How would a large reactor(s) fit into the renewable paradigm; here is a proposal.
Maybe, nuclear R&D for very large nuclear reactors can be sold as an adjunct to renewable power generation as follows:
Prudent investment in research and development of complimentary technologies such as the super grid, superconductive power lines supporting CO2 free nuclear and renewable power generation can underpin a renaissance in electrical production in the USA and a transition away from fossil fuel energy sources.
The Tres Amigas Project provides a framework and an unprecedented opportunity to build a large centralized underground nuclear generation project using direct conversion of nuclear energy to feed direct current (DC) into the super conducting transcontinental super grid.
The key technology is direct nuclear power conversion into DC electric power, the same direct energy conversion approach can turn fusion and/or fission power directly into DC power.
But additionally, this nuclear power source can both load-level and backup an intercontinental wind generation capacity strategically positioned in the mid-west and solar generation in the southwest.
Clovis, New Mexico is the projected heart of this electrical power development zone. With a sparse population of about 30,000, this dry, isolated, high planes ranch land is an ideal location for a national energy generation park.
More specifically, the Cannon air force base is ideally suited to house an energy generation campus. It was until recently the home of the 27th Fighter Wing before it was decommissioned in 2005.
New green concepts in nuclear power production utilizing direct power conversion of nuclear radiation to DC electric current provides direct energy conversion at high efficiency.
This reactor type must be air cooled and need no water making its deployment in dry conditions possible. At near perfect energy conversion, this futuristic power source produces little waste heat to dissipate into the environment.
The nuclear power source need not bear the total national power production load. Far form it.
This new paradigm in power production compliments wind and solar power in that it can mitigate the peaks and valleys in large scale renewable power sources based on rapid self regulation of the nuclear reaction.