The document compares four types of power plants: steam, hydro, diesel, and nuclear. It discusses their initial costs, running costs, location requirements, efficiencies, fuel sources, emissions, maintenance costs, transmission costs, and starting times. Steam power plants have lower initial costs but higher running costs than hydro and nuclear. Hydro plants require large spaces for dams but have very low running costs. Nuclear plants have the highest initial costs due to complex reactors but low fuel and operating costs. Diesel plants can be located anywhere but have the highest fuel costs.