The problem is, there's always been another step closer, and another step after that, and another step after that.
I've been in love with the idea of fusion for power since debating about it back in high school. Fusion is tremendously exciting as a power source — but also tremendously hard (trying to literally trigger then control the power of the Sun on Earth). If we can make it work, and then make it work economically, it would solve our electricity problems. But there always seem to be more steps, and more promising developments, to be taken.
(Correction to the article: while fusion does not have to deal with highly radioactive spent fuel like the fission process of conventional nuclear power plants, there are over time expected to be problems with actual plants or parts thereof becoming irradiated. It's a much smaller problem, but arguing that fusion is radiation-free is incorrect.)
Scientists just took a major step towards achieving nuclear fusion
Creating viable fusion energy on Earth has been a dream since the dawn of the Atomic Age
I can't remember, are neutrinos also an issue?
Don't be too quick to judge. The first controlled fission reaction at Chicago Pile-1 only lasted four and a half minutes, producing literally half a watt.
Of course, a year later we could power an entire city wit one; but such is the nature of progress.