Some life cycle graphics on so called "rare earth elements," i.e. the lanthanides.

[StevieM]

3. Isn't the problem with nuclear energy that it is very expensive?

I can't help but feel that if it was cost-efficient we would have made the transformation a long time ago.

And the cost of renewables is rapidly coming down. In other words, even if you were right in the past, that doesn't necessarily speak to the future.

Finally, none of this fully speaks to other parts of our energy economy, like transportation and space and water heating. We are still going to have problems on that front when we stop using fossil fuels to make electricity.

I do like the idea of building some LFTR reactors, which I have heard can reprocess nuclear waste.