Nuclear Energy, Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

“Atomic energy is capable of applications for peaceful as well as military purposes.” With this pronouncement, the Congress, in the preamble to the 1954 Atomic Energy Act, released atomic energy (nuclear energy) from its military origins. The Congress also set out a new purpose for this new energy source... to serve and improve the “general welfare” of the country. The intent of the act was clearly broad and substantial, “to provide for... a program to encourage widespread participation in the development and utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.”