Nuclear plants have the very highest safety standards

In the aftermath of a handful of nuclear disasters, much of the world is racked with paranoia over nuclear energy. The energy source bears the unavoidable association with nuclear weapons and has negative public perceptions about its safety. However, nuclear power plants are some of the safest facilities on the planet. Not only are they low-risk for workers and the surrounding communities, but the safety procedures, security, and infrastructure at power plants matches or surpasses nearly every industrial and government facility. The number of mortalities associated with nuclear energy facilities is substantially lower when compared to coal and oil production.^[1] Additionally, the death and disease caused by the disasters at Chernobyl, Three-Mile Island, and Fukushima-Daiichi are minuscule compared to public assumptions.^[2] As environmental policy writer Michael Shellenberger points out, the cleaners at Chernobyl had a lower increase in mortality than someone who smokes cigarettes regularly. Most crucially, nuclear power should not be associated with nuclear weapons. While they may share an energy source, their applications and risks are worlds apart. Nuclear power plants have no risk of turning into nuclear warheads.^[3]

[P1] Public perceptions of nuclear power are overwrought. [P2] Nuclear power plants have incredibly high safety standards. [P3] Nuclear weapons and energy are separate entities. {C] Much of the public image of nuclear power is incorrect when compared to safety and health statistics.