"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."
Not sure about that. Any form of energy can be converted to any other. The only thing that matters is the conversion factors. A coal miner could concievably tap CBM to power a coal to petrol plant but it would be expensive with marginal economics.
Let's get one thing clear: I believe that given economy of scale and modern (already proven) science, nuclear power, if sited over the crude energy source (coal, shale oil, oil sands) is our best short term bet.
Forget about using steam from the nuclear process to generate electricity. Use the steam directly to reduce the solids to liquids. Way to go!!!!
