![]() Of nuclear power urge that it is unacceptable because of its high cost, its vulnerability to military and terror attack, possible accidental releases of radioactivity during fuel processing and operation, and the challenge of waste disposal. Proponents of nuclear power are today urging that nuclear power has many virtues, including a zero output of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide (released by burning fossil fuels). Much larger reserves of coal exist, but could be extracted only at catastrophic environmental cost. Scientists estimate that easily extractable fossil fuels will be largely used up during the twenty-first century: known petroleum reserves will last less than 50 years at current rates of use the rate of discovery of new reserves is decreasing. ![]() As of 2006, wind power was the cheapest form of large-scale electric generation to install (measured by kilowatt-hours delivered) -cheaper than new coal plants, new nuclear plants, or solar cells, for example. Although such alternative sources make up a small fraction of total energy production today, their share is growing rapidly. (Note that these figures lump together electricity and all other forms of energy use, such as heat and transport fuel in practice, electricity is best treated as a special category of energy consumption.) Wind power, active and passive solar systems, geothermal energy, and biomass are examples of renewable or alternative energy sources. ![]() In the United States, fossil fuels comprise approximately 80% of the total energy supply, nuclear power provides about 7.7% and all renewable energy sources provide about 7%. Nonrenewable fossil fuels -coal, petroleum, and natural gas -provide more than 85% of the energy used around the world.
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