WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., continued his call for increasing America’s domestic energy production.  Wicker’s comments came during a hearing on Capitol Hill that highlighted the need to build 100 new nuclear reactors by 2030. 

“We all remember this time last year – we were in the midst of an energy crisis, paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline, and Americans were seeing their utility bills skyrocketing.  We have not made any policy changes since then, and those energy problems have not gone away.  The prices may have subsided, but unless we come to grips with this problem, we are going to see those problems arise again,” Sen. Wicker said.  “We need to develop alternative energy, but the cornerstone of any real solution to the American energy problem needs to involve offshore resources and nuclear power.”

At the hearing, Wicker and his colleagues heard from experts in the energy industry community.  The witnesses discussed America’s need to develop 100 new nuclear plants over the next 20 years, which also would help our economy.  The Nuclear Energy Institute estimates that building 45 new nuclear plants in America will generate up to 128,000 construction jobs and create up to 32,000 high paying permanent jobs.