Chapter 10 - Environmental Effects and their Absence

All human activities affect the natural environment in some way, and the production of electricity is no exception. The most important environmental effects from electricity production can be categorized:

General

Present Pollutants

Global Warming

Alternatives

Factual Summary

Despite some controversy over the environmental effects of electricity production, several statements are generally agreed:

• All means of generating electricity have some effect on the environment: some are very damaging but none is completely benign.
• Nuclear generated electricity releases small amounts of radio-active materials into the air and waterways, but well within regulatory limits set to protect both people and the environment. Most special cases that may not be protected by the general regulations, e.g., endangered species, are considered at the siting stage.
• Nuclear generated electricity avoids the emissions of acid rain, particulates, heavy metals and carcinogenic chemicals that result from the burning of fossil fuels and wood.
• Nuclear generated electricity, along with hydro- and wind-generated electricity, contributes less of the greenhouse gases that may contribute to global warming than fossil-fuelled electricity.
• Nuclear generated electricity uses much less land than all other options.

These generalizations would have to be reviewed for any specific proposal, e.g., the land use for a natural-gas-fired plant near a gas-well would be significantly lower than for one requiring a long pipeline.

Abbreviations

Technical Terms