Tall

Cheap Crude: A Flash in the (Oil) Pan

Gentlemen:

There is no disagreement with a need for a coherent energy policy. Unfortunately, it's most likely too late for this country to have it's power grid supported by nuclear energy.
Several execs I know in the utilty industry have said that is still too diffucult to get approval to construct a new nuclear power plant. I live in the state of Georgia. Environmentalists were recently able to block the start of a new natural gas fired power plant. They cited "cost" and consultant reports that indicated conservation could make up the difference. Never mind the local populace that needs the jobs and the future economic growth that the plant could generate. This mindset is why we don't have a coherent energy plan. Don't blame the Bush adminstration, that's the easy way out. Cheney put forth proposals for an energy policy back in 2001 and it was greeted with a yawn. By the way, does anyone know what they do at the Department of Energy? I don't.