Some environmentalists are warming up to the idea that nuclear
energy can be a viable clean energy source. The nuclear energy
industry, along with related exchange traded funds (ETFs), is
receiving a nice boost from federal aid, but one group wants
greater disclosure on the loan guarantees.
On top of diminishing global air emissions, nuclear power plants
are running at lower production costs than compared to coal,
natural gas or oil,
according to the Nuclear Energy Institute
. The NEI provides additional information on plants that are being
renewed and being commissioned. [
Your Guide to Green ETFs.
]
Nuclear energy
is a reliable source of energy that also provides environmental and
economic benefits,
as stated by the Nuclear Energy Institute
.
The nuclear fission process produces basically no greenhouse gas
emissions or other pollutants associated with fossil fuels that
could result in acid rain,
reports Nina Shen for
The Washington Post
. Proponents like to quote that nuclear power generates 70% of the
country's "carbon-free" energy. [
3 Nuclear ETFs to Capture Clean Energy Push.
]
However, critics argue that the cost of constructing a nuclear
plant may be more than it is worth. Instead, some believe we should
be finding more efficient ways to generate energy and invest in
"micropower," or a cogeneration of heat and electricity combined
with renewables. Additionally, observers note that nuclear plants
haven't dealt with the major problem of storing spent fuel and that
generating electricity requires a lot of water for cooling.
The environmentalist group Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is
suing the Department of Energy over the Freedom of Information Act
request about the federal loan guarantees,
writes Ben German for The Hill
. The group argues that taxpayers should receive greater disclosure
on multi-billion dollar nuclear projects.
For more information on nuclear industry, visit our
nuclear energy category
. According to the
ETF Analyzer
, there are three ways to get nuclear energy exposure these days,
though all three are below the 200-day moving average.
Sign up for alerts
to be notified when there's a trading opportunity in these
funds!
-
PowerShares Global Nuclear (NYSEArca: PKN)
. The fund is based on the WNA Nuclear Energy Index. Major sector
allocations include: Industrial Materials 46.39%%, Utilities
29.35% and Energy 4.6%. Top country allocations include: Canada
11.9%, France 9.7% and Australia 5.3%.
-
Market Vectors Nuclear Energy (NYSEArca: NLR)
. The fund tries to reflect the DAXglobal Nuclear Energy Index.
Top sectors include: Industrial Materials 56.23%, Utilities
30.11% and Energy 9.45%. Top country allocations include: U.S.
30.8%, Canada 25.3% and Japan 18.5%
-
iShares S&P Global Nuclear Energy (NYSEArca:
NUCL)
. The fund tries to reflect the S&P Global Nuclear Energy
Index. Top sectors include: 40.1%, Utilities 34.9% and
Industrials 11.4%. Country allocations include: U.S. 25.6%, Japan
17.3%, Canada 11.5%.
Max Chen contributed to this article.