Nuclear Energy GSSS 2010 Debate

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Topic Brainstorm

Resolved: Nuclear energy production should not be a part of the US energy supply.

*Format:

Introduction - Moderator - 3 minutes

Opening Arguments - 5 minutes

First Rebuttals - 3 minutes

Back and Forth - Max 1 minute per team

At 25 Minute Mark....

Closing Statements- 2 minutes

Wrap Up - Moderator - 1 minute

Each round keeps the same A->B order decided by coin at the beginning of the debate

*Affirmative:

Critical readings & resources

--From The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research • IEER

Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy [WARNING: link is to full text, 257 pgs.]

The Technical and Economic Feasibility of a Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free Energy System in the United States, Arjun Makhijani. March 4, 2009

Nuclear isn't necessary, from Nature Reports Climate Change

--From Caldicott, H.

Nuclear energy: money can't buy love by David Noonan, ABC (Aus), 3 March 2010]

--From Union of Concerned Scientists: A Resurgence of Nuclear Power Poses Significant Challenges [1]

--Natural Resources Defense Council: New Nuclear Power Plants Are Not a Solution for America's Energy Needs [2]

Thermodynamic limitations to nuclear energy

*Negative:

Critical Readings and Resources:

US Pledge to Copenhagen Accord

National Academy of Sciences: America's Energy Future

MIT's The Future of Nuclear Power

Role of nuclear energy to a future society of shortage of energy resources and global warming

Potential climatic impacts and reliability of very large-scale wind farms

Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors: An old idea in nuclear power gets reexamined

Land Needed by Wind and Solar

Three Gorges Dam affects regional precipitation