When I was in grad school in the mid-70’s, my advisor, whose PhD thesis was the 2nd most widely cited paper at the time on one aspect of fusion (tokamak) reactor design, said that we needed 20-20 vision to see an operating tokamak. By that, he meant it would be 2020 before it would happen.
While I don’t follow developments in fusion research particularly closely, I don’t think that we are any closer today toward solving some of the fundamental issues than we were 35 or more years ago. The technical issues are formidable.
We still are not much better at controlling the magnetic plasma containment fields. it ain’t gonna be 2020 unless there is a dramatic breakthrough in magnetic field control in the next couple of years. Then, after the first self-sustaining fusion machine is demonstrated, commercialization of the technology will take at least 10-15 years.
Well, that may very well be true which is why I said, IF we have to go nuclear.
We have better alternatives - the biggest energy problem facing us are the Leftists in government.
Meanwhile, going nuclear is a great idea unless they put one near where you live. Or near your loved ones. Or where your food sources are.
Or nuclear waste that sooner or later seeps into our water supply or sea life (containers that apparently are corroding on the ocean floor - glowing oceans - apocalyptic Biblical foretelling of people around the world dying of poisoned waters (many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8:11.)).