It could rival all-out nuclear war. Those who politically promulgate reliance on solar energy, beyond an appropriate and potentially significant role, with backup capabilities, to displace fossil fuels, are putting the world at such risk. One large plant generates up to 10 billion kilowatthours of electricity in a year, from a 2-year fuel load using very little uranium, in clean, safe, and secure conditions. Enormous energy from a small amount of fuel in metal assemblies makes it economic, safe and secure to store indefinitely, in casks, as is now being done. This contrasts to releasing vast quantities of particulates and noxious gases to the atmosphere and our lungs, and toxic wastes to lands and waters.
Solar energy can have appropriate applications, if it can be made economic.
Such backup may come from displacing fossil fuel use, while fossil plants are maintained for emergency power supplies. Maintenance of backup power needs to be included in solar energy cost. However, only nuclear energy can supply the clean, abundant, energy needed for growing world populations, compounded by rising expectations and energy use, in the 21 st Century. To meet those human needs, destructive government policies and cost burdens on nuclear energy must be fixed. China and other developing countries are forced to use fossil fuels with their devastating effects on human health and the environment because of the cost and political constraints imposed by the advanced countries.