JoTopic: Should Duke Energy Build a Nuclear Power Plant in North Carolina? Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. In a power plant, the fission process is used to generate heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine to generate electricity. Approximately 440 nuclear reactors are used worldwide to produce approximately 17% of the world's electricity. The United States has 100 nuclear reactors in 31 states, operated by 30 different power companies. Since 2001 these plants have achieved an average capacity factor of more than 90%, generating up to 807 billion kWh per year and representing 20% ​​of the total electricity generated. The capacity factor increased from 50% in the early 1970s, to 70% in 1991, and then exceeded 90% in 2002, remaining around this level ever since. The industry invests approximately $7.5 billion per year in maintaining and upgrading these tools. “NuScale SMR Wins Second Round of DoE Funding.” Nuclear energy in the United States. Np, nd Web. December 16, 2013. With the nuclear energy process there is pollution in the form of radioactive waste and the possibility of radiation leaks or plant meltdowns. There are problems and dangers that could lead to possible accidents. For example, power plants are operated manually and human error could lead to accidents and disasters. And although costs are lower in the long term, reactors also involve a very expensive capital outlay initially. Duke Energy proposes to build a nuclear power plant in North Carolina. I believe that Duke Energy SHOULD NOT build a nuclear power plant in North Carolina, and here are my reasons why. Nuclear energy is extremely expensive. The initial cost of building a nuclear power plant is... half of the paper ......No. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly to heat and light homes and other buildings, to generate electricity, for hot water heating, for solar cooling, and for a variety of commercial and industrial uses. The sun's heat also drives the winds, whose wind energy is captured with wind turbines. Then, the winds and heat from the sun cause the water to evaporate. When this water vapor turns into rain or snow and flows downstream into rivers or streams, its energy can be captured using hydroelectric power. Along with rain and snow, sunlight makes plants grow. The organic matter that makes up these plants is known as biomass. Biomass can be used to produce electricity, transportation fuels or chemicals. The use of biomass for any of these purposes is called bioenergy. "Types of Renewable Energy." Why is renewable energy important? Np, nd Web. December 16. 2013.