If you really go into nuclear today you would try to use something like Terrestrial Energy Molten Salt reactor or something like that.
- Nuclear kills less people, that is worth some tiny risk
- Nuclear waste is actually a resource for the future. You can get things like nuclear batteries, medical isotopes and so on. Not to mention reusing the fuel in next generation reactors.
- Nuclear plants take ages to build because they are big, next generation reactors are 10-20x smaller
- Next generation Nuclear reactors are built underground and have a very strong defense on top. In war time you could reinforce that. That said, for most nation that matters, this is not a huge concern.
> I cannot fathom why nuclear is preferred to a safe, distributed, clean grid of solar panels.
Because its reliable and produces energy even if a vulcano covers the sun and you have a few days without win. It gives you power when and where you need it, no need for a gigantic storage and transmission infrastructure. Maximum reuse of existing infrastructure.
> Maybe one day when humanity is a space faring race we could look to nuclear to support us then, but using nuclear on earth today is a bad decision.
That crazy. Just based on first principle nuclear is the best and most dense energy source. We can use it with 60s tech, and we could do much better today. Why would we only use it in some far future when the technology exists now.