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.

*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:

MIT's The Future of Nuclear Power --From [3]

Role of nuclear energy to a future society of shortage of energy resources and global warming --From [4]

Potential climatic impacts and reliability of very large-scale wind farms --From [5]

Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors: An old idea in nuclear power gets reexamined --From [6]

Land Needed by Wind and Solar --From [7]

Three Gorges Dam affects regional precipitation --From [8]