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COLUMBIA (WACH) -- USC could soon be changing the face of nuclear technology.

University administrators meeting Tuesday with a representative from San Diego based company General Atomics.

The company is giving USC $900,000 to establish a center focused on transforming existing nuclear technologies.

“We are going to focus specifically on taking fuel rods that we have alot of in South Carolina and around the country and reprocessing that fuel to make clean and safe energy,” says Harris Pastides, USC President.

Congressman James Clyburn says this move will help with job creation and allow South Carolina to use its resources such as the Savannah River Site to help further research.

“It helps us get rid of our foreign dependency on oil. It’s a clean energy source so it helps with our environmental challenges,” says Congressman James Clyburn, (D) South Carolina.

USC President Harris Pastides says this new partnership will have a significant impact on the power industry.

South Carolina will match the gift with $3 million dollars to start the new center in USC’s College of Engineering and Computing.

“What we're looking for are eager young minds that will be apart of this enterprise along with faculty to advance new ideas and new approaches along with General Atomics,” says Dr. John Parmentola, General Atomics.