Senator Says Japan Crisis is Chance to Learn

Missouri’s senior senator is waiting to see what ultimately emerges from Japan before making any kind of call on the future of nuclear energy in America.

Senator Claire McCaskill was asked Wednesday if she thinks that U.S. nuclear expansion should be halted as a result of the Fukushima nuclear plant situation.  She says it’s a learning opportunity.

“It’s going to give us an opportunity to look closely at the safety of nuclear plants and what they had and didn’t have and what kind of real damage is done to human life or health as a result of any problems they’ve had,” the senator said.

“I think it is too early to tell at this point what that assessment is going to be.”

She did say, however, that all energy has a down side.

“Every source of energy that we have has risks. And it’s huge risks that we rely on the Middle East for the bulk of our oil supplies in this country.  That puts our national security at risk and involves us in places in the world where frankly we shouldn’t be.”