You don’t even need the nuke. Drain salt/sea water to death valley and use solar mirror to steam it off. The steam supplies electric power for the operation and steam power to pump the water back where it is needed.
Likely sea salt and other by products could be used also...
You know it isn't downhill all the way, don't you. 3000 foot high probably at the low points between them and the sea.
And you can sell the flash-roasted birds, too! Kind of like the rotisserie chickens at Costco, but with the feathers still on.
/s