Nuclear energy is the world's largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, such as sulfur and particulates, or greenhouse gases. The use of nuclear energy in place of other energy sources helps to keep the air clean, preserve the Earth's climate, avoid ground-level ozone formation and prevent acid rain

http://www.nei.org/

Economic Performance

The average electricity production cost in 2004 for nuclear energy was 1.68 cents per kilowatt-hour, for coal-fired plants 1.90 cents, for oil 5.39 cents, and for gas 5.87 cents.

Nuclear power plants provide low-cost, predictable power at stable prices and are essential in maintaining the reliability of the U.S. electric power system.

The energy in one uranium fuel pellet—the size of the tip of your little finger—is the equivalent of 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal, or 149 gallons of oil.

To produce one Watt of electricity, it takes 1.0 lbs. of coal/kWh from coal plants using steam turbines, 0.48 lbs. of natural gas from natural gas using steam turbines, 0.37 lbs. of natural gas/kWh using combined cycle technology, 0.58 lbs. of Heavy Oil/kWh using steam turbines, and .0000008 lbs. of Uranium enriched at 4% U235 and 96% U238 for use in a commercial nuclear reactor.

A 100 watt light bulb that ran continuously for an entire year would consume 876 kWh. Producing the necessary electricity would require 876 lbs. of coal, 377-324 lbs. of natural gas, 508 lbs. of oil, or 0.0007 lbs. of Uranium enriched to 4% for use in a commercial nuclear reactor.

http://www.nei.org/index.asp?catnum=2&catid=106

United States

U.S. electric utilities accounted for 36% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 1997, and over 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions in 1997.3 Plants fueled by coal, natural gas, and oil make up the vast majority of these totals.

Coal mining has disturbed 2.4 million hectares of American land. Mountaintop removal in West Virginia (in which the tops of mountains are cut off and dumped into adjacent valleys) and surface mining in Wyoming are the two most prominent examples of land disturbance by coal mining today. 7

Americans are expected to use 27% more energy in 2020 compared to 1998. Energy consumption should increase for all primary sectors-residential, commercial, industrial and transportation. Electricity use is the top driver for greater energy use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Without a significant commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy, high electricity consumption could result in 1,000 new power plants in 2020, the vast majority (97%) powered by fossil fuels.

According to a study by five clean energy organizations, a significant national commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency up to 2010 would cut electric sector NOx emissions by 48%, SO2 emissions by 77%, particulates by 38%, and CO2 emissions by 27% below 1990 levels. This would save $530 per U.S. household.

http://www.infinite-energy.com/iemagazine/issue34/comingenergycrisis.html