reporter: there are 31 plants in the u.s. similar to those in trouble in japan, designed by general electric, which is a part owner of nbc universal. one, to oyster creek in new jersey, is the oldest nuclear plant in the country, about 50 miles from new york city. issue three, backup power systems. experts say the japanese reactors basically got into trouble because they lost electricity and backup power systems failed, too, leaving them struggling to cool the reactor core. marvin furtherle of the nuclear energy institute, which speaks for the nuclear industry, says thanks to improvements since 9/11, u.s. plants have more ability to cope if power is lost. we would actually be able to handle the situation much easier than the japanese are facing right now. could what happened in japan happen here? could we have an event that we think i would say it is highly improbable it happened here f it did happen, i think we