McCain calls for nuclear expansion

Republican presidential candidate John McCain will push to almost double the number of nuclear reactors in the United States as part of a plan to lessen the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

On the second day of a two-week tour to promote his energy security proposal, McCain told an audience in Springfield, Missouri, on Wednesday night that he would increase research in so-called clean-coal technology and push to add 100 new nuclear reactors, almost double the 104 nuclear plants now in use.

"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," McCain said. "This task will be as difficult as it is necessary. We will need to recover all the knowledge and skills that have been lost over three stagnant decades in a highly technical field."