Despite a humble beginning, the nuclear energy exchange traded fund (ETF) could prove to be a useful investment.

Market Vector’s Nuclear ETF (NLR) is down 8.9% year-to-date and has been down as much as 18% since its August 2007 inception.

However, nuclear energy is a window into the way of the future. Already, around 16% of the world’s electrical energy comes from nuclear generation. Around 439 reactors are online and 222 are under planning or construction stages, reports Delbert Thiessen for ETFGuide.

Both emerging and developed countries are making energy demands that can only be met with  nuclear reactors. 

The timing of nuclear energy becoming more desirable is fortuitous: finding alternatives to oil, natural gas and coal is more important than ever in the fight against global warming. E-e-e-e-excellent.

Developing nuclear power is not without its problems. Among them: the mining process of uranium, the handling of nuclear waste and the use of billions of gallons of water in the process. There is some evidence, though, that nuclear waste can be recycled.

Tags: Coal, Emerging Markets, Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Water