Clarification: The upside of nuclear is obvious, but Joe sixpack is afraid of the China Syndrome, Three Mile Island scenarios and fears it being anywhere near them. Nuclear is far more environmentally safe and less life-threatening than any other form of energy production we have. The only referents we have of nuclear deaths we have are intentional (WWII) or communist idoicy (Chernobyl).

For comparison, coal-related deaths: http://frankwarner.typepad.com/free_frank_warner/2006/01/us_...

Pollution: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html

Oil: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/peril_oil_pol... http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN07427618

Pick your poison.