Speaking of saving the planet, I watched a show about Thorium based nuclear power last night after work (yeah, I'm a dork).
Essentially, Thorium was being developed in the '60's as an alternative to Plutonium/Uranium reactors. It's a totally different style. Doesn't melt down, much less toxic, can't be weaponized. But, that last one was part of the reason it was killed off...it doesn't create weapons grade nuclear fuel as a byproduct. In the cold war, creating more nukes was more important than a safer/cleaner power source.
http://thoriummsr.com/intro/facts-about-thorium-molten-salt-reactors/
That's the way it always is even today. The Keystone Pipeline is another example, where despite the evidence that these things are awful for the environment around them (there was yet another oil spill just last week that hasn't gotten mch coverage) all pocketbooks care about is trying to squeeze every Penny out of a non-renewable source instead of looking forward and pursuing other renewable energy options.
/rant