I saw a doc on Netflix in which Bill Gates talks about a different safer design for a nuclear fission reactor and it makes sense and uses spent nuclear fuel. There are natural safety measures built in that don't require outside energy input to work if there are accidents. However I agree with you that the public and the gov are too fearful in even approaching any ideas.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/08/bill-gates-terrapower-is-building-next-generation-nuclear-power.html