ATHENS, Alabama (Reuters) -- President Bush Thursday said U.S. utilities could build up to 30 new nuclear power plants and could start construction by 2010 in order to keep up with growing electricity demand without spurring more global warming.

"It's time for the country to start building nuclear power plants again," Bush said at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant near Huntsville, Alabama, which is operated by the federally owned Tennessee Valley Authority.

ATHENS, Alabama (Reuters) -- President Bush Thursday said U.S. utilities could build up to 30 new nuclear power plants and could start construction by 2010 in order to keep up with growing electricity demand without spurring more global warming.

"It's time for the country to start building nuclear power plants again," Bush said at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant near Huntsville, Alabama, which is operated by the federally owned Tennessee Valley Authority.

Trade-offs and global warming

Bush said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will likely get 20 applications from utilities to build up to 30 new reactors and said construction could begin by the end of the decade. No new licenses have been filed at the NRC since 1973.

"We're beginning to make some progress," Bush said, prodding the NRC to act on the applications. "That's good news for the American consumer."

It was Bush's third visit to a nuclear power plant since June 2005.

The United States will need three new nuclear power plants to come online each year starting in 2015 to keep pace with soaring electricity demand, Bush said.

Renewable energy could power half the nation

He said nuclear power plants are well suited to feed future power needs because they do not emit the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that are produced by power plants that run on coal.

"There can be no solution [to global warming] without nuclear power," Bush said.

The nation's 104 nuclear plants currently account for about 20 percent of U.S. power generation.

Bush spoke to TVA employees after receiving a tour of the 1,150-megawatt Unit 1 of the Browns Ferry nuclear plant, which reopened last month after being shuttered for 22 years.

Trade-offs and global warming

Bush said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will likely get 20 applications from utilities to build up to 30 new reactors and said construction could begin by the end of the decade. No new licenses have been filed at the NRC since 1973.

"We're beginning to make some progress," Bush said, prodding the NRC to act on the applications. "That's good news for the American consumer."

It was Bush's third visit to a nuclear power plant since June 2005.

The United States will need three new nuclear power plants to come online each year starting in 2015 to keep pace with soaring electricity demand, Bush said.

Renewable energy could power half the nation

He said nuclear power plants are well suited to feed future power needs because they do not emit the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that are produced by power plants that run on coal.

"There can be no solution [to global warming] without nuclear power," Bush said.

The nation's 104 nuclear plants currently account for about 20 percent of U.S. power generation.

Bush spoke to TVA employees after receiving a tour of the 1,150-megawatt Unit 1 of the Browns Ferry nuclear plant, which reopened last month after being shuttered for 22 years.