How does nuclear power generation compare to other methods for producing energy?

Nuclear power’s efficiency is far in excess of its leading competitors. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute the amount of electricity produced in one year by a 1000 MWe (Megawatts of electricity) reactor running at 80% capacity is roughly 7 billion kilowatt-hours, which is enough to supply 650,000 homes with electricity. Compared to other major sources it would require 11.6 million barrels of oil (at roughly 603 KWh per barrel), 3.5 million short tons of coal (1 ton yields 1990 KWh), or 70 billion cubic feet of natural gas (100 cubic feet yields 9.95 KWh) to produce the same amount of electricity. The average nuclear reactor is slightly larger than 1000 MWe and runs around 85% capacity.

How does the waste produced from nuclear power generation compare to that produced in other methods?

Apart from the nuclear waste the only other waste product in a properly maintained reactor is the steam that is released via the cooling towers. Unlike other major sources of electrical power, such as the burning of fossil fuels, the production of electricity by nuclear power does not release atmospheric pollutants.