Put an End to the Great Lakes Nuclear Dump, Now!

A site for major nuclear production and research, the US and Canada border near Michigan houses around 18 nuclear power plants on the shores of the Great Lakes that supply energy across the US-Canada region. While providing an opportunity to explore new energy production and distribution methods, the behind-the-scenes after-effects of the nuclear waste deposited in the famed lakes spread far and wide, and contain massive risks.

The deposition of nuclear waste on its own holds the grand capacity to slowly destroy the waters of the Great Lakes from the inside out, harming the environment and showcasing the absolute lack of consideration humans hold for the planet that they call home. But this is only skimming the surface- the entire process of nuclear energy production consists of utilizing millions of gallons of water for cooling, and then deposition a flow of water that is on average an entire ten degrees warmer than the lake water back into the Great Lakes. This eventual heating will not only significantly change the animal and plant populations in the region such as changing fish species or increasing algae, but could potentially change the weather in Michigan and the rest of the region on a drastic level.

As we continue to foster a theoretical rise in the importance of addressing climate change and global warming, we must take all the necessary steps to make this vision into reality.