Nuclear Energy Now: Why the Time Has Come for the World's Most Misunderstood Energy Source

by Alan M. Herbst

A timely and thought-provoking solution to the world's energy shortfall The dramatic increases in oil and natural gas prices, the finite supply of fossil fuels, and concerns over emissions and global warming are forcing us to consider alternatives. In this measured and knowledgeable book, energy experts Alan Herbst and George Hopley argue that the time has come for the U.S. to revitalize its nuclear generation assets in order to successfully meet growing domestic electricity requirements and lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Nuclear Energy Now provides an informed look at the benefits and drawbacks associated with this controversial alternative to traditional energy sources. It opens with a brief overview of commercial nuclear development in the U.S. during the past half-century and moves on to discuss what the future may hold if new initiatives-supported by the Energy Policy Act of 2005-gain traction. Along the way, readers will find informed insights into why the need for nuclear power has become so critical and how we can safely add capacity in the coming years. Exploring all of the issues related to developing America's nuclear energy capabilities safely and cost-effectively, Nuclear Energy Now is a must-read for anyone concerned about our oil dependency, the environment, and future of the nation.

Genres: Nonfiction

230 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2007

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 13 of Nuclear Studies:

This was by far the most pro-nuclear power book I've read to this point. And, while I'm still pro-nuclear power myself, I have to say that this book wasn't very well-balanced in terms of its argument.

The beginning of the book starts with a tell-all about the authors. The authors are both consultants in the energy industry and analysts of commodities: one a partner at Utilis Energy and the other an associate director at Barclays Capital. They are by no means inexperienced. You can take this as both good and bad; they are obviously knowledgeable, but they stand to benefit from promoting nuclear power. As one reviewer before me mentioned, it's a sales pitch. And it is.

The first two-thirds of the book are dedicated to the economics of nuclear power as compared to other energy sources. I'll admit, I got bored. At points, I felt like I was reading a textbook that I really didn't want to read--and this is coming from someone who has already read two actual textbooks on nuclear power. There were lots of charts and graphs demonstrating economic trends , energy consumption, and GDP. Certainly not inaccessible, but if you were coming into this book not aware of the devotion to economics, as I was, you might be in for a dreary surprise. I put it down for about two weeks before wanting to come back to it.

The final third of the book was more aligned with my interests. There were some simplistic explanations of nuclear power that were coherent. A short history of nuclear power and its acceptance and the changing regulations in the nuclear industry in the United States. There was also an analysis of the nuclear industry in France as it compares to the U.S. The authors certainly know their topic and the science of it. The only sentence that I disagreed with was where the authors talked about how an "uncontrolled, runaway fissionable reaction is basically a bomb". Nuclear plants cannot be bombs--their enrichment isn't high enough; the fuel will just melt and release steam which will react with the rods and cause a hydrogen bubble. An explosion of this hydrogen, potentially, but to characterize nuclear power as being one step away from being a bomb without the control of the handlers is a gross misrepresentation.

I mentioned that the book was unbalanced. This is because it only addresses the pros of nuclear energy. It doesn't mention any--that I saw--of the common arguments against nuclear energy as being potential downsides. It simply pushes nuclear energy as being safe and clean.

All in all, it's a good example of a purely pro-nuclear book for the economics side of things.

[Kat Czar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay - I know what you are thinking -
I am not only supporting my old friend from Connecticut, George, who wrote this book - but it is a good view of the pros and cons of going Nuclear

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a couple of years to read it because it's not that exciting of a topic and I owned this book. It's sales pitch for nuclear energy but it also does a good job explaining how it works.