Nuclear energy is one of the most controversial topics of our time. In an age where people are looking more towards greener energy and its more abundant supply, the nuclear breeder reactor comes to shine. A nuclear breeder reactor works on the principle of taking waste from a normal reactor and using it to produce more energy. In such a reactor, what happens is that “the neutrons flying in these reactors not only cause the uranium-235 to split and release energy, but also convert the non-fissile uranium-238 into fissile plutonium-239” (Webb ). In most reactors, this dangerous, bomb-worthy material would be thrown away. This waste is highly radioactive and can remain so for many millennia. But instead, it can extract even greater amounts of energy from the process. Breeder reactors hold a lot of promise and could even solve the planet's energy crisis. However, these reactors are relatively little studied and have not reached their full potential as in most normal nuclear plants. Nuclear breeder reactors have many advantages despite the many criticisms they have received over the years. Their use in the United States could bring many benefits. Breeder reactors can be very efficient and produce a lot of energy, but they are very expensive to build. These reactors cost billions of dollars to build. The cost of building one of these reactors will not be immediately returned through the energy produced. For one such reactor in Japan, “the project cost rose from $4 billion to $6 billion” (“Advanced”). The taxes that would be imposed on taxpayers would put them in much greater financial difficulty than they already are. Times are hard enough and it's not worth paying for more energy that we don't need right now. Plus, the money to build... middle of paper... a metal fast breeder reactor. " Environmental Encyclopedia. Gale, 2011. GaleScience in context. Network. 14 December 2011. "Nuclear energy in Belgium." World Nuclear Association. World Nuclear Association, November 2011. Web. 17 December 2011. "Nuclear energy in France ." world-nuclear.org. World Nuclear Association, 30 November 2011. Web. 14 December 2011. Rennhack, Michael. "Nuclear Energy". nukeworker.com. Nukeworker, 9 August 2007. Web. 14 December 2011. "Text of the statement Politburo on Chernobyl." New York Times, July 21, 1986. Gale Science in Context. Network. December 17, 2011. von Hippel, Frank N. "Rethinking Nuclear Fuel Recycling." Scientific American 5.298 (May 2008): 88- 93. SIRS Issues Researcher. 17 Dec 2011.Webb, Jeremy. “Dare to be Different: India Has Bold Plans for a Nuclear Future.” December 17th. 2011.