DOE-NE-0088

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At the end of 1991, 31 other countries also had nuclear powerplants in commercial operation or under construction. That is an impressive worldwide commitment to nuclear power technology. During the 1990s, the U.S. faces several major energy issues and has developed several major goals for nuclear power, which are: ◆ To maintain exacting safety and design standards; ◆ To reduce economic risk; ◆ To reduce regulatory risk; and ◆ To establish an effective high-level nuclear waste disposal program. Several of these nuclear power goals were addressed in the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which was signed into law in October of that year. The U.S. is working to achieve these goals in a number of ways. For instance, the U.S. Department of Energy has undertaken a number of joint efforts with the nuclear industry to develop the next generation of nuclear powerplants. These plants are being designed to be safer and more efficient. There is also an effort under way to make nuclear plants easier to build by standardizing the design and simplifying the licensing requirements, without lessening safety standards. 10 In the area of waste management, engineers are developing new methods and places to store the radioactive waste produced by nuclear plants and other nuclear processes. Their goal is to keep the waste away from the environment and people for very long periods of 20 time.
Scientists are also studying the power of nuclear fusion. Fusion occurs when atoms join — or fuse — rather than split. Fusion is the energy that powers the sun. On earth, the most promising fusion fuel is deuterium, a form of hydrogen. It comes from water and is plentiful. It is also likely to create less radioactive waste than fission. However, scientists are still unable to produce useful amounts of power from fusion and are continuing their research. In Oak Ridge, Tennessee, workers package isotopes, which are commonly used in science, industry, and medicine. 21 11
Page 1 and 2: DOE/NE-0088 THE HISTORY OF Nuclear
Page 3 and 4: The History of Nuclear Energy Table
Page 5: A series of fissions is called a ch
Page 9 and 10: Introduction It is human nature to
Page 11 and 12: These elements had about half the a
Page 13 and 14: On the morning of December 2, 1942,
Page 15: Federal nuclear energy programs shi
Page 19 and 20: Chronology of Nuclear Research and
Page 21 and 22: 1957 October 1. The United Nations
Page 23 and 24: 1964 October 3. Three nuclear-power
Page 25 and 26: adioactive waste, including spent f
Page 27: 1992 February 26. DOE signs a coope
Page 30 and 31: Hewlett, Richard, and Oscar Anderso
Page 33 and 34: Glossary atom The smallest unit of
Page 36: The Department of Energy produces p

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