Thorium reactors.
But that would be too smart.
And the enviros would go ape stuffing crazy over it.
But that would be too smart.
And the enviros would go ape stuffing crazy over it.
Get the thorium from coal tailings, then use some of the energy generated (there's about 12 times the energy in the thorium in coal, vs. burning the coal itself) to power the Fischer–Tropsch process that can, essentially, liquify coal into a usable fuel for vehicles (note that the Germans did this at the tail end of WW2, when they had lost access to oil fields). We have hundreds of years worth of coal, and can virtually cease importing liquid energy if we liquify the coal. Then, in combination with fracking, etc., we can become the world's largest exporter of energy. This will employ millions and generate such incredible income that we will be able to pay off the national debt in a few decades.
Which is exactly why the Leftists and the Watermelons (as if there's much of a difference) are against it.