LFTRs to power the planet?

I recently received an email from Colin Megson, a fellow Leeds-based blogger who has taken it upon himself to champion the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor. In his blog he describes the potential benefits that the adoption of such power sources would provide; apparently a clean and unlimited source of energy.

I have to admit that my own knowledge of the science behind LFTRs is limited at best; I've never adopted the knee-jerk reaction that typifies the nuclear debate but I do realise that if it weren't for the pesky radioactive waste that it produces nuclear power would be one of the greenest forms of energy production currently available. What is without doubt, however, is that it's of the utmost importance that we ditch our reliance on fossil fuels, and not just for the obvious environmental benefits that this would entail; as a non-renewable energy source coal and gas will eventually run out and alternatives need to be found, the sooner the better. That fossil fuel dependence has helped to fund often corrupt and despotic regimes is another reason to start looking elsewhere.

For those of you interested in these things it's well worth having a look at Colin's blog and making your own mind up; there's also a balanced dissemination here which looks at some of the disadvantages of LFTRs as well as the benefits. It's a debate which deserves much more prominence then it currently gets.