No, in the normal case. Coal has trace amounts of radioactive elements (such as uranium and thorium), burning it in large quantities concentrates those elements

No, in the normal case. Coal has trace amounts of radioactive elements (such as uranium and thorium), burning it in large quantities concentrates those elements and release them into the atmosphere. And that's true even when you account for the risk of nuclear power plants and spent fuel. Coal ash is produced in gigantic quantities, and often stored in an open environment, while spent fuel is vitrified and far easier to contain. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-...