Republicans, Obama Still Support Nuclear Power

The crisis at Japan’s nuclear power plants isn’t causing Republicans or the Obama administration to back off their support for the industry in the United States, The Hill reports. Companies have been pushing to construct the first new U.S. reactors in decades.

Senior White House officials said Monday that the president remains in favor of nuclear power and that U.S. nuclear plants were made to survive strong storms and earthquakes.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor also expressed backing for the nuclear industry Monday. “I do believe that we certainly want to get to the bottom from learning lessons from Japan’s experience, for sure. But nuclear power is an essential part of the energy mix of this country. And the president has said so — I share that position,” he told reporters.