Inexpensive

Easy to recover (in U.S. and Russia)

Requires expensive air pollution controls (e.g. mercury, sulfur dioxide)

Significant contributor to acid rain and global warming

Requires extensive transportation system

Fuel is inexpensive

Energy generation is the most concentrated source

Waste is more compact than any source

Extensive scientific basis for the cycle

Easy to transport as new fuel

No greenhouse or acid rain effects

Requires larger capital cost because of emergency, containment, radioactive waste and storage systems

Requires resolution of the long-term high level waste storage issue in most countries Potential nuclear proliferation issue

Very inexpensive once dam is built

Government has invested heavily in building dams, particularly in the Western U.S.

Very limited source since depends on water elevation

Many dams available are currently exist (not much of a future source[depends on country])

Dam collapse usually leads to loss of life

Dams have affected fish (e.g. salmon runs)

Environmental damage for areas flooded (backed up) and downstream

Good distribution system for current use levels

Easy to obtain

Better as space heating energy source

Very limited availability as shown by shortages during winters several years ago

Could be major contributor to global warming

Expensive for energy generation Large price swings with supply and demand

Wind is free if available

Good source for periodic water pumping demands of farms as used earlier in 1900's

Need 3x the amount of installed generation to meet demand Limited to few areas of U.S.

Equipment is expensive to maintain

Need expensive energy storage (e.g. batteries)

Highly climate dependent - wind can damage during windstorms or not turn during still summer days. Can affect endangered birds.

Limited to southern areas of U.S. and other sunny areas throughout the world (demanded the most when least available, e.g. solar heating)

Does require special materials for mirrors/panels that can affect environment

Current technology requires large amounts of land for small amounts of energy generation

Industry in its infancy

Could create jobs because smaller plants would be used

Inefficient if small plants are used

Could be significant contributor to global warming because fuel has low heat content

Fuel can have low cost

Could create jobs because smaller plants would be used

Low sulfur dioxide emissions

Inefficient if small plants are used

Could be significant contributor to global warming because fuel has low heat content

May contain metals as cadmium and lead

Contain dioxins and furans in air and ash releases

Hydrogen and tritium could be used as fuel source

Higher energy output per unit mass than fission

Low radiation levels associated with process than fission-based reactors