Resolved: On balance, the benefits of Nuclear Power outweigh the risks
The words on balance in the resolution mean we must take a comprehensive look at nuclear power not just in the immediate present but in the long run, a shortsighted interpretation of this resolution does not take into account the long term impacts inevitable when dealing with nuclear power. So the burden of the negative is to prove the long term benefits of Nuclear power are costly and don’t benefit.
Onto case:
No other alternative energy source to coal and oil produces better results than Nuclear Power can, this is simply a common fact and the reason why Nuclear Power is so amazing, but one of the unknown benefits of Nuclear Power is the incredible boost it gives to not just national but local economies as well.
NUCLEAR POWER CREATES JOBS
Nuclear Energy Institute, 2008
Operation of a U.S. nuclear plant generates 400 to 700 permanent jobs.
These jobs pay 36 percent more than average salaries in the local area. The 400 to 700 permanent jobs at a nuclear plant create an equivalent number of additional jobs in the local area to provide the goods and services necessary to support the nuclear plant work force (e.g., grocery stores, dry cleaners, car dealers, etc.).
Building a new nuclear plant would result in the creation of 1,400 to 1,800 jobs during construction
, on average ( with peak employment as high as 2,400 jobs at certain times).
NUCLEAR PLANTS PRODUCE MILLIONS FOR LOCAL ECONOMIES
Nuclear Energy Institute, 2008
Each year, the average nuclear plant generates approximately $430 million in sales of goods and services
(economic output) in the local community and nearly $40 million in total labor income .
These figures include both direct and secondary effects.
The direct effects reflect the plant’s expenditures for goods, services and labor.
The secondary effects include subsequent spending attributable to the presence of the plant and its employees, as plant expenditures filter through the local economy (such as restaurants and shops buying goods and hiring employees).
Klystia and Tucker 1

Resolved: On balance, the benefits of Nuclear Power outweigh the risks
NUCLEAR PLANTS REPRODUCE MONEY
Nuclear Energy Institute, 2008
Analysis shows that every dollar spent by the average nuclear plant results in the creation of $1.07 in the local community. The average nuclear plant generates total state and local tax revenue of almost $20 million each year. These tax dollars benefit schools, roads, and other state and local infrastructure. The average nuclear plant generates federal tax payments of roughly $75 million each year.
So we can clearly see that Nuclear Power significantly increases local economies, and with the great increase in jobs it will also raise our nations economy as well.
Considering that the life of a typical nuclear reactor is 30-40 years, total community economic output
($430,000,000 x 30, $430,000,000 x 40) amounts to $12.9-17.2 billion. This exceeds the already atypical
$8 billion in start-up costs cited by my opponent.
As stated in the framework of this debate we must look at long-term impacts, and that is the fact that
Nuclear Power is also “green” power.
NUCLEAR PLANTS ARE "ECO-FRIENDLY"
Nuclear Energy Institute, 2008
The average nuclear plant avoids the emissions of approximately 10,000 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 32,000 tons of sulfur dioxide
(SO2)
each year. The total value of these avoided emissions
based on current emissions allowance prices
is approximately $24.6 million per year. The average nuclear plant avoids 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
(CO2) each year.
The value of these avoided greenhouse gas emissions
based on the current European Union carbon allowance price
is roughly $35 million per year. As many as 32 new reactors are currently under consideration. These reactors represent an investment of approximately $80 billion to
$100 billion to build. This is equivalent to the projected spending on reducing emissions at existing fossil-fired generators, according to federal government estimates. New nuclear plant construction will supply as much as 50,000 megawatts of additional clean and affordable electricity to meet the demand of a growing economy.
Klystia and Tucker 2

Resolved: On balance, the benefits of Nuclear Power outweigh the risks
RADIATION IS NOT AS BAD AS THE PUBLIC BELIEVES
From the New York Times, March 14, 2011
In the United States the usual radiation exposure limit for nuclear power plant workers is 50 millisieverts, or 5 rem, per year (compared with the 0.3 rem that the Environmental Protection Agency says most people get from normal background radiation). When there is an emergency, the limit can be raised to 25 rem, which is still far below the level at which people would show symptoms or get sick.
NUCLEAR RADIATION EMMISSIONS ARE MINISCULE
Jack Spencer and Nicolas Loris, December 3, 2007 http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2007/12/Dispelling-Myths-About-Nuclear-Energy
Nuclear power plants do emit some radiation, but the amounts are environmentally insignificant and pose no threat. These emissions fall well below the legal safety limit sanctioned by the Nuclear
Reg¬ulatory Commission
(NRC).
Indeed,
less than 1 percent of the public's exposure to radiation comes from nuclear power plants. The average American is exposed to 360 millirem of radiation a year.
[4]
About 83 percent
(300 millirem)
of this annual radiation dose comes from natural sources, such as cosmic rays, uranium in the Earth's crust, and radon gas in the atmosphere. Most of the rest comes from medical procedures such as X-rays, and about 3 percent
(11 millirem)
comes from consumer products.
[5]
The Department of Energy reports that living near a nuclear power plant exposes a person to 1 millirem of radiation a year.
[6]
By comparison, an airline passenger who flies from New York to Los Angeles receives 2.5 millirem.
[7] As Chart 1 illustrates,
radiation exposure is an unavoidable reality of everyday life, and radiation exposure from living near a nuclear power plant is insignificant.
If my opponent really wants to get into human health and its relation to nuclear power plants, it is worth noting that most plant workers are unionized and generally receive health insurance and other benefits, as well as exercise on the job.
So when looking at the long term impacts of a better economy and a significantly better environment while also looking at the fact that Nuclear Power exposes people to incredibly minute amounts of radiation. You cannot look towards the negative side of the debate, you must vote affirmative.
Klystia and Tucker 3