McCain vows to build more nuclear reactors in US

Washington, June 21 (PTI) - Harping on the quest for nuclear
energy by Asian giants India and China, Republican
presidential nominee John McCain has said he wants 45 new
atomic reactors built in the United States over the next two
decades.

"China, Russia, and India are all planning to build more
than a hundred new power plants among them in the coming
decades," McCain, who has strongly backed the landmark Indo-US
civilian nuclear deal, said.

Across Europe there are 197 reactors in operation, and
nations including France and Belgium derive more than half
their electricity from nuclear power, the republican leader
said, adding "if all of these nations can find a way to carry
out great goals in energy policy, then I assure you that the
United States is more than equal to the challenge."

"If I am elected president, I will set this nation on a
course to building 45 new reactors by the year 2030, with the
ultimate goal of 100 new plants to power the homes and
factories and cities of America. This task will be as
difficult as it is necessary," McCain said at Virginia.

Echoing the views of President George W. Bush, the
Arizona senator said "it's pretty clear to most of us that
when it comes to energy, what we really need is to produce
more, use less, and find new sources of power.

"The next president must be willing to break with the
energy policies not just of the current administration, but
the administrations that preceded it."

Energy and the soaring prices of oil has become a major
election issue as McCain and his Democratic rival Barack Obama
begin to slug it out for the November elections.

Referring to rival Barak Obama's lukewarm response on
nuclear energy, McCain said "one obstacle to expanding our
nuclear-powered electricity is the mindset of those who prefer
to buy time and hope that our energy problems will somehow
solve themselves." PTI