Nuclear-upgrade key: Yucca

President Obama achieved a measure of bipartisanship with his support for increasing the nation's nuclear power capacity. At least many Republicans have endorsed that idea as a way toward energy independence and comparatively cheap electrical power.

But the warm feelings generated by the president's nuclear power plan can't be sustained given his opposition to a responsible long-term storage plan for nuclear waste. Even some important congressional Democrats, including Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, have objected to the president's decision to abandon the Yucca, Nev., Mountain project.

The administration's decision would allow nuclear waste to continue piling up at commercial reactor sites across the nation. That will create a security risk in strong contrast to the president's efforts to achieve nuclear security internationally. The ad hoc storage of nuclear waste at dozens of commercial reactor sites creates greater opportunities for terrorists to obtain the materials needed for a so-called "dirty bomb."

Meanwhile, nuclear defense sites will provide indefinite storage of vast quantities of waste by-products dating from the Cold War. South Carolina and Washington state have filed suit to stop that from happening at Savannah River Site and Hanford, respectively.

Those lawsuits already have had an effect. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided to reverse its earlier position on the issue and leave the question about Yucca's future open pending a June 30 hearing on the administration's plan.

It is generally acknowledged that the shift in position on Yucca is being guided by politics. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces a tough re-election battle, and the termination of the project presumably would help his chances.

The republic could grin and bear Sen. Reid's political demise. But the elimination of a national disposal site for nuclear waste would be a substantial loss.

Every state that benefits from nuclear power should join the effort to keep Yucca Mountain on track.