> but we not only need reliable base load energy but lots more of it than we have now—and that base load will continue to increase

The term "base load" is not that useful; it's just the amount of load which can be supplied by generators which cannot vary their output quickly, like coal power plants. An increase on "base load" only means you can use more of these slow power plants (coal, nuclear), instead of requiring more flexible power plants (gas peakers, hydroelectric, solar, wind, batteries); but you don't have to.