Published April 19, 2011
By Ryan Costello
Briefing TTCVR1103
Report available in PDF and Flash formats

Concerns regarding the safety of nuclear energy, particularly after the meltdowns at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, have hindered its continued development over the past few decades. However, increasing energy demand and fears of climate change have led to a “nuclear renaissance” in which states have increasingly pursued nuclear power as a carbon-free energy source.1 Given the evolving nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the future of nuclear energy is once again in doubt because of concerns about safety and health risks. When discussing the potential hazards of nuclear power, it is useful to bear in mind the cost of burning fossil fuels, such as coal. The burning of coal is a primary contributor to global warming, and it emits numerous hazardous air pollutants that likely result in thousands of deaths annually. Furthermore, around the globe thousands of coal miners die each year in mine accidents.2 Thus, the death toll from fossil fuels is higher than that of nuclear power.

This issue brief explores the nuclear meltdowns at the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi plants.

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