Could small nuclear reactors be the answer to New Jersey’s goal to increase its output of zero-emission energy? State Sen. Edward Durr thinks so. The Republican has sponsored a bipartisan bill to do this following a tour of Camden’s Holtech International, where South Jersey political powerbroker George Norcross is on the board.

Durr says that he prefers this solution over offshore wind power. He says that this could revitalize the PSE&G Nuclear Power Plant in Salem County.

“These are called small module reactors, and they work off of spent fuel rods. I mean it is a pressing industry that is still developing, and we should be investing in this. And we have those spent rods sitting down there in Salem,” Durr says.

Durr was a virtually unknown truck driver two years ago when he defeated Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney. Sweeney opted not to run in a rematch this year. Durr instead faces Democratic former Assemblyman John Burzichelli in November.