I had not thought of that. Interesting.
He wants to invest in stuff he's planning to use for his base on Mars, even though he knows he, himself, will never set foot there.
Gasification can’t happen on mars. As you said solar is a fools errand at 60% more then on earth. And nuke is the right way but he’s not doing that.
Strange.
But then again his mom be like:

But it’s been said that when he turns 60 he will get all of his heavenly knowledge back. I should live long enough to see that, or the fail.
It’s also a big club….we ain’t in it.
It’s also a big club….we ain’t in it.
I don’t think he is either. He’s too nerdy and unstable (unpredictable), and these satanic degenerate don’t like that.
They let him play with his Legos shekels as long as he doesn’t disturb them.