[Retric]

It was a partial meltdown that cause 2 billion dollars in inflation adjusted damages.

While it harmed the public perception of nuclear, it was really the cost that slowed down investments in US nuclear which then had knock on effects long term. The best way to think about it is power companies had other investments they could make that had less risks even if they had lower returns. Thus the cost is balanced not vs 0 returns but in comparison to the added benefit from nuclear.

Fewer investments meant losing knowledge of how to build the things which further reduced nuclear’s advantages. Until today when nuclear just can’t compete successfully and anyone that tries sees vast cost overruns.

[hef19898]

That's usually the point when capitalism evagelists start ignoring capitalism and economics, isn't it?