"You have to keep the nuclear option on the table because it's a carbon-free source of power," Huntsman said at his monthly KUED-TV news conference. Nuclear power has less impact on global warming because, unlike coal-fire plants, it does not require burning carbon fuels.

Huntsman said the issues of cost, environmental impacts, safety and storage of nuke waste will have to be addressed over the 10- to 20-year licensing process. The state will only be peripherally involved in what is a federal process, he said.

Last month, Rep. Aaron Tilton, who is chief executive of Transition Power Development, signed a contract for the rights to nearly 10 billion gallons of water a year to be used for nuclear power production, if the plants win licenses.

The contract, obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, specifies the Green River in Emery County as the source for the water.