Nuclear power production epitomizes the need for predictive geoscience (Ewing, 2004). Current global carbon emissions of (approx.) 7 Gt/y, largely from fossil fuel consumption, are expected to grow and result in a variety of adverse global effects, including acid rain, toxic smog, and hypothetically, sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of adverse weather conditions. One of the most reliable and sufficiently large alternative sources of energy is nuclear power, which currently provides about 17% of the worlds electricity, equivalent to a reduction in carbon emissions of (approx.) 0.5 Gt/y. The U.S. currently consumes (approx.) 40% of the world's fossil fuel production, but generates only about 20% of its electricity from nuclear plants. One major factor inhibiting increased power production form this source in the U.S. is the lack of a licensed repository for spent nuclear fuel, and Yucca Mountain is the only site being considered at this time.
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