the+end+of+our+energy+problem?

[|http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/25/world/wendelstein-reactor-nuclear-fusion/index.html]
 * Nuclear Fusion: the end of our energy problem?**
 * 9/25/18**

__**Summary**__ This article talks about the construction of a prototype nuclear fusion reactor in Greifswald, Germany by Professor Thomas Klinger. Known as the Wendelstein 7-X this reactor, if properly executed, promises unlimited clean energy for everyone. Although the promise of these reactors is unbelievably high their track record is not the best the Wendelstein 7-X prototype is currently unusable as it draws more power than it gives, but as it is a fusion reactor Klinger and his colleagues can promise that unlike fission reactors (which are also not totally great ie, Chernobyl and Fukushima) this fusion reactor is safe and gives off no by product.

__**How it** **relates**__ This is super pertinent to environmental science because a leading cause of pollution caused by humans is via burning fossil fuels and coal for energy. If the fusion reactor lives up to its potential, the use of these harmful fuels will dramatically drop as they will be needed less and less. The coal earth still has will only last the globe for the next 220 years or less if and when usage of coal increases, so there is a high demand for a new way to get energy fast(Miller 379). Currently coal is used to generate 64% of the worlds energy, if there was a sudden decrease of coal and energy there would not be enough energy to go around(Miller 378), that is why it is necessary for fusion reactors to replace coal as the main energy provider of the world.

__**My** **Opinion**__ I think that the fusion reactor is an incredible idea. It is essentially an unlimited power supply with no negative effects. But the issue is to get it to start. At the moment it is only a prototype that currently wastes energy and unless and until that happens no matter how seriously cool the idea of a fusion reactor is it is totally irrelevant to the globe. Assuming that it does work though, I think that the fusion reactor could replace fossil fuels, coal and other polluting energy sources, as it is safer for humans than mining, safer for the environment, and creates more energy.

__**Environmental Law**__ While there are scarce laws that regulate the construction and use of nuclear fusion reactors one thing that has seriously held them back are the budgets cuts from the Department of Energy to donating money to reactors like ITER, which slows the construction of them. Ned Sauthoff head of the ITER project says "I'm not saying with 10 times the money we could do it 10 times as fast. But with twice the money we could definitely do it twice as fast."