US energy chief: don't delay new nuclear plants - Politics - More politics - msnbc.com

WASHINGTON — Regulators should press ahead with approving construction licenses for new nuclear power plants despite Japan's nuclear crisis, President Barack Obama's top energy official said Tuesday.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a House panel that "the American people should have full confidence that the United States has rigorous safety regulations in place to ensure that our nuclear power is generated safely and responsibly." But he said that the administration "is committed to learning from Japan's experience."

2009: Q & A: Steven Chu - Technology Review

Technology Review: There's some 50,000 metric tons of nuclear waste scattered among 130 sites across the country. What are you going to do with that waste now?

Steven Chu: Yucca Mountain as a repository is off the table.