[erentz]

> “Based on present knowledge, it does not appear likely that the fission of uranium or thorium could ever support more than 10 to 20 per cent of the energy system of the United States patterned as at present.”

I think he was clearly too pessimistic about the potential of nuclear.

> Today, the US gets about 8 percent of its total energy from nuclear power...

Note this is of all energy including the gas in your car. Obviously we are reliant on electrification if our transport system to tackle that, which doesn’t seem considered here. Possibly he didn’t foresee the potential to electrify transport hence the pessimism. No one is expecting solar, wind, or nuclear powered cars. They’re expecting solar, wind, and nuclear powered electricity grid charging batteries in cars, third rails, and overhead catenary.

Nuclear is ~20% of all electricity output on that grid today in the USA. And in France it’s ~70%.

It’s clear it can go to much higher.