The nuclear power debate is an ongoing discussion about the use of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. The debate centers around the potential risks of nuclear power, such as the possibility of a nuclear accident, and the environmental impact of nuclear waste. Proponents of nuclear power argue that it
Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants. Nuclear decay processes are used in niche applications such as radioisotope thermoelectric generators in some space probes such as Voyager 2. Reactors producing controlled fusion power have been operated since 1958 but have yet to generate net power and are not expected to be commercially available in the near future.