Nuclear power from the perspective of communities at risk

With the specter of increasing energy needs over the coming years, coupled with growing recognition of the finite availability of fossil fuels, attention has turned to identification and proliferation of alternative sources of energy. For communities of color and low income communities who disproportionately host the cradle to grave processes associated with energy production, there are key factors of consideration in exploring alternative sources that don't tend to be focal aspects in the analysis conducted by decision makers. Regarding nuclear energy, Native American/indigenous communities are disproportionately impacted by uranium mining processes; African American and Latino communities are more likely to be host to uranium enrichment facilities; nuclear reactors are disproportionately located in low income communities; and Native American/Indigenous and Latino communities most often receive the waste from nuclear energy generation processes. Given the documented instances of radioactive pollution being emitted into the air and water of communities surrounding these processes, and the threats of compromised reactors due to weather events, accidents, or even terrorism, the issue of proliferation of nuclear energy requires intentional examination of risk and impact for communities. From the perspective of communities at risk, clean, safe alternative energy must be the focus of any transitional plans for the new energy economy.