Yes, there are plans to build new stations in the US. See the NRC website www.nrc.gov for details of new licence applications.
The reason is that there are many people around the world who are uneducated in the nuclear power field and therefore still assume the stereotypical nuclear meltdown or mutations will occur and as such, oppose their construction vehemently. Also, it is quite expensive to develop and build such plants.
Do you mean Jervis Bay in Australia? There was a proposal to build a plant there about 30 years ago but it never was even started. Australia has no nuclear power plants.
The argument against nuclear energy is that radiation is very dangerous and we have already had a series of huge catastrophes caused by radiation leaks from nuclear power plants, particularly the Chernobyl accident and the Fukushima tsunami; there was also a less serious but still disturbing incident at Three Mile Island. It is difficult at this point to claim that nuclear power is perfectly safe and that there will be no more accidents, after there have been so many. Still, every form of power generation has its advantages and disadvantages. I personally am not convinced that nuclear power shouldn't be used. But clearly, if we are going to use it, we have to be very careful about it.
Nuclear power plants are designed with safety features to prevent accidents and limit the release of radiation. While accidents can still occur, the risk of a catastrophic event is much lower than with nuclear weapons, which are intentionally designed to cause destruction on a large scale.
The most serious accident involving nuclear power plants worldwide was Chernobyl because it killed the most people, wiped out an entire city, and still affects people to this day due to the radiation.
Yes, nuclear power is still being used around the world as a source of electricity generation. Many countries have nuclear power plants that contribute to their energy mix. Despite concerns about safety and waste disposal, some countries continue to rely on nuclear power for its clean energy production capabilities.
Taishi Hirokawa has written: 'Timescapes' 'Still Crazy-nuclear power plants as seen in Japanese landscapes'
Most common are oil-powered thermal power stations; there are also some coal-powered and nuclear-powered stations (Mexico has two nuclear reactors worth 1.4 GW). There are also geothermal power plants and hydroelectric plants. Wind and solar power are growing in importance, but are still uncommon.
Nuclear power is cleaner. · The problem of radioactive waste is still an unsolved one. The waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous and it has to be carefully looked after for several thousand years (10'000 years according to United States Environmental Protection Agency standards).· High risks: Despite a generally high security standard, accidents can still happen. It is technically impossible to build a plant with 100% security. A small probability of failure will always last. The consequences of an accident would be absolutely devastating both for human being as for the nature (see here , here or here ). The more nuclear power plants (and nuclear waste storage shelters) are built, the higher is the probability of a disastrous failure somewhere in the world.· Nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste could be preferred targets for terrorist attacks. No atomic energy plant in the world could withstand an attack similar to 9/11 in Yew York. Such a terrorist act would have catastrophic effects for the whole world.· During the operation of nuclear power plants, radioactive waste is produced, which in turn can be used for the production of nuclear weapons. In addition, the same know-how used to design nuclear power plants can to a certain extent be used to build nuclear weapons (nuclear proliferation).· The energy source for nuclear energy is Uranium. Uranium is a scarce resource, its supply is estimated to last only for the next 30 to 60 years depending on the actual demand.· The time frame needed for formalities, planning and building of a new nuclear power generation plant is in the range of 20 to 30 years in the western democracies. In other words: It is an illusion to build new nuclear power plants in a short time.Sustainability: Is nuclear energy sustainable?For several reasons, nuclear power is neither «green» nor sustainable:· Both the nuclear waste as well as retired nuclear plants are a life-threatening legacy for hundreds of future generations. It flagrantly contradicts with the thoughts of sustainability if future generations have to deal with dangerous waste generated from preceding generations. See also here . · Uranium, the source of energy for nuclear power, is available on earth only in limited quantities. Uranium is being «consumed» (i.e. converted) during the operation of the nuclear power plant so it won't be available any more for future generations. This again contradicts the principle of sustainability.Nuclear Power Plant Accidents and Terrorism· According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, regulated safety procedures are not being followed to ensure that nuclear power plants are safe. Even if all safety precautions are followed, it is no guarantee that a nuclear power plant accident will not occur. If a nuclear power plant accident occurs, the environment and surrounding people could be exposed to high levels of radiation. Terrorism threats are another concern that needs to be addressed. A satisfactory plan to protect nuclear power plants from terrorism is not in place.
Only if there is an accident. Crops can still grow, but if they are tainted with fallout people would want to avoid eating them.
Fission. Fusion has never been used on Earth, except for nuclear weapon tests.
It is not practical for you to have your own nuclear power plant at home, however, it is perfectly practical for you to use electricity that has been generated in a nuclear power plant and then transmitted to your home through power lines.