The benign and useful power that flows out of every electrical outlet in your house is the direct result of mankind’s ability to harness the destructive energies contained in fuels like natural gas, petroleum, or coal. And it is no different with nuclear energy. Every fuel that stores the energy we tap in order to power the modern world has the potential to escape our control and violently destroy lives and property.
Nuclear, coal, gas: they all have the power to destroy. But of these three, one has gotten a bad rap. While it is business as usual for coal and gas, the widespread perception persists that nuclear energy is fraught with unique and terrifying danger. Say “nuclear” out loud, and people tend to think of mushroom clouds, radiation, and nuclear winter. Despite these fears, nuclear energy is clean, reliable, and safe — more so, in fact, than the alternatives,
