What is the environmental impact of the fuel cycle of nuclear plants compared to the fuel cycle for coal that is used to produce electricity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fuel cycle for nuclear plants causes less land disruption compared to the fuel cycle for coal. Coal mining involves large-scale excavation and removal of topsoil, which can lead to soil erosion, habitat destruction, and landscape alteration. On the other hand, nuclear fuel can be mined from relatively small areas and stored on-site, resulting in less land disruption. While the nuclear fuel cycle does have its own environmental implications, such as water pollution from uranium mining and potential accidents at nuclear plants, when comparing the fuel cycle of nuclear plants to that of coal, land disruption is a key differentiator.

What Is the Environmental Impact of the Fuel Cycle of Nuclear