Nuclear power pushed by Bush

LUSBY, Md. – Pushing for the construction of nuclear power plants, President Bush on Wednesday pressed Congress to send him an energy bill, though he acknowledged that even when he signs the legislation, gasoline prices at the pump won’t fall overnight.

Bush is promoting nuclear power as a way to take the pressure off fossil fuels – oil, natural gas and coal.

“It’s time for this country to start building nuclear power plants again,” said Bush, who noted that while the U.S. gets 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear reactors, France meets 78 percent of its electricity needs with nuclear power.

While Bush’s speech was focused on energy, he also spoke about economic concerns like Social Security, medical liability insurance, education, permanent tax relief and trade. It was part of a White House effort to focus on economic security for Americans as well as national security in the war on terrorism.

“Listen, I understand parts of our country are still struggling from the effects of the recession and the attacks,” he said, ticking off Americans’ worries about jobs going overseas, the need to learn new skills, health care costs and retirement.

“So even though the numbers are still good, there are still worries out there in the country,” Bush said. “We’re not taking the good numbers for granted – we’re moving aggressively with a pro-growth, pro-worker set of economic policies that will enhance economic security in this country.”

Before he spoke, Bush walked through the plant’s turbine building and its control room, where he thanked workers for “taking time to explain all the dials and gauges.” Executives from the plant, operated by Constellation Energy Group Inc., also showed Bush their confidential plans for building a third reactor onsite – if they can get a federal license.