The problem with nuclear is that while we need base-load, base-load doesn't pay.
Let's say I have a $billion to invest. My goal is return on investment. Why would I pick nuclear over solar?
Solar is cheap, quick to build, low maintainence, requires a small amount of "cheap" labor, and "worst case" stops working.
Nuclear takes 15 years of planning, costs a fortune just to get started, will guarantee endless fights with pretty much everyone, has long-term clean up questions, requires lots of very expensive engineers to keep running. (And worst case is pretty much as bad as you can imagine).
Oh right, nuclear makes electricity at night. When it's cheapest.
I get that we -need- electricity at night. But frankly, there is zero incentive for me to put my billion there. Its high risk with no reward.
Let's say I have a $billion to invest. My goal is return on investment. Why would I pick nuclear over solar?
Solar is cheap, quick to build, low maintainence, requires a small amount of "cheap" labor, and "worst case" stops working.
Nuclear takes 15 years of planning, costs a fortune just to get started, will guarantee endless fights with pretty much everyone, has long-term clean up questions, requires lots of very expensive engineers to keep running. (And worst case is pretty much as bad as you can imagine).
Oh right, nuclear makes electricity at night. When it's cheapest.
I get that we -need- electricity at night. But frankly, there is zero incentive for me to put my billion there. Its high risk with no reward.