Last modified: Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:57 AM EDT GUEST COLUMN: Keep nuclear, oil power options open BY HENRY V. SOLDAT Liberals have a way of describing problems that ignore facts or deflect attention from their own contribution to those problems. A recent edition include two articles bemoaning the high cost of petroleum, blaming, "The federal government's inactivity, the oil industry, and the Legislature's slowness to pass major energy bills." This from Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, a legislator. Joe Timilty, D-Walpole, also a state senator, "if gas hits $5 or $6, we're not talking recession, we're talking depression." I'm depressed already. Mr. Timilty said that, .." if oil prices keep skyrocketing, it will ... greatly expand the demand for government aid and social service." Well that should help us get out of the energy crisis! Possible solutions suggested? House speaker Salvatore Dimasi proposes solar panels and windmills, presumably located so as not to block Sen. Kennedy's view of the ocean. Quoted were the domestic oil companies' "record profits" of some $40 billion, of which Pacheco complains only $10 million were invested in renewable energy. What he didn't mention is that for every dollar of gross revenues taken in by the American oil industry, only about 4 cents is profit. Most of the oil U.S energy producers refine and process is bought from foreign sources to the tune of some $700 billion dollars per year. This is where much of the oil industry money goes that might be otherwise spent on developing those precious renewable energy sources. Nearly every one of these legislators profess a concern for our energy needs and the costs to "We the People," and the need to wean the U.S. from dependence from foreign oil sources. But, do they even consider the most obvious solutions to that dependence? Not a chance! Those same "evil" oil companies tell Congress that on the continental shelves of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the Gulf of Mexico, and in Alaska and several other on-land sites are potential sources for enough oil and natural gas to last the United States the next 60 years minimum. But the U.S Congress is too beholden to the environmental extremist crowd, and to their own oil tax revenues to alleviate the cost to consumers by allowing more development of domestic sources, or reducing their taxes on a gallon of gasolene. And in neither of these two articles was nuclear energy mentioned as a source of clean, renewable energy. How is electricity generated around New England? In too many cases by oil, or coal-fired plants. Can anyone tell me when the last nuclear power plant was built in New England? I'm guessing more than 40 years ago; correct me if I'm wrong. In the petroleum and nuclear power industries huge strides have been made to keep production safe and clean for the environment. Our nation's economy needs huge quantities of energy to flourish. Solar panels and windmills just won't do it. We need oil and we need nuclear power. We need them both 10 years ago. HENRY V. SOLDAT lives in Norton.