Non-nuclear, safe fusion energy production is not so near science fiction as many would have folks believe. Look up the works on the subject by the recently deceased Dr. Bussard for some interesting info on the subject.

I caught a Google Talks series on his experiments and various designs for his energy machines over the years that was fascinating though I can't seem to locate them now. Seems like if I remember correctly he was using highly powerful magnetic energy and nothing but molecules or atoms of oxygen as the fuel with some incredible results