fossil fuels still reign supreme, and the forecast for the next 20 years on a global basis is that renewables and nuclear will both increase the amount of power actually delivered by about same amount according to a 2009 EIA estimate.
I don't buy that however.
Given that
-the need for new generation is acute, and
-nuclear power takes a long time to build while
-renewable energy is rapidly and easily deployed,
-nuclear power's cost is rising while
-renewable energy's costs are declining,
-nuclear power's associated high external costs,
-renewable energy's minimal external costs,
-nuclear power's high risk (including proliferation),
-renewable energy's low risk,
I have trouble seeing how renewable energy isn't destined to be the over-riding source of energy for this planet.
The only question is how much of the public's money will be diverted by the great economic and political power that has accrued to those controlling centralized energy production such as fossil fuels and nuclear power?
For those interested in reading more detail on the same arguments you use to promote nuclear power, I recommend these website:
http://www.heritage.org/sample:
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Commentary/2009/01/Nuclear-power-is-true-green-energy Nuclear Power is True 'Green' Energy)
Or this one that they've apparently scrubbed from their website:
http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:zC2LuXocecUJ:www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/wm1961.cfm+Spencer+Critics+of+Nuclear+Power%27s+Costs+Miss+the+Point&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=usCritics of Nuclear Power's Costs Miss the Point
by Jack Spencer and Nicolas Loris
WebMemo #1961
Carbon-capping legislation and recent studies<1> that conclude that a massive build-up of nuclear power is needed to minimize the negative economic impact of CO2 caps have spurred several high-profile articles on the costs of nuclear energy.<2> One such article notes that estimated construction costs for nuclear power plants and the overall costs of nuclear power have increased significantly since 2000 and espouses wind power, solar power, and energy efficiency as alternatives to new nuclear plants.
What these articles do not recognize is that energy prices are increasing broadly. When considered properly, nuclear power is the only available technology that is adequate, affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally clean. If the nation wants to limit CO2 emissions, then it must turn to nuclear power...
- Heritage Foundation Leadership for America
Or how about the American Enterprise Institute?
http://www.aei.org/googleSearch?query=nuclear+power&start=0&sortBy=relevance