Thorconpower is a case in point. They tried very hard to get their experimental reactor off the ground in the US but their pilot project seems to have moved to

Thorconpower is a case in point. They tried very hard to get their experimental reactor off the ground in the US but their pilot project seems to have moved to Indonesia instead now. That's a shame - Thorium and molten salt reactor experience and technological mastery would be extremely useful for solar system space colonization efforts past the orbit of Earth (insolation levels fall dramatically and a lot of basic industrial chemical engineering off planet will encounter abundant raw materials but will also need easy access to enormous quantities of energy). Fissiln is so worthwhile pursuing and it's reputation so bad it will probably need an Elon Musk type persona to tackle it.