It would be more profitable than burning coal, were externalities priced in to fossil fuel energy generation as they are with nuclear energy.
With nuclear, every kWh generated incorporates the cost of decommissioning, storage, truly baroque safety compliance, and all the rest.
With coal, every kWh incorporates the cost of… coal. What’s the plan for the radioactive ash? Dump it. Somewhere. Wherever. What’s the plan for the atmosphere? Screw it. What’s the plan for decommissioning? File for bankruptcy and let the state deal with it.
With nuclear, every kWh generated incorporates the cost of decommissioning, storage, truly baroque safety compliance, and all the rest.
With coal, every kWh incorporates the cost of… coal. What’s the plan for the radioactive ash? Dump it. Somewhere. Wherever. What’s the plan for the atmosphere? Screw it. What’s the plan for decommissioning? File for bankruptcy and let the state deal with it.