"compete on cost" when you don't consider the external damage by sources like coal, oil, etc is not a good reason. We need dependable power sources. Wind is not predictable except over long periods of time. Hydro is predictable (somewhat) mostly but it's already maxed out and destroys ecosystems as part of its damage. Solar varies quite a bit. Nuclear is dependable and completely controllable, it's also safe, no matter what its critics say. Their knowledge and reasons are 40 years old and no longer relevant with modern designs. No don't talk to me about Japan, that was a bad design even when it was "new" and horrible placement of the actual facility. The saving grace is they can dump all that excess radiation into the ocean around it when they have to.