety measures are obligatory in all new nuclear power plants.
This is true but there is still one major issue that nuclear energy industry still hasn't find the right solution for – the nuclear waste issue. Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants has a very long lifespan as it remains radioactive for at least 5,000 years. One average nuclear power plant generates around 20 metric tons of high-level radioactive waste each year.
The nuclear energy industry is still on the lookout for adequate solution(s) that would make nuclear waste disposal 100% safe. Dangerous nuclear waste can still be found on many sites at the nation's numerous nuclear plants without being properly disposed.
Allison Macfarlane, a George Mason University professor recently warned U.S. government that "we cannot escape the fact that U.S. will need a geologic repository to deal with the 2,000 metric tons of waste produced annually by U.S. nuclear power plants".
I'm not denying the fact that nuclear energy is reliable energy source which doesn't contribute to climate change and that more nuclear power would reduce nation's dependence on foreign fuels. That's all true.
But nuclear waste is still a huge risk because we need to safely store it for at least 5,000 years. That's lot of time and lot of nuclear waste. So for now, let's rather focus on renewable energy sources instead.