Let's imagine we're on a freeway. Just a few miles over the horizon lies the final consumption of our planet's fossil fuel reserves. Before we reach this inevitable destination, there are several outputs we can turn off to potentially delay the loss of the energy sources we primarily rely on. The names of these outages are familiar: solar, nuclear, wind and hydroelectric. While all of these have been implemented to varying degrees, only nuclear energy provides a solid and practical solution to the looming energy crisis. However, nuclear energy produces radioactive waste that can have serious consequences on people's lives and the environment. Other issues include high costs, accidents, waste disposal and the limited supply of uranium. Despite many controversies, this is a necessary step towards energy dependence that provides a short-term solution to the dwindling supply of fossil fuels. To find a middle ground, nuclear energy should be used but should not be a primary source of energy in our distant future. It is impossible to highlight the positive aspects of nuclear energy without also recognizing the disadvantages. Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's Energy and Global Warming Program, explained: “Radioactive waste is one of the most dangerous materials known to mankind. It can kill at high doses and cause cancer and birth defects at low doses. Nuclear waste remains dangerous for humans for 200 thousand years” (1). The long period of isolation calls into question the ability to ensure a safe disposal system. The nuclear industry and some in Congress propose dumping waste in Yucca Mountain; however, the mountain is seis... middle of paper... it is the safest energy alternative available. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nuclear energy is the most reliable energy source as it is mass produced and is safer than coal or natural gas (1). Perhaps the greatest danger facing our world today is a combination of global warming and the greenhouse effect. This danger is caused in part by the burning of fossil fuels which have created a polluted atmosphere. Nuclear energy, however, is a much greener alternative. Maintaining environmental responsibility is of great importance, but so is finding alternative energy sources. The best solution is not to see nuclear energy as the ultimate answer, but rather to use it to its full potential, thus reducing the need for fossil fuels. This creates an extended window of time in which cleaner and safer technologies can be optimized and improved to more efficient levels.