In addition, problems would also exist outside of the nuclear power plant itself, with the suppliers of the nuclear material also being a possible target of attacks or a source of materials for weapons. This shows that what Ansolabehere suggests as one problem is really a whole range of problems. Another important point to note is that the possibility of nuclear power plants becoming a source of nuclear weapons and becoming terrorist targets is only a possibility. In contrast, storage of nuclear waste and the safety of nuclear power plants is a current problem that already exists for the power plants in operation. Grossman (p. 206) notes that current nuclear power plants were not designed for more than 40 years of use and are considered hazardous. Grossman (p. 207) also notes that the government is currently planning to store nuclear waste in the Yucca Mountains, an area that is near 32 earthquake fault lines and has a high likelihood of both earthquakes and volcanoes. Another important statistic noted by Grossman is that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission considered there to be a 45% chance of a "severe core melt accident" (p. 208). This information shows that there are significant safety concerns with the current use of nuclear power. Based on these issues with current nuclear power, there is no validity to the argument that nuclear power needs to be revised. Instead,...

Grossman (p. 209) argues that renewable energy technologies are available and could be utilized, which would "render nuclear power completely unnecessary."
Ansolabehere (p. 197) also notes that the argument is not that nuclear energy should be used immediately, but that the "nuclear option should be retained." However, there is a difference between retaining an option and pursuing an option. In fact, the nuclear energy option will be retained without anything being done to revive nuclear energy. That is, nuclear energy will always be available as one possible option for generating electricity. However, as long as there are many other options and as long as they have far fewer issues than nuclear energy, there is no justification to actually revive and pursue nuclear energy. Instead, the focus should be on pursuing the other energy options that have fewer safety issues and far less severe potential consequences.

Works Cited

Ansolabehere, S. "The Future of Nuclear Power." In Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues. Ed. Thomas A Easton. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005, p. 192-204.

Grossman, K. "The Push to Revive Nuclear Power." In Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues. Ed. Thomas A…