Nuclear Energy: Energy of the Future or Impending Disaster Background Since 1954, people have been faced with the conundrum of nuclear energy. This process, although little known to some, occurs when decomposing uranium heats water which then turns a turbine which produces energy. In the coming years, nuclear power will play a major role in global energy consumption if we are to meet carbon targets. Although nuclear power has been around for over fifty years, the battle over its use still rages around the world. When most people hear about nuclear power, the first thing that comes to mind is nuclear disasters. One of the most notable events occurred “on April 26, 1986, [when] human error led to an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, north of kyiv, Ukraine. The accident left fifty workers dead and caused leaks of radioactive materials across Europe. (Duprea 2) Accidents like these and others have made the public very weary of nuclear power. This is for fear of contracting diseases, such as cancer, from radioactive materials released during such accidents. But these accidental disasters are not the only threat to the public. Another major threat to nuclear power plants is the possibility of a terrorist attack. “According to a report released by the U.S. government commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda initially planned to hijack planes and send them to U.S. nuclear facilities. » (Duprea 3) This makes us wonder if these nuclear power plants are worth the future possibility of a nuclear disaster on home soil? Although accidents are one of the harmful effects on the environment, they are not the only one. “The creation of usable energy in nuclear power plants leaves a radioactive waste byproduct, consisting of materials such as spent “nuclear fuel.” » (2) These nuclear wastes are very deadly on contact or