John,

A viable alternative to nuclear is solar thermal, a new technology that
works by focusing mirrors on liquid-filled tubes, which then generate enough
steam to run turbines. This isn't pie-in-the-sky thinking, either--Pacific
Gas and Electric, the major electricity supplier to the country's most
populous state, is in contract to build a square mile plant in Southern
California. For info, see:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/05/BUBTT5KM2.DTL

As with all technologies, there will be some ill effects, but compared to
the nuclear waste issue, it seems this is pretty benign. In a few years we
shall see.