Yes, we really need. All the electricity generating methods, nuclear is the cleanest and least damaging to our environment. This is true from mining of the uranium ore to final disposal of the wastes. There is no combustion. Since the energy released from splitting the uranium atom is so much greater than the energy released from combustion, the amount of land, materials, and fuel used, and wastes produced, are very much smaller.
We know we cannot depend forever on oil or gas to make electricity. We have plenty of coal, which is valuable as a substitute for oil and gas. But it also is a source for many chemicals. Uranium, though, has few uses other than as a fuel source and there is a great deal of it available. Putting to work the energy from the natural visioning or splitting of its nucleus makes more sense than letting that energy go to waste, unused, into the soil around us.
Using nuclear power gives us more variety in fuel sources. It helps us avoid being dependent on other countries for only one or two types of fuels.
