Both fission and fusion involve nuclear reactions, but the term “nuclear” usually applies to fission, and we shall use it with that connotation here. Nuclear energy is a mature technology. It is the only time-tested, continuous, dependable source of base-load electricity that does not emit GHGs and can be conveniently located. It has three well-known disadvantages: danger of nuclear accidents, danger of prolif­eration, and storage of radioactive wastes. We shall treat these one by one. Nuclear power is important for the world’s energy needs, but it has been impugned — indeed, attacked — by the press and environmentalists who have not done their homework and studied the risks and costs of the alternatives.7172

France has set an example. It generates 75% of its electricity from nuclear and 15% from hydro, both of which have no CO2 emissions.73 There have been no reported deaths. France has led in research on next generation reactors and has begun building them. Other countries which do not have coal have a high percentage of their electricity from nuclear: Belgium (54%), Ukraine (47%), Sweden (42%), S. Korea (36%), Germany (28%), and Japan (25%).74 Worldwide, the percentage is 15%. Because of its size, the USA’s 20% constitutes one-third of the world’s total. The supply of uranium will outlast that of oil and gas, and future breeder reactors will generate their own fuel. Fusion reactors will take time to develop, and fission can supply “green” power in the interim. The nuclear waste problem will become more acceptable when the public realizes that fission will eventually be phased out by fusion, so the problem will last only for a few human generations.