rs to get rid of its radiation. Finally, because so much of thepetroleum will be required to power the vast area that nuclear energy can cover,the cost to us as the consumer would be massive! This would mean slowereconomic growth and/or expansion, especially when compared to nuclear energy.Therefore: Ceribus Paribus - (a) if the cost decreases, the demand increases,and - (b) if the cost increases, the demand decreases. Please refer to figures#2 and #3 respectively. Nuclear plants are now replacing coal burning plants. It will cost thetaxpayers far more than they are currently paying for electricity. However,industrial officials claim that since the plants have useful lifetimes, theywill save the consumers money in the long run. The problem with this is thatthis depends on hard to predict factors, such as the future price of oil and thenational demand for electricity. It should also be noted that there is also asharp jump in consumer costs when the plants are turned on to pay for theconstruction costs, plant manufacturers or other loan sources, plus interest. Thus, the cost of electricity may go up three-fold. New plants usuallysupply substantially more energy than the area requires; meaning that theconsumer will be paying for this waste of energy, which is cost per kilowatthour. It should also be noted that some plants are canceled during construction,which can raise the cost up to several billion dollars. This is absorbed by thegovernment through tax laws, shareholders, and rate payers; and is consideringthe fact there is a continual rise in construction prices and a decrease incosts of alternative fuels, many utilities cancel plants, when almost halfcompleted. (Late cancellation cost is an increase in the proportion to theamount that has been invested.) Albert Schweitzer, an ecologist wrote, nuclear power "threatens the presentand forecloses the future. It is unethical, and inferior to non-fission futuresthat enha...
