Who knew nuclear power was the new green alternative?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is now pushing that notion, suggesting that nuclear plants could help the state meet its aggressive long-term goals of reducing carbon emissions.

After previously dismissing nuclear power because of waste storage problems, the Republican governor this year has said it should be considered a serious option among alternative fuels.

"I myself think that nuclear power has a great future, and I think that we should look at it seriously again," Schwarzenegger said at a Santa Barbara conference in March. "I know there are people who are scared about it, and I know there are certain environmentalists that put the scare tactics out there, and they frighten everyone that we're going to have another blowup and all of those things. But I think technology has advanced so much."

State lawmakers imposed a moratorium on building new nuclear plants in 1976. While Schwarzenegger believes California should study nuclear power, he does not propose lifting the ban, said spokeswoman Lisa Page.

The governor's growing interest comes as both presidential candidates say they are willing to consider a nuclear power expansion. Though Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has conditioned his support on whether the country can ensure the long-term safety of nuclear power, Republican Sen. John McCain has called for 45 new plants in the United States by 2030.

Environmental groups in California remain opposed to an expansion of nuclear power. They assert that nuclear plants can lead to major disasters and leave behind waste that cannot be safely stored.

"Nuclear power is a dead-end in California, and we shouldn't be wasting resources on such an expensive and problematic energy option," said Bill Magavern, director of Sierra Club California. "We have far cleaner, cheaper and safer energy resources like solar, wind and geothermal, and we should be investing in those."

Three plants serve California

The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversees the operation of nuclear plants in the United States, but California lawmakers in 1976 imposed a ban on new plants until the NRC could resolve long-term storage for spent fuel rods or determine appropriate means for reprocessing them.

The California Energy Commission in a 2007 report determined that little has changed in regard to waste storage or reprocessing in the country, precluding the state from reversing the moratorium.

California currently has two nuclear sites in operation, Diablo Canyon near San Luis Obispo and San Onofre near San Clemente. The power plants were approved before the moratorium took effect and are roughly halfway through the 40-year period for which they have been licensed. A third nuclear plant near Phoenix also provides electricity to the state.

The three plants contribute roughly 15 percent of the state's overall energy portfolio, according to the energy commission. The state also has seen the closure of three nuclear plants, including Rancho Seco in southeast Sacramento County, which voters agreed to shutter in 1989.

In September, Schwarzenegger appeared at the Commonwealth Club of California to celebrate the two-year anniversary of Assembly Bill 32, which committed the state to lowering its greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020. To reach that mark, the state will rely heavily on an expansion in alternative fuels and a major reduction in fossil fuel use by drivers.

Asked about nuclear power at the AB 32 celebration, Schwarzenegger said: "It drives me nuts when I go over to France and they get 80 percent of their power with no greenhouse gas emissions whatsoever from nuclear power. And they have been safe, they have been handling it the right way and they are building some more. So I think we should look at that again and revisit it."

A Field Poll released in July showed that 50 percent of voters support building new nuclear plants in California, compared to 41 percent who are opposed. In 1990, only 38 percent supported new plants.

Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.