As US states grapple with finding alternative sources of energy, I couldn’t help but wonder about the ramifications of Japan’s nuclear power plant problems this past weekend. First some quick stats, the US is currently the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, with 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states, operated by 30 different power companies.

Government policy changes since the late 1990s have helped pave the way for significant growth in nuclear capacity. In fact, president Barack Obama has pushed for the expansion of nuclear power to help meet the country’s energy demands, lower its dependence on imported fossil fuels and reduce its climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, a number of states have been considering upping their nuclear power allocations as part of their master energy plans.

And following a 30-year period in which few new reactors were built, the World Nuclear Association estimates that four to six new units may come on line by 2018, the first of those resulting from 16 license applications to build 24 new nuclear reactors made since mid-2007.