Energy independence: how high a priority?

Excerpted from Jerry Pournelle's blog:

One estimate is that 500 nuclear power plants would make America energy independent. I think that's optimistic in that an abundance of electricity doesn't mean we won't need to import oil for transportation needs, but it would certainly take us a long way towards independence. The cost would be in the order of 2 billion per plant (I would think less; that is, the first one might be 4 billion, but the 400th would be considerably less than a billion; but, for an average, call it 2 billion). That's one trillion dollars, comparable to what the Obama administration has thrown to Wall Street for the "TARP" or stimulus -- and, should we do that, then, for once, a deficit would be financing something real.

It is less than the cost of the war, and less than the war is going to cost if we continue. Cheap reliable energy would be one major step toward economic recovery. Low cost energy plus freedom will bring prosperity. If we have the energy we can work on the freedom. The whole thing could be accomplished in four years. Of course, the ravening wolves in the Congress won't do it -- but then it's not likely that this is the kind of "hope and change" we can believe in from the current White House, either.

But it would work. France knows the value of nuclear power. Why can't we learn it?