The US has 43 nuclear power plants’ worth of solar energy in the pipeline

[kristopher]

28. WTF are you talking about?

It isn't my OP, but I don't see anything wrong with it. If you don't think there is a distinction between the potential and prediction I don't know what to tell you. It signifies to me that your thinking is probably as imprecise as your use of language.

For instance, the article you posted from Mother Jones is a straight discussion of the potential and possibility that solar could get back on track. It could in no way be construed as a predictive in the manner of the OP.

As to the OP it is an excellent article that is based on as good an indicator as there exists. And I'll make a prediction about it that you can hold me to. In 2008/2009 the nuclear industry was having a field day trumpeting in every venue you could find that there were about 30 applications in to the NRC for new reactors. I predict that the indicator for solar will deliver at least 3-4 times the percentage on its indicator than nuclear will on its NRC indicator.

Perhaps that might help clarify the usage of the two concepts.