I would prefer they spend some of the money on developing solar cells. If we can get them cheap and running at 50-60% efficiency, as some are claiming can be done, then we dont have a problem.
Well, at present solid state Photovoltaic Cells get about 10-12 percent efficiency. Thats a long way to go. Then you've got the problem of energy production only during daylight hours, how does one store this energy viably to make a consistant power supply? There are a lot of inherent problems that make PV Cells more of an addition to another system, rather than a main power production method in itself.

Anyway, one does not exclude the other. ALL areas of renewable energy and "safe" nuclear alternatives should be given MAXIMUM priority in research funding.