"Our nuclear power plants have undergone exhaustive study and have been declared safe for any number of extreme contingencies," Obama said Thursday. "But when we see a crisis like the one in Japan, we have a responsibility to learn from this event and to draw from those lessons to ensure the safety and security of our people.

"That's why I've asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to do a comprehensive review of the safety of our domestic nuclear plants in light of the natural disaster that unfolded in Japan."

He stressed that "we do not expect" harmful levels of radiation from Japan to reach the United States or its Pacific territories, he said, repeating the statement twice for emphasis.

On Friday Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency raised the severity level of the crippled Fukushima reactors from 4 to 5, on an international scale of 7. That's the same level as the Three Mile Island nuclear plant disaster in Pennsylvania in 1979.

Obama in his speech said nuclear energy was "an important part of our energy future, along with renewable sources like wind, solar, natural gas and clean coal."

Nuclear power provides 20 percent of the United States' electricity.

The nuclear industry's lobbying group, in response to Obama's announcement, said it shares the president's call to incorporate safety lessons from the Japan disaster.

Marvin S. Fertel, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, said in a statement, "Like the president, our industry recognizes that there is concern about the accident in Japan and we are providing resources and expertise to the Japanese industry to return the Fukushima plant to a safe condition."

Fertel said a review of the nation's nuclear plants is "an appropriate step after an event of this scale" and the group expects that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission "will conduct its own assessment."

"The industry's highest priority is the safe operation of 104 reactors in 31 states and we will incorporate lessons learned from this accident at American nuclear energy facilities," he said.

Alex Flint, senior vice president for government affairs at the institute, told reporters Thursday that the organization hasn't changed its projection of four to eight new plants to come online in the United States by 2020.

"We see the nuclear reactor construction proceeding as previously anticipated," Flint said, Washington's The Hill newspaper reports.

The president's order for a review of U.S. nuclear plants comes a day after a USA Today/Gallup poll indicated diminishing support among Americans for the use of nuclear power in their country.

The poll indicates 44 percent of respondents in favor and 47 percent opposed to "the construction of nuclear power plants in the United States," with 70 percent saying they are more concerned about a nuclear disaster occurring in the United States after the events that have occurred in Japan.

earlier related report
Italian minister calls for 'reflection' on nuclear power
Milan (AFP) March 18, 2011 - Italy should pause for "a moment of reflection" on its planned re-introduction of nuclear power, Italy's economic development minister was quoted as saying in media reports on Friday.

"I hope that the Japanese will succeed in resolving their problems with the Fukushima plant but while we are waiting it is better to stop," Economic Development Minister Paolo Romani said.

"We need a moment of reflection while we wait for the stress tests on European power stations," said Romani, whose ministry oversees plans to re-start nuclear energy suspended after the Chernobyl disaster.

Romani added however: "Today, the debate on a possible definitive stop is not on the table and inappropriate. We have to transit from a debate between pro- and anti-nuclear to a debate about security."

Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo was quoted in media reports as saying that the nuclear energy issue was "finished" since the government could not "risk the elections because of nuclear power."

The Italian government has so far held firm on its nuclear plans despite the escalating crisis in Japan. Romani earlier said: "We cannot allow a new fear, not at this stage. Turning back is unimaginable."

Rome wants to start building nuclear power stations from 2014 and to produce a quarter of its electricity with atomic energy by 2030.

But the government faces a crucial referendum on the issue on June 12.

In a 1987 referendum -- a year after the Chernobyl meltdown in the Soviet Union -- most Italians voted against nuclear power.

And even before the catastrophe in Japan, a poll by the Ipsos institute in February showed 58 percent of Italians opposed nuclear power stations.

Some 32 percent were favourable and 10 percent did not have an opinion.

In the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis, undersecretary for economic development Stefano Saglia, said that construction of new nuclear power stations would be carried out only in agreement with the regions concerned.

Nuclear power is a key goal for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has said it will reduce Italy's energy dependency and lower electricity bills.

Italy's three biggest environmental groups -- Greenpeace, Legambiente and WWF -- have accused Italy's nuclear security agency of trying to play down the effects of the unfolding tragedy in Japan for "political propaganda".

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