Yeah he does not advocate grain based ethanol models. Quite frankly they are too susceptible to the likely hyperinflation just around the corner for the grain feedstocks, given that by the end of this year grain stocks will be at their lowest since the 1970s (that is less than 56 days of consumption on hand!).
Grain based ethanol production and cellulosic ethanol are two different production models. Big Oil does not invest in grain based ethanol production. It does invest in cellulosic ethanol. Check out Iogen on a google search. Shell and Golman Sachs have both partnered this company and have the world's first cellulosic ethanol plant in Ontario, Canada.
Nuclear should not be compared with ethanol because one is for stationary energy and the other mobile energy needs. With little capital cost, car engines can be modified to take E85. In you want to utilize nuclear for the mobile energy market you are going to have to manufacture a whole bunch of relatively expensive hybrid or hydrogen fueled cars since the old combustible engine cannot be modified.
I agree though on the ignorance of the high efficiencies the new generation nuclear plants are able to deliver. That is the problem with a democracy - politics rather than progress!
