Resolving America’s energy crisis and the solution, according to two Washington leaders is expanding nuclear power, with South Carolina serving as the blueprint. The fact is the state gets more than half of it's power from nuclear power plants, the U.S. as a whole only gets about twenty percent.

Expensive gas, costly power bills, with no relief in sight. The debate over America's next energy policy continues in Washington and on the campaign trail. Two members of congress, from opposite sides of the aisle agree, nuclear power must be part of the answer.

"It ought to be wind and it ought to be solar, and bio-fuels all have to be on the table. But I’m saying nuclear can not be taken off the table," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn.

"Every nuclear power plant we can bring on-line in America means we are less dependent on oil, gas, coal, fossil fuels,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (web|news|bio) .

Right now, there are 103 nuclear power plants in the U.S. and seven reactors in South Carolina alone. The plants are free of harmful emissions, but the nuclear waste poses a problem. Graham suggests we follow the lead of the French.

"They recycle their spent fuel, instead of burying it in the ground. 90 percent of what we bury here, the French take out of the fuel rod and back into the reactors," said Senator Graham.

While we are on the subject, nuclear energy supplies France with 80 percent of its power.

"Now am I to believe the French are smarter, they can do it safely and we can't," said Clyburn.

Clyburn says new technology will make nuclear plants safer and more efficient. A nuclear push now to ease the energy pains in the future.

Graham and Clyburn are not in agreement on off-shore drilling. Grahams says it will help with the current gas crunch, while Clyburn says it's just feeding the nation's addiction to oil.

More nuclear power could be headed to South Carolina, a plan is in the works for Duke energy to build two reactors in the Gaffney area.