I've consistently heard the following two claims about thorium reactors:
1. They offer a number of advantages in safety, efficiency, input materials, byproducts. No comparative disadvantages.
2. The United States is not actively pursuing any plans to implement thorium reactors.
Is the above really true, or are there some comparative disadvantages to a Thorium reactor vs a traditional nuclear reactor? If the above is true, there must be some conflict of interest (imagine that, a conflict of interest in the domain of energy!) causing #2. Is there a legal issue?
1. They offer a number of advantages in safety, efficiency, input materials, byproducts. No comparative disadvantages.
2. The United States is not actively pursuing any plans to implement thorium reactors.
Is the above really true, or are there some comparative disadvantages to a Thorium reactor vs a traditional nuclear reactor? If the above is true, there must be some conflict of interest (imagine that, a conflict of interest in the domain of energy!) causing #2. Is there a legal issue?