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Kerry To Obama: Rethink Push For Nuclear Power Plants

BOSTON (AP) -- Sen. John Kerry is urging the Obama administration to rethink its push for a new generation of nuclear power plants.

The Massachusetts Democrat said the devastating earthquake in Japan that led to two hydrogen explosions at a tsunami-stricken nuclear power facility should automatically cause the administration to back off calls for new nuclear plants in the United States.

Kerry said Monday that new plants shouldn't be built until they can be designed to guarantee that the nuclear core won't break apart even under the most extreme kinds of stress like an earthquake.

He said without that guarantee no community will accept a nuclear plant nearby.

President Barack Obama has said the country needs to expand its energy sources, from wind and solar to a new generation of nuclear power plants.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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