On the other hand, while you and I might know that today's nuclear plants are tremendously safe, they have a terrifically negative public image. In a vacuum the

On the other hand, while you and I might know that today's nuclear plants are tremendously safe, they have a terrifically negative public image. In a vacuum the ROI would probably be negative, but most people want nothing to do with traditional nuclear plants and the not-in-my-backyard problem is huge. If you include getting a blank slate public relations-wise, the ROI might become positive. Engineers are loathe to worry about these kinds of things, but in practice they matter quite a bit.