There has been an ongoing debate over the safety and use of nuclear power. Nuclear power plants currently produce about 6% of the world’s energy and about 13-14% of the world’s electricity.

On this day, December 20th, in 1951, nuclear power was first introduced by the government in Idaho. This development was the first instance where nuclear power was used for non-war related events.

The Experimental Breeder Reactor I, also called EBR-I, was located 18 miles outside of the city of Arco in Idaho. The plant initially produced 100kW, and it then developed to generate enough power for the entire building. The EBR-I was closed in 1964, but it now serves as a U.S. National Historic Landmark.