Nobody seems to have a problem with subsidies for "alternative" energies, both direct government funding support, research support, tax breaks, and regulations that tilt the field. I haven't heard anybody telling the solar power industry they should "foot the bill."

I don't mind tax breaks as a rule (people paying less taxes), but you have to admit that at this stage, solar power, electric cars, and other good ideas wouldn't be doing so hot without them. Hopefully, that won't always be true.

Why should liberals make a special case for nuclear power having to stand solely on its own two feet?

If you insist that nuclear power should be profitable without government guarantees, so should all the rest of the energy solutions.