Solar power is a bright alternative to fusion

Arthur Turrell’s article on nuclear fusion (Science, 3 September) shows that although there have been advances, there is still a long way to go before it becomes a viable source of energy. So it is surprising that in the penultimate paragraph there is the throwaway comment that “fusion could afford people in developing countries the same energy opportunities as people in developed nations”.

Since much of the developing world lies in the tropics, it is better to think of the opportunities for harnessing solar power, which are already available, rather than hold out a very vague promise of jam tomorrow. William Ackroyd St Leonards-on-Sea, England, UK