Yet compared to theamount of waste produced by coal-fired electrical gener-ating plants, these are of considerably smaller volume.(See table.) The wastes generated at nuclear powerplants are rather low in activity and the radionuclidescontained therein have a low radiotoxicity and usually ashort half-life.
http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/dsouza1/docs/31404683742.pdf
The radiation is used to make plasma which is harnessed directly for electricity. Water in the containment vessel is kept under high pressure and heat from the fission reactions that heat it to well over boiling. This is then used to boil another loop of water, which turns a turbine that drives a generator and makes electricity. Electrons from the fission are absorbed by spools of copper wire and generate electricity.
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The problem is that the current generation of nuclear power plants, represented by three Nuclear Regulatory Commission–certified advanced light-water reactor designs, costs about $1,500 per kilowatt electric (kWe) of generating capacity, which may not be sufficiently competitive to restart nuclear construction.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/next-generation-nuclear/
Too much pollution is generated when the dams are in operation. Almost all rivers that can be dammed for power generation have been dammed already. Hydropower uses a nonrenewable resource that is quickly being depleted. The cost of generating power is much too high.
http://wps.aw.com/bc_withgott_enviro_4_oa/178/45818/11729656.cw/index.html
Little attention has been paid to nuclear energy’s capacity for producing hydrogen for use in transportation fuel cells and other cleaner power plants. A very straightforward approach is to use the energy from a high-temperature nuclear reactor to drive a steam reforming reaction of methane.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/next-generation-nuclear/
Features Radioactive waste managementat nuclear power plants An overview of the types of low-and intermediate-levelwastes and how they are handled by V. M. Efremenkov In many countries nuclear power plants are an impor-tant part of the national energy system.
http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/dsouza1/docs/31404683742.pdf
Nuclear Power Primer. Most of the world's nuclear power plants are pressurized water reactors. In these systems, water placed under high pressure (155 atmospheres) to suppress boiling serves as both the coolant and the working fluid.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/next-generation-nuclear/
The nuclear fission reactions produce heat that is removed by circulating water. The coolant is pumped into the core at about 290 degrees Celsius and exits the core at about 325 degrees C. To control the power level, control rods are inserted into the fuel arrays.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/next-generation-nuclear/
Our supplies of fossil fuels are limited and in most cases may only have a few decades' supply remaining. Fossil fuels produce more air pollution. Fossil fuels add carbon dioxide to the global carbon cycle, increasing greenhouse gases and contributing to global climate change.
http://wps.aw.com/bc_withgott_enviro_4_oa/178/45818/11729656.cw/index.html
Most other countries with large nuclear power programs—including France, Japan and the U.K.—employ what is called a closed nuclear fuel cycle. In these countries, used fuel is recycled to recover uranium and plutonium (produced during irradiation in reactors) and reprocess it into new fuel.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/next-generation-nuclear/
what is true of the waste generated by nuclear power
True of the waste generated by Nuclear Power is waste produced by coal-fired electrical gener-ating plants, these are of considerably smaller volume.