GLEN ROSE -- With the population of North Texas projected to explode, we're going to need more electricity, and it just might be nuclear electricity.

You'd think one of the biggest obstacles to a nuclear plant would be finding a community willing to have one. Turns out, there's at least one Texas community that's happy to be first in line.

Forget crayons and finger paint. At Glen Rose Elementary, kindergartners cut their teeth on cutting edge computer technology. Expensive technology.

This small school district is home to a first rate football field, theatre, and school facilities. Veteran teacher Rhonda Cagle says Glen Rose is also a destination for teachers.

"Whenever there is an opening, there's always a stack of applications for people who want to come to Glen Rose to teach," said Cagle.

Glen Rose is home to Commanche Peak nuclear plant, and proud of it. Since it opened the plant has pumped more than $1 billion dollars in taxes into this rural community. The school district went from one of the poorest to the richest.

"We've proven to them over the years what a good neighbor we are," said Rafael Flores, vice-president of Nuclear Operations.

Comanche Peak's two reactors make enough electricity for 1.2-million homes. To meet future demand, Luminant, formerly TXU, is now proposing two new nuclear reactors.

"We've operated well. We've operated safely. We've operated efficiently. So, it gives us the right to look to the future for more nuclear," said Flores.

But who in the world wants two nuclear reactors in their backyard? Where do you think would be a good place to put more nuclear reactors?

"I guess out there where the other ones are," said Cagle.

And that's exactly where Luminant hopes to build them. Around 90-percent of the people are for nuclear power in these communities.

Luminant is also banking on wider acceptance.

Polls show increasing public support for nuclear power. And because of low emissions of heat-trapping gasses, Luminant touts nuclear as green energy. "Nuclear is just taking off," said Flores.

Beyond the concerns of nuclear waste-- opponents say nuclear plants are too heavily subsidized, can cost more than $15 billion dollars to build, and take 15 years to complete.

They say renewable energies are a better place to invest our nations time and resources.

“Nuclear power cannot solve the global warming problem in this country,” said Karen Hadden, NukeFreeTexas.org. "Why sink money that could be used more effectively in other areas right now and solve the problem.”

Still, Luminant sees nuclear as an important part of its future energy mix and is now racing against 9 other national proposals for new nuclear plants.

In that pursuit, it can count on one very important ally. The people of Glen Rose.

E-mail dschechter@wfaa.com