> Someone could invent a magical zero-point energy warp drive and provide us with unlimited free power, and we'd still be paying for those nuclear power plants!

yes, if magic unlimited free power arrives nuclear will turn out useless

if it will not, then it provides some stability to energy grid and ensures that low polluting, resilient source of power exists

somehow I think that risk of magic unlimited free power appearing is low - and if it appears, then costs of contracted power will be now negligible

personally I prefer to pay a bit more for reduced risk of blackouts