Keep in mind that centralised power production is very different from the autmotive fuel production.

In the US most of our power production comes from 3 sourcees in the following order 1 Coal 2 Natural Gas (of North Amer origin) 3 Nuclear. Any oil fired plant are usually peaker plants and do not generally make up a signifiigant portion of our energy source.

What this implies then, is that switching to nuclear will NOT reduce oil usage in this country. With the following caveat; it will reduce oil consumption if we begin to switch to some hydrogen or ethanol type fuel. But again economics has not dictated such a move yet.

I am in favor of nuclear power as a long term energy strategy, but for other resaons than fuel/oil needs.

Along those lines, from the evidence and numbers I’ve seen I expect an eventual conversion to some sort of hydrogen or equivelent synthesised fuel, realising that such a system is actually an energy storgae medium from the power plant producers.

Here is a very good website that has very good arguments with explanations.

http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/energy.html

I dont agree with evrything he says, except my free market heart that says let the market decide price, usage, and consumption not politicians.