Coleman Pushes Nuclear Power in Visit to Big Lake

November 22, 2008

BIG LAKE, Minn. (The Associated Press)
Sen. Norm Coleman says the U.S. needs to catch up with advances in nuclear power
technology and build more plants.

The Republican senator says nuclear power would reduce the nation's dependence
on foreign oil and help combat global warming because it doesn't produce emissions.

He spoke Friday during a tour of the Xcel Energy nuclear power plant training facility
in Monticello and Remmele Engineering in Big Lake.

Coleman is part of the Gang of 20, a group of lawmakers that has proposed legislation
to promote the construction of new nuclear power plants.

He says the Monticello plant's "outstanding" security shows there's
no reason to worry about safety.

The Monticello plant is one of two nuclear power plants in Minnesota.