In which case, it's hopeless.  We've got two groups, minimum, shouting at each other for the next 10 years and energy policy will be decided by whichever group captures the emotions of the largest number of people, at any particular time.

I'm sorry, that's just a description of politics. Nothing specific to nuclear energy.

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

Actually, where government is technocratic, energy policy will tend to be pro-nuclear and public opinion anti-nuclear. The reason is that the pro-nuclear position is compatible with the technocratic frame of policymakers. The anti-nuclear side doesn't want to speak the language of cost-benefit analysis while the pro-nuclear does. The anti-nuclear side will then accuse "technocrats" of being "death-wishers" and turn to trying to sway public opinion so nuclear development becomes politically untenable.

Where government is not technocratic, what you describe is the case.

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."