"There's no reason why technologically we can't employ nuclear energy in a safe and effective way. Japan does it and France doe it and it doesn't have greenhouse gas emissions, so it would be stupid for us not to do that in a much more effective way."
    — President Barack Obama
         At a town hall meeting in New Orleans
         October 15, 2009

“I don’t think we’re going to [pass a bill] without bipartisan support. And without a nuclear title that’s stronger than in the House climate change legislation, we’re not going to be able to get enough votes to pass climate change.”
      — Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)
           Suggesting a course of action for the Senate energy bill
           September 21, 2009

"It's evident that PSEG Nuclear employees and management are working very hard to make sure that nuclear plants are among the nation's best run, with cutting edge safety and security systems in place."
       —  Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.)
             After visiting PSEG Nuclear's Artificial Island plant
             September 4, 2009

“Many policymakers in the 16-state Southern Legislative Conference region … have put new nuclear plant construction at the forefront of their integrated climate stabilization, economic development and competitiveness, electric system reliability and energy security efforts. ... Lawmakers and public service commissions in a number of Southern states have approved construction work in progress and other similar cost recovery methods that will significantly lower a new nuclear project’s cost.”
          — Southern Legislative Conference
               On loan guarantees for new nuclear energy plants
               August 19, 2009

“Restarting the nuclear power industry is very important in our overall plan to reduce carbon emissions in this country. From me you are not going to get any reluctance. As you may know, I think that nuclear power is going to be a very important factor to getting us to a low-carbon future.”
           — Steven Chu
                Secretary of Energy
                to a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing
                July 7, 2009

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said, “As we look at the renewable energy alternatives that are discussed, I’m very concerned that one of the most obvious sources of solution is largely untreated in the legislation that we expect to see coming to us, and that is nuclear energy.
          — Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
               at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing
               July 7, 2009

"Nuclear energy is the best source that we have available to serve our energy needs while also curbing greenhouse gas emissions."
         — Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio)
              On the floor of the Senate
              June 4, 2009

"I am convinced it [100 nuclear power plants built] should happen because conservation and nuclear power are the only real alternatives we have today to produce enough low-cost, reliable, clean energy to clean the air, deal with climate change and keep good jobs from going overseas."

— Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
     To the Associated Press
     May 27, 2009

 "I think it's asinine, what we've done over the past 30 years, where we've allowed France to fuel 80% of their economy on nuclear energy and we have fallen so far behind. Why is that?"

"It really is too bad ... it's the only base energy that releases no regulated emissions."

— Joe Scarborough and Christine Todd Whitman
     Former Florida Representative;
     CASE Energy co-chairman, Former EPA secretary
     and New Jersey governor
     On MSNBC
     May 28, 2009

“My message to you is a simple one: nuclear energy is part of the solution. I say ‘part’ because there is no one single solution to America’s energy needs. I will keep arguing that nuclear power has a vital place in that mix, and that it deserves our government’s support.”

— Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
     House Majority Leader
     At the Nuclear Energy Assembly 2009
     May 20, 2009

“If you look at these [energy] issues on a factual basis, there is a large and important role for nuclear to play. What I would hope, and what I have expressed to the secretary of energy is two‐fold. One, that there is a sense of urgency at the Department of Energy to move forward, and this certainly pertains to some of the nuclear issues we face today. My other message is that you need to make sure you manage large‐scale projects effectively.”

— Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.)
     House Energy and Water Appropriations
     Subcommittee Chairman
     At the Nuclear Energy Assembly 2009
     May 20, 2009

"All we have to do is to step up and make the case. I have been unabashed in my support for nuclear energy. That's about 54% of the energy we produce in this state. We don't consume all of that. We export some of it."

— James Clyburn (D-S.C.)
     House Majority Whip
     April 19, 2009

"We ought to go totally nuclear. We have the most modern and the safest technology the world knows. We ought to build a classic nuclear power plant here in Jackson County."

— Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)
     April 15, 2009

"The basic bargain is sound: Countries with nuclear weapons will move towards disarmament, countries without nuclear weapons will not acquire them, and all countries can access peaceful nuclear energy. ... We must harness the power of nuclear energy on behalf of our efforts to combat climate change, and to advance peace and opportunity for all people.

— President Barack Obama
     To the people of Prague, Czech Republic
     April 7, 2009

"Whether we like it or not, we will not meet the challenges of climate change without the far wider use of civil nuclear power, but we must invest in all sources of low-carbon energy, energy efficiency, renewables, carbon capture and storage and nuclear power."

— Gordon Brown
     Prime Minister
     United Kingdom
     March 17, 2009