whether nuclear energy should constitute a major component of the 21st century?

Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei. The most common method is through nuclear fission, produces no greenhouse gases or other such pollutants but does produce radioactive waste that must be stored safely for thousands of years.

But, There is public fear about nuclear energy, fuelled by incidents (most recently, Fukushima in Japan). It is, however, an issue which is becoming more important as we approach a time when fossil fuel resources may run out, making it necessary to find other power sources.

The main question is whether nuclear energy should constitute a major component of the 21st century mixed economy of energy plans to combat global warming and to help us meet the growing energy demand?