No time for rookies in energy crisis

Clarence Lanzrath, Las Vegas

Friday, July 18, 2008 | 2:01 a.m.

Drastic times require drastic measures. What does a smart coach or manager do in a given situation? Does he rely on an unseasoned rookie or a seasoned veteran? The answer is obvious.

I am not talking about individuals, but sources of energy.

To me the veterans are clean-coal generating plants and nuclear power plants. By the way, two nuclear plants are being built in Europe and, according to most scientific journals, nuclear power is the cleanest and safest source of energy.

Now for the untried rookies. Ethanol has been proved a complete disaster, both economically and environmentally, and is in the process of being sent back to the minors at great expense to the taxpayers. Wind and solar are unseasoned rookies that may never make it to the majors in providing a substantial portion of our energy at economical cost.

Let’s put the majority of our efforts into energy sources we know work rather than in ventures that “may” help us 20 years down the road. Proven or unproven, that is the choice.

Let’s briefly talk about crude oil. We are currently importing approximately two-thirds of our oil supply, at up to $150 a barrel. We should pull out all stops to immediately start drilling where possible to help free us from this economic bondage.

Will the environmentalists stand up and cite one serious incident involving the hundreds of oil rigs now in the Gulf of Mexico?

Immediate action would benefit our nation in several ways. Lower crude oil prices would be instantaneous, resulting in lower gas prices and lower food prices. At present about two-thirds of our inflation is tied to gas and food prices. Our trade deficit would be substantially reduced and we would indirectly stop subsidizing terrorists.

I would hope all these pluses would make even liberals and environmentalists happy. On second thought — probably not!