Political progressives should be very excited about the potential of Thorium fusion nuclear reactors for energy generation.
Thorium is an abundantly-occurring radioactive element that is usable for nuclear reactors. The United Stated military operated a Thorium reactor for several years until it was shut down and research discontinued. Instead, they chose to develop and subsidize Uranium reactors, which produce a weaponizable waste product.
Thorium molten salt reactors (MSR) have the potential to be technically, economically, and environmentally superior to Uranium reactors. Research has been restarted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the US Energy Department, and other governments including India, China, Germany, Canada, and private investors.
Thorium is three times more abundant than tin and about as abundant as lead, and several hundred times as abundant as Uranium-235.
Extracted Thorium does not require enrichment.
Thorium fission requires continuous priming. If that is removed, the reaction stops. No chain-reaction meltdown is possible.
Thorium produces 10-10,000 times less long-lived radioactive waste.
Thorium has the potential for locally-produced energy from reactors small enough for individual towns.
Links:
Thorium Energy Alliance (TEA) http://thoriumenergyalliance.com/
EnergyFromThorium http://energyfromthorium.com/
Google Tech Talk: The Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor: What Fusion Wanted To Be http://www.youtube.com/...
Motherboard Documentary: http://motherboard.vice.com/...
TEDx Talk: Thorium, an alternative nuclear fuel http://www.ted.com/...
American Scientist: http://www.americanscientist.org/... (subscribers or purchase article)