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Table 1. Comparison of synthetic fuel with nuclear power.
| Synthetic Fuel | Nuclear Power | |
| Promise | Supply large quantity of liquid fuel with domestic resources | Supply unlimited amount of electricity (with domestic resources) |
| Resource Endowment | Enough for fuel supply of hundreds of years | Enough to supply electricity for hundreds of years or longer |
| Application | Substitute for diesel, gasoline, and natural gas | Electricity production |
| Cost | Nearly, but not quite, competitive with products from conventional oil and natural gas (therefore uncompetitive in market) | Nearly competitive with conventional power generators, with government intervention |
| Detrimental Side-Effects | Air and water pollution | Radioactive hazards |
| Major Stakeholders | Coal industry and states Petroleum industry | Nuclear technology researchers Nuclear power reactor vendors Electricity utilities |
| Government Authority | 1944–1974 | |
| Department of Interior | Atomic Energy Commission | |
| 1974–1977 | ||
| Energy Research and Development Administration | Energy Research and Development Administration / Nuclear Regulatory Commission | |
| 1977–Present | ||
| Department of Energy / Synthetic Fuels Corporation (1980–1986) | Department of Energy / Nuclear Regulatory Commission |