Nuclear Energy

With the fall of fossil fuel power, governments across the globe have been searching for alternative energy sources. As a result, formerly ignored electricity ideas, like nuclear energy, are being revived. However, is this really a good thing?

Tell us what you think. Is nuclear energy good or bad?

Please excuse my ignorance, but I really don't know what to believe about nuclear energy. I mean, I was told from a young age to help make the world green, conserve energy, use renewable energy sources, blah blah blah, and nuclear energy has always been portrayed badly. It's funny cuz even my username is linked to the worst nuclear disaster ever. Maybe the media just wants the people to disagree with nuclear power. For instance, I'm sure the government isn't too fond of it, as one small power plant is about 1 billion dollars (from what I've heard). But then again, there are environmentalist groups that support it fully and others that radically act out against it.

I just have to ask: What could happen if something went wrong? Would the plant explode? Would the surrounding population suffer from radiation sickness? I just don't really know enough to make an informed decision. If someone could explain this to me, that'd be great.

Nuclear power may be an efficient way to produce large quantities of energy, but it is totally unsafe. Yes, you could argue that if funded well and run correctly, nothing should theoretically go wrong. However, we all know how greedy governments can be. They want to get as much product as possible from as little money as possible. Like in the Soviet Union (they just didn't hide their crimes), they don't care if a plant isn't completely and totally safe - as long as it runs smoothly and fulfills its purpose, whatever right? Wrong. It's not hard for a nuclear power plant to have a meltdown, especially when the workers are unqualified and the facility has the funding of a small public school. Maintenance is never done properly, so plants decay over time, but the government would oppose any propositions to shut an expensive plant down.

If we could put faith in our government, I would put faith in nuclear energy. But as our government is secretly corrupt, scheming and dishonest, the plant probably won't get the attention it needs to be at full capacity.